Visit Cherokee Nation

Recorded on June 10 in Tahlequah, OK. Gene Norris, senior genealogist with the Cherokee National Research Center, helps make sense of centuries-old documents that record Cherokee history in his lecture, "19th and 20th Century Cherokee Rolls and Censuses Explained.”Watch all Lunch & Learn videos at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAaEbcbNmanxxnXPVF59r7XS8v4JBgcr&feature=shared

Recorded on April 15 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.The April Lunch & Learn was about the “Andy Payne and the 1928 International Transcontinental Footrace,” presented by Keith Austin. Learn all about Andy Payne’s historic achievement during this presentation. Watch all Lunch & Learn videos at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAaEbcbNmanxxnXPVF59r7XS8v4JBgcr&feature=shared

Recorded on November 20 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.The November Lunch & Learn was about the “History of the Cherokee National Female and Male Seminaries,” presented by Gene Norris, Senior Genealogist, Cherokee National Research Center.Watch all Lunch & Learn videos at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAaEbcbNmanxxnXPVF59r7XS8v4JBgcr&feature=shared

Recorded on September 17 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The September Lunch & Learn was about the “Cherokee National Archives” presented by Ross Mulcare, Archives Manager at the Cherokee National Research Center. Watch all Lunch & Learn videos at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAaEbcbNmanxxnXPVF59r7XS8v4JBgcr&feature=shared

Recorded on July 18 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This month's Lunch & Learn was about the “Act of Union” presented by Catherine Foreman Gray, Jack Baker, and Chrissi Nimmo. View the full Lunch & Learn schedule at: https://visitcherokeenation.com/classes/lunch-and-learn/

Recorded on May 14, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This month's Lunch & Learn was about the “U.S. Marshals Museum,” presented by David Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits. This fascinating new museum — the culmination of more than 16 years of fundraising, design, construction and installation — opened July 1, 2023. You can view the full Lunch & Learn schedule at: https://visitcherokeenation.com/classes/lunch-and-learn/

Recorded on March 26 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This month's Lunch & Learn was about the “Historical Role of Women in Cherokee Society" and was a panel discussion featuring four Cherokee women of distinction. Hear from Dr. Candessa Tehee, 2nd District Councilor for the Council of the Cherokee Nation; Elizabeth Toombs, tribal historic preservation officer for Cherokee Nation; Krystan Moser, senior manager of collections and exhibits for Visit Cherokee Nation; and Catherine Foreman Gray, cultural programs and event projects manager for Visit Cherokee Nation. You can view the full Lunch & Learn schedule at: https://visitcherokeenation.com/lunch-and-learn

Artist Sayo’:kla Kindness-Williams (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) took home the Trail of Tears Award at this year’s Trail of Tears Art Show. Learn about the important history and cultural elements she depicted in her winning piece titled “Healing Coat: Remembering the Journey of On^yote?a:ka (The People of the Standing Stone)” in this Artist Spotlight. The 53rd Annual Trail of Tears Art Show runs now through May 11 at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and online at: TrailOfTearsArtShow.com

Cherokee National Treasure Weynema Smith has spent a lifetime teaching the Cherokee language and sharing her profound knowledge of our culture. In this podcast, listen to Weynema talk about the cultural importance of various plant life and why it's crucial to pass down Cherokee traditions to future generations. Make plans to see the new exhibit “Weynema Smith: To Live a Cherokee Life” at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose, Oklahoma — on display now through May 11. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. English translation of the Weynema's opening story: We were at home alone with Grandma. Grandpa was away, he wasn't at home. It got real cloudy, and it was getting dark, and there was thunder. It got real scary. Grandma said a tornado was coming. And I mean it stormed. Our corn was about four or five feet tall at that time. After the wind had passed and it got still, Grandma said, “Let’s go look around.” She took us with her. All the corn was just flattened down. “It ruined our corn,” she said. When Grandpa came home that night, he said to us, “When you get up in the morning, you and your brother, go down to the cornfield where the corn is laying down, and stand up seven plants.” Just seven of them, don't worry about the rest. We did exactly what we were told to do. We didn’t even check the next day if they were still standing, or what happened to the corn. But then he asked us, “Do you see the corn standing up?” Then we paid attention. When we went to check, every plant was standing up. Every bit of it came back up by itself. To us, it meant to have the faith and be strong in it. You knew why you were doing it, you were helping it up.

It’s that spooky time of year again! 🎃 Join Cherokee National Treasure Choogie Kingfisher for a special episode of Cherokee Storytelling as he shares a chilling tale from his father about what he witnessed happen one night in an old cemetery.

Pairing traditional themes and methods with contemporary materials is what Eva L. Cantrell does best. Her skirts for the 2023 Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show were proof of her passion for combining the different art mediums. Cantrell’s modern feel and cultural touchstone designs create handmade work that she hopes tells the stories of our lives. Explore more of Cantrell’s textile art on her website: https://EvaCantrellCreations.com Check out the full Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show livestream here: https://youtu.be/0DqDuRjj3gk

Cherokee National Treasure Dan Mink has created the artwork for Cherokee National Holiday every year for nearly two decades. In this video, listen to Dan talk about his artistic journey and the process behind creating graphic designs. Make plans to see the new exhibit “Dan Mink: Cherokee by Design” at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose, Oklahoma — on display now through October 7.

Cindy Evans draws on her Cherokee roots to create stylish skirts with designs and patterns that are evocative of Oklahoma. Her family influences helped her put the beauty of her culture in every dress at the 2023 Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show. Discover more of her work, including Cherokee tear dresses, ribbon shirts, ribbon skirts, shawls and fringed purses on her Facebook page, Two Needles Native Design’s! Check out Evans’ designs in the full Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show live stream here: https://youtu.be/0DqDuRjj3gk