54th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show

 April 4

Join us for the 54th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show awards ceremony to celebrate exceptional Native artists at the Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza. The reception is open to the public and refreshments will be served. You can locate the Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza on 3377 Cherokee Springs Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464. The art show will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to public.

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

Cherokee Basket Weaving Classes

 April 4

Cherokee Basket Weaving Classes being held every Monday and every Thursday at the Cherokee Elder Rainbow House in Locust Grove. National Treasure Louisa Soap and OSCA (Old Saline Court Association) member will be teaching double wall basket weaving to anyone who shows up. It is open to the public, a small monetary amount is expected from non tribal members, and tribal members from UKB, Eastern Band, and Cherokee Nation attend for free. Doors are open from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Contact Stacey Bighorse 918-864-1411 for more information.

At-Large Meeting

 April 5

Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in Washington D.C. Be sure to join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Langley High School Cafeteria at 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101. Visit with Cherokee Nation leaders and enjoy a free lunch. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Registration will stop accepting applications for photo IDs 30 minutes before the end of the event.

For questions regarding the event, call 918-207-4963. This will be an indoor event.

At-Large Meeting

 April 6

Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in New Jersey. Be sure to join us from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Shawnee Inn and Resort at 100 Shawnee Inn Drive, Shawnee on Delaware, PA 18350. Visit with Cherokee Nation leaders and enjoy a free lunch. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Registration will stop accepting applications for photo IDs 30 minutes before the end of the event. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens.

For questions regarding the event, call 918-207-4963. This will be an indoor event.

Cherokee Nation Cancer Support Group

 April 10

Cherokee Nation Cancer support group from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the CNOHC Community Room C. This support group will be open to the public and include those who are currently diagnosed with cancer, cancer survivors, and caregivers of cancer patients. They will have guest speakers that are relevant to the cancer journey, but also dedicate a portion of the meeting to peer sharing. They are welcoming both Native and non-Native participants. This group was established to provide emotional support, education, community, and provide information regarding resources to those that need them. Our speaker for this meeting on April 10th will be cancer survivor and Cherokee Nation employee Jacqueline Manus.

Contact info for the public is Jacqueline Manus 539-234-1917, OR Katie McCullar 539-234-4065.

Speakers Luncheon

 April 10

All fluent Cherokee speakers are invited to a free monthly luncheon held from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. every second Thursday of the month and hosted by the Cherokee Nation Language Department at the Durbin Feeling Language Center in Tahlequah. Gather for fellowship, a free lunch and door prizes.

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

Wild Onion Dinner

 April 12

OSCA hosts a Wild Onion Dinner. The proceeds go back to the OSCA (Old Saline Courthouse Association) for cultural activities, community events, and the like. The $12 cost will include a plate of wild onions, eggs, fried potatoes, beans, meat, frybread, a dessert, and a bottle of water. People can come in and eat or carry out. This event will begin at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cherokee Elders Rainbow House - 101 Market Place, Locust Grove, OK 74352.

Send an email for any questions.

Breastfeeding Class

 April 16

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, contact 918- 525-2193 or send an email.

Easter Celebration

 April 17

Cherokee Nation Office of Veteran Affairs will be hosting an Easter Celebration on Thursday, April 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center. There will be several Easter activities including an egg hunt, games, and prizes. Dinner will be served at this event. This is event is only for veterans. Veterans/widows may bring a plus one as long as they are over 18.

Earth Day

 April 22

Cherokee Nation Natural Resources is hosting an Earth Day event at the One Fire Field. Event will begin at 1:00 p.m. It is open to the public.

Red Fern Festival

 April 25

Tahlequah Main Street is gearing up to host the annual Red Fern Festival, paying homage to the classic Wilson Rawls novel, Where the Red Fern Grows. The novel was set in the foothills of the Ozarks in and around Tahlequah, Oklahoma. As part of the festivities, the Cherokee National History Museum will welcome visitors with a lively stickball game and a variety of hands-on activities. This event will be April 25-26. It will begin on Friday, April 25, at 12:00 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. On Saturday, April 26, it will be at 11:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. This event will take place at the Cherokee National History Museum, 101 S Muskogee Ave, Tahlequah, OK 74464. This event is free and open to the public.

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

Watercress Fest

 April 26

Come and join the fun on Saturday, April 26, at the Saline Courthouse Museum! Enjoy a day filled with Cherokee culture and events at Watercress Fest, featuring live music, art demonstrations and Native games alongside guided tours, a pop-up market and food trucks.

Watercress Fest centers around celebrating our relationship to land and water. Gain Cherokee perspectives on Native plants, appreciate artistic talents, take in a game of stickball, listen to good music and enjoy a bite to eat at Watercress Fest. This year, the festival will offer even more hands-on experiences, including cooking demonstrations and cultural workshops!

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

At-Large Event

 April 26

Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in Bakersfield/Fresno, California. Be sure to join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Visalia Convention Center, 303 E Acequia Ave, Visalia, CA, 93291. Visit with Cherokee Nation leaders and enjoy a free lunch. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Registration will stop accepting applications for photo IDs 30 minutes before the end of the event. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens.

For questions regarding the event, call 918-207-4963. This will be an indoor event.

Traditional Native Games

 April 26

Enjoy great competitive traditions across Cherokee Nation! Traditional Native Games have been passed down from generation to generation. These activities include blowgun, chunkey, cornstalk shoot, hatchet throw, marbles, and the stickball shootout. Top three placers at each location receive a t-shirt and an invitation to compete in the Traditional Native Games Championship, only ONE shirt per sport per qualifier. Top three placers at the championship will receive a cash award! Event is April 26 at 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Watercress Fest - Saline Courthouse Museum, Rose.

Blowgun: Perry Van Buskirk: 918-931-4868
Chunkey: Melissa Dew: 918-871-0319
Cornstalk Shoot: Jesse Grayson: 918-718-4596
Hatchet Throw: Jesse Grayson: 918-718-4596
Horseshoes: Brooklynn Colburn: 918-525-2259
Marbles: Jared Davis: 918-871-9478
Stickball Shootout: Joshua Mouse: 214-799-5343

At-Large Event

 April 27

Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in Sacramento/Greater Bay, California. Be sure to join us from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Fairfield High School Gym, 205 E Atlantic Ave, Fairfield, CA, 94533. Visit with Cherokee Nation leaders and enjoy a free lunch. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Registration will stop accepting applications for photo IDs 30 minutes before the end of the event. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens.

For questions regarding the event, call 918-207-4963. This will be an indoor event.

Thomas Muskrat: Carving Out a Community

 January 14, 2025 – May 17, 2025

Cherokee National Treasure Thomas Muskrat has spent a lifetime building connections with Cherokees and people of other tribal nations. In a new exhibit featured at Saline Courthouse Museum, 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. The exhibit will be on display Jan. 14 through May 17, 2025.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Troy Jackson: Mercy is in the Details

 November 22, 2024 – October 5, 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 – September 28, 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.

One Land, One Nation: Cherokee Unification After Removal

 July 30, 2024 – April 19, 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.