Cherokee Nation will host several events in the month of March, including two presentations on Cherokee Freedmen history and genealogy, a plethora of Cherokee language classes both online and in communities across the reservation, and two meetings for at-large citizens in Kansas.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker Lawrence Panther will be teaching an in-person community language class beginning today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the Twin Oaks Baptist Church in Twin Oaks, Okla. This class is open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Second Saturday Artist Showcase at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah with Cherokee artist Sammy Still, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by to see this celebrated Cherokee artist showcase the process he uses to make traditional marbles and, weather permitting, give a demonstration of how to play the game. This unique cultural demonstration is free and open to the public. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
Join the Cherokee Nation Wings Program for the Second Chance Pet Rescue 5K beginning at 8 a.m. at Jim Beauchamp Field, 108 E. 13th St., in Grove, Okla. There will also be a 1K Fun Run that starts at 8:10 a.m. T-shirts will be handed out after the race is completed. The race is free to members of the Wings Program, but is also open to non-members for a fee. For more information or to register, go to www.cherokeepublichealth.org/content/sites/cherokee/Second_Chance_Pet_Registration__form.pdf.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker Dennis Sixkiller will be teaching an in-person community language class from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday at the Anna Mitchell Cultural Center in Vinita, Okla. This class is open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker Phyllis Sixkiller will be teaching an in-person community language class beginning today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday at the Muldrow Cherokee Community Center in Muldrow, Okla. This class is open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Get crafty during Spring Break, with a Cherokee twist! Stop by any Cherokee Nation museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to make a craft you can enjoy. All ages are welcome to this free event happening across the Reservation. Learn more at VisitCherokeeNation.com.
Join genealogist Nicka Sewell-Smith from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita. She will discuss a wide range of in-depth topics relevant to Cherokee Freedmen history and ancestral research. Learn more at VisitCherokeeNation.com.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker Sarah Oosawhee will be teaching an in-person community language class beginning today from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Washington County Cherokee Association in Ochelata, Okla. This class is open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Try your hand at finger weaving! Cherokee artist Lily Drywater will instruct the class on how to create their own handmade accessories using finger weaving, an art form that pre-dates European contact. The cost is $25 for the class, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cherokee National Prison Museum in Tahlequah. Learn more and register at https://shop.visitcherokeenation.com/collections/cultural-classes/products/finger-weaving-class.
Join genealogist Nicka Sewell-Smith from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah. She will discuss a wide range of in-depth topics relevant to Cherokee Freedmen history and ancestral research. Learn more at VisitCherokeeNation.com.
Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in or near Lawrence, Kansas. Be sure to join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Douglas County Fairgrounds (pavilion east of indoor arena), 1930 Harper St. in Lawrence, for this exciting meeting with cultural presentations and demonstrations. Visit with Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, and at-large Councilors Julia Coates and Johnny Kidwell. Lunch will be provided. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens. For questions regarding the event, call 918-207-4963.
Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in or near Wichita, Kansas. Be sure to join us from noon to 4 p.m. at the Mid-America All Indian Museum Powwow Grounds, 650 N. Seneca in Wichita, for this exciting meeting with cultural presentations and demonstrations. Visit with Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, and at-large Councilors Julia Coates and Johnny Kidwell. Lunch will be provided. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens. For questions regarding the event, please call 918-207-4963.
Speaker and Cherokee National Treasure Ed Fields will kick off the spring semester of his popular online course on March 20. These classes are open to anyone who is interested in learning and helping to perpetuate the Cherokee language. Registration opens March 6. For more information, including class times and days, or to register, visit Cherokee Nation’s online language learning portal at learn.cherokee.org.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker Sandra Turner will be teaching an in-person community language class from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday at the Ballou Baptist Church in Locust Grove, Okla., and Geroge Stopp will be teaching a class from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Monday at the Westville Public Library in Westville, Okla. These classes are open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker Jessie Hair will be teaching an in-person community language class from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday at the Sanctuary Apostolic Church of Muskogee in Muskogee, Okla. This class is open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Join the Cherokee Nation Wings Program for the Super Hero 5K beginning at 8 a.m. at the Redbird Smith Health Center in Sallisaw. There will also be a 1K Fun Run that starts at 7:30 a.m. T-shirts will be handed out after the race is completed. The race is free to members of the Wings Program, but is also open to non-members for a fee. For more information or to register, go to www.cherokeepublichealth.org/content/sites/cherokee/super_hero_5k_registration_form_2023.pdf.
Want to learn Cherokee? Speaker DJ McCarter will be teaching an in-person community language class from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday at the Elm Tree Baptist Church in Tahlequah, and Treesa Vann will be teaching a class from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday and Thursday at the Kenwood Community Center in Kenwood, Okla. This class is open to the public, no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. For questions, contact 918-207-4901 or language@cherokee.org.
Today is the final day to register to vote in the upcoming Cherokee Nation election. Visit CherokeeVote.com to learn more.
The “Robert Lewis: Bringing Stories to Life” exhibit is now on display through April 8 at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee National Treasure Robert Lewis and his work as a Cherokee traditional storyteller and a visual artist. His artwork includes abstract paintings in acrylic, ink and oil paint. The exhibit will also include Lewis’ artwork for purchase. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
The “We Are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedmen and the Right to Citizenship” exhibit is running now through April 29 at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah. This exhibit explores the history of Cherokee Freedmen through a historical look at chattel slavery’s beginnings in Cherokee Nation through slave emancipation and the legal fight Freedmen descendants endured to win recognition as Cherokee Nation citizens.
The exhibit includes some of the images and stories contributed by families in the Cherokee Nation’s call for stories. It also features original artwork inspired by the Freedman experience. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
The “Sovereignty on Trial: The Tragedy at Goingsnake” exhibit is running now through April 8 at the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Museum in Tahlequah. This exhibit looks at what has been called the Goingsnake Massacre on its 150th anniversary. On April 15, 1872, Cherokee Nation citizen Ezekiel Proctor was on trial in a Cherokee Nation court for the murder of Cherokee Nation citizen Mary “Polly” Hildebrand when a U.S. Marshal’s posse sent to arrest Proctor interrupted the trial. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.