New Year’s Day

 January 1

Cherokee Nation’s W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, satellite offices, and health centers will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day. Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital and emergency department, along with other tribal emergency services, will remain open.

Trail of Tears Art Show Applications Open

 January 3

Applications open for the upcoming 54th annual Trail of Tears Art Show that will take place in the Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah from April 5 to May 11. Applications are open to artists from any federally recognized tribe. To enter, visit trailoftearsartshow.com.

For more information, email info@visitcherokee.com, call 877-779-6977 or go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.

Small Business Power Hour

 January 8

Stop by the Cherokee Nation Commerce Innovation Hub every Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. for free small business development workshops. This will be a weekly discussion of all things small business and entrepreneurship, and will include guest speakers, business development discussions, networking and more. The Cherokee Nation Commerce Innovation Hub is located on the second floor of the Cort Mall, 215 S. Muskogee Ave., in downtown Tahlequah. These weekly discussions can be attended in person or remotely.

Learn more and register here.

For more information, please call 918-207-4901 or email here.

Business Startup Bootcamp Deadline

 January 10

It is the last day to apply for the Business Startup Bootcamp, a partnership between the Tahlequah Regional Development Authority and the Cherokee Nation Innovation Hub. The Startup Bootcamp will provide entrepreneurs with the training, skills and tools to launch or grow a business or nonprofit. Each session will include a mix of presentations, group discussions, hands-on activities, and homework assignments to ensure active participation and application of learning. Classes meet once per week in the evening beginning in February and running through mid-March. Tuition is $150.

To apply or for more information, contact 918-772-4144 or email here.

“Tending the Flame” Exhibit

 January 11

Today is the last day to experience the “Tending the Flame” exhibit on display at the Saline Courthouse Museum, 55870 S. 490 Road, in Rose. This exhibit looks at the artwork of Cherokee National Treasure Harry Oosahwee and his influences – from watching his mother model native clay to painting under the guidance of Bacone College’s flatstyle school of art with Dick West to sculpting Cherokee traditional forms out of stone. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, email info@visitcherokee.com, call 877-779-6977 or go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.

Archery Bullseye Tournament

 January 14

Sequoyah High School is hosting a state qualification archery bullseye tournament. National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) flights will take place at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Varsity archery begins at 12:30 p.m. This tournament is for students in grades 4-12 who are part of NASP teams. Cost of entry is $5 per archer per event.

For more information, email here or call 918-381-6414.

"Thomas Muskrat: Carving Out a Community” Exhibit

 January 14

The “Thomas Muskrat: Carving Out a Community” exhibit opens at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose. Cherokee National Treasure Thomas Muskrat has spent a lifetime building connections with Cherokees and people of other tribal nations. In this new exhibit, learn how his artistic journey as a carver and role as founder of the Bell Powwow were both inspired by his drive and commitment to strengthen Native ties and communities. This exhibit, on display at the Saline Courthouse Museum, 55870 S. 490 Road, in Rose, is on display now through May 17, 2025. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, email info@visitcherokee.com, call 877-779-6977 or go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.

Breastfeeding Class

 January 15

Cherokee Nation Public Health is hosting a breastfeeding class from 1 to 3 p.m. in Conference Rooms A & B at the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, 19600 E. Ross St., in Tahlequah. Participants can learn about WIC, breastfeeding techniques and more. Partners are welcome. This class will be held every third Wednesday of the month.

For more information, call 918-525-2193 or email here.

Cherokee Nation Scholarship Deadline

 January 17

The application enrollment period ends at 5 p.m. CST on the Gadugi Portal for new and continuing High School Concurrent Enrollment Scholarship applications, and for continuing applicants for the Undergraduate Scholarship, the At-Large Undergraduate Scholarship and the Graduate Scholarship.

Visit gadugiportal.cherokee.org to learn more and apply.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 January 20

Cherokee Nation’s W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, satellite offices, and health centers will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital and emergency department, along with other tribal emergency services, will remain open.

Bingo Night

 January 23

All veterans are invited to a bingo night hosted by Cherokee Nation’s Office of Veteran Affairs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center, next to the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah. Bingo prizes and dinner will be provided. Veterans may bring one guest over the age of 18.

For more information, contact 918-772-4166.

College Fair

 January 28

Cherokee Nation College Resources will be hosting a college fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla. College representatives will be available to meet with students, and there will be drawings for prizes including laptops and more.

For more information, contact 918-718-5959.

Troy Jackson: Mercy is in the Details

 November 22, 2024 – August 3, 2025

Cherokee National Treasure Troy Jackson is the subject of a new exhibit that dives into his artistic exploration of Cherokee history, culture and identity. Featuring more than two dozen artworks – including several large-scale, conceptual sculptures – the exhibit shares an up-close look at the artist’s perspective and the motivations that inspire his impressive body of work. It will be on display at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center beginning Nov. 22.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Jeff Edwards: The Future Will Be Cherokee

 October 18, 2024 – April 20, 2025

“Jeff Edwards: The Future Will Be Cherokee” merges Cherokee culture with contemporary imagery in the newest exhibition at the Cherokee Cultural Pathway in downtown Tahlequah. The public art display is now open and features 13 large-scale reproductions of some of Edwards’ most recognized works, such as “Sequoyah Warhol” and “Cherokee on the Brain.” Cherokee Nation citizen Jeff Edwards is an award-winning graphic artist who draws inspiration from his life and career. Edwards’ art is featured at many Cherokee Nation sites, including the Durbin Feeling Language Center, where he works alongside Cherokee speakers.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Harry Oosahwee: Tending the Flame

 September 17, 2024 – January 11, 2025

Harry Oosahwee is a Cherokee National Treasure, award-winning artist and first-language Cherokee speaker. Harry’s versatile art and talent is showcased across many forms of media. A new exhibit looks at his artwork and influences – from watching his mother model native clay to painting under the guidance of Bacone College’s Flatstyle school of art with Dick West to sculpting Cherokee traditional forms out of stone.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

One Land, One Nation: Cherokee Unification After Removal

 July 30, 2024 – March 1, 2025

In early 1839, Cherokee people began arriving in a new land west of the Mississippi River, but they were not alone. After the long, cold journey of Cherokee Removal, they were met by Cherokees who emigrated prior to the Treaty of New Echota (1835) and those who arrived after its ratification. Three groups with different experiences of Cherokee Removal reunited following the diaspora caused by U.S. Indian removal policies. Despite their grievances, Cherokee people created a union that was foundational to the future of the Cherokee Nation. “One Land, One Nation: Cherokee Unification After Removal” explores that pivotal time 185 years ago.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Cherokee Highflier: The Life and Career of Wauhillau LaHay

 August 13, 2024 – June 28, 2025

A new exhibit, “Cherokee Highflier: The Life and Career of Wauhillau LaHay,” explores the fascinating life and work of Cherokee Nation citizen Wauhillau LaHay. Starting her journalism career as a teenager in Muskogee, LaHay took to the sky as a pilot in 1929 writing about aviation and interviewing its biggest celebrities. Following a successful career in radio and publicity working with some of Hollywood’s greatest legends, LaHay reported on the First Ladies of the White House in the 1960s and 1970s. This exhibit, on display at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum, 122 Keetoowah St., in Tahlequah, is on display through June 28, 2025. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Ned Christie: The Man From Wauhillau

 June 18, 2024 – November 01, 2025

The Cherokee people know Ned Christie as a patriot who stood up for tribal sovereignty in the last decades before the allotment of Cherokee lands. Since the late 1800s, others – often non-Cherokees – have told stories of a reckless Indian outlaw who murdered a deputy U.S. Marshal and spread fear far and wide. Using recent scholarship, a new exhibit looks at Christie’s life and finds a more nuanced portrait of a man who served his Nation and ultimately met a violent end at the hands of his accusers.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.