The fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3 in the Cherokee Nation community room, directly behind the Restaurant of the Cherokees.
"This is a brand new, first year event and we are very excited to get it started," Toni Vance, event coordinator, said. "This will be a great opportunity for people from different communities to showcase their cultural talents."
Participants may compete in one of three age categories; ages 6-12, ages 12-18, and adults over 18. Craft competition categories include painting, drawing, sculpture, hand-dug clay or commercial wood, pottery (hand-dug or commercial), needle craft and needlepoint, baskets, beadwork, beaded jewelry, clothing (leather or fur), clothing (tear dresses, ribbon shirts, shawls, jingle dresses), and traditional foods.
Items should be photographed and the photographs along with the official entry form should be submitted by 4 p.m. on Aug. 30. There is no fee to enter. Official entry forms are available at the Cherokee Nation complex, Cherokee Nation Career Services satellite offices, and the Cherokee Nation Outpost in Tahlequah and Fort Gibson.
For more information on the Cherokee Nation cultural crafts fair, contact Toni Vance at (918) 456-0671, ext. 2673 or Melanie Dodge at (918) 456-0671, ext. 2866.
The Cherokee Nation celebrates its National Holiday every year over Labor Day weekend, in observance of the signing of the Cherokee Nation constitution. This year's holiday theme, "Celebrating the Great State of Sequoyah," commemorates Indian Territory and the state that almost was. For more information on the Cherokee National Holiday contact Lou Slagle at (918) 456-0671, ext. 2544 or visit the Cherokee Nation's Web site at www.cherokee.org.
