Cherokee Nation calendar of events for June

Cherokee Nation will host several events in the month of June, including the return of “Stories on the Square,” a flint-knapping demonstration and a gathering for at-large citizens in Georgia.

June 10

Join us in celebrating our new exhibit, “Jane Osti: A Legacy of Her Own,” at a reception from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita. Stunning works in the tradition of Cherokee and Indigenous Southeastern pottery have brought renown to Cherokee National Treasure Jane Osti, who is one of the most awarded living Cherokee potters today. In this exhibit, get to know Jane’s life, work and the artist who mentored her in the expression of indigenous Southeastern forms in clay — Anna Mitchell. The exhibit runs through October 29. More than two dozen pieces will be on display, including works available for purchase. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation. com. Second Saturday Artist Showcase with Troy Jackson from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah. Cherokee National Treasure Troy Jackson will demonstrate his raku pottery abilities. Jackson, whose work recently earned Best of Show at the Cherokee Art Market, will have works available to purchase. This event is part of the museum’s “Second Saturday Artist Showcase,” a monthly series featuring Cherokee artists and their unique art forms. Admission is free. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation. com.

Mayes County HOPE Fit-Biz 5K: Join the Cherokee Nation Wings Program for this 5K race beginning at 8 a.m. at the Pryor Creek Recreation Center, 1111 SE 9th St., in Pryor. The race is free to members of the Wings Program, but is also open to non-members for a fee. There will also be a 1K fun run beginning at 8:10 a.m. For more information or to register, go to https://runsignup.com/hopefbc23 or contact pawneecrabtree@cherokee.org or 918-5069014.

Cherokee Nation History Classes: Cherokee Nation is sharing its rich history and culture in a new class, “Cherokee Nation: A History of Resilience.” Join us in Englewood, Colo., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 10, and 1 to 5 p.m., June 11, at The Guild, 3435 S. Inca St., Suite C. The class is the first in a developing program and offers a timeline of Cherokee history and events with an emphasis on traditional Cherokee arts, culture and oral history from pre-European contact through present day. “Cherokee Nation: A History of Resilience” is free and open to the public with registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be presented a certificate of completion at the end of the class. For a full list of available dates or to register for an upcoming course, please go to VisitCherokeeNation. com or call 918-986-8839. Additional dates and locations will be added throughout the year.

June 14

Stories on the Square: Join us as traditional stories are brought to life by Cherokee storyteller Sammy Still at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion in Tahlequah. The stories start at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a take-home activity. Still is an original member of the Turtle Island Liar’s Club — an informal fellowship of Cherokee speakers, cultural presenters, historians and storytellers created nearly three decades ago. Admission is free. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.

June 17

Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting in Georgia for at-large Cherokee citizens living in the Peach State. Come out and visit with Cherokee Nation leaders and take part in cultural activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dellinger Park Pavilion #3, 100 Pine Grove Road, in Cartersville, Georgia. Lunch will be provided. Tribal Registration will be on site at all locations for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens. For questions regarding these events, call 918-207-4963.

Saturday Social at Saline: Join us from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose for a day packed with entertainment and activities for all. Enjoy live music by Chuj Mackey, art demonstrations, community games and a food truck. Bring family and friends for a relaxing day at the Saturday Social at Saline, an event that is free and open to the public. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.

The Cherokee Nation’s 2023 annual Traditional Native Games competition continues beginning at 10 a.m. at the No-We-Ta Cherokee Community Center in Nowata. Competitions will include a cornstalk shoot, horseshoes, marbles and blowgun which will start at 10 a.m., with hatchet-throwing and stickball shootout at 11 a.m. and chunkey at noon. Registration will be held 30 minutes before each of the games. Competitors in the hatchet throw, blowgun, stickball shootout, chunkey and cornstalk shoot must bring their own sporting materials for the games. All games are open to the public and are at no cost to the players or audience. For more information or to contact a coordinator, visit thecherokeeholiday.com/community-games/Cherokee National Treasure Vyrl Keeter will be showcasing his flint-knapping techniques at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita from noon to 2 p.m. Flint-knapping is the art of crafting arrowheads, spearpoints and other tools from stone. Keeter will also have his work available for purchase. Admission is free and open to the public. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to see the practice of traditional Cherokee flint-knapping. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.

June 19

The Sequoyah High School Drama Department will hold their weeklong “We’re Here to Steal the Show” summer session beginning today, culminating with a performance on June 23 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at The Place Where They Play gymnasium. This performance is free and open to the public. The weeklong summer camp, held 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day, is open to students in first through fifth grades. A $50 fee includes all classes, costumes, lunch and a T-shirt. Students must apply by June 12. For more information or to apply, please contact Amanda Ray at amanda-ray@cherokee.org or 918-453-5156.

June 20

Cherokee Nation History Classes: Cherokee Nation is sharing its rich history and culture in a new class, “Cherokee Nation: A History of Resilience.” Join us in Colcord from 1 to 4 p.m. June 20 through June 28 at the Talbot Library & Museum, 500 S. Colcord Ave. The class is the first in a developing program and offers a timeline of Cherokee history and events with an emphasis on traditional Cherokee arts, culture and oral history from pre-European contact through present day. “Cherokee Nation: A History of Resilience” is free and open to the public with registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be presented a certificate of completion at the end of the class. For a full list of available dates or to register for an upcoming course, please go to VisitCherokeeNation.com or call 918-986-8839. Additional dates and locations will be added throughout the year.

June 21

Stories on the Square: Join us as traditional stories are brought to life by Cherokee storyteller Choogie Kingfisher at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion in Tahlequah. The stories start at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a take-home activity. Kingfisher received the honor of Cherokee National Treasure in 2019 for his work as a Cherokee cultural educator and storyteller. Admission is free. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation. com.

June 22

Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Blood Institute will be holding a blood drive at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah. This event is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Tsa-La-Gi Community Room. Donors will receive a vintage T-shirt and one free ticket to the Science Museum Oklahoma, Frontier City or Hurricane Harbor. For more information, please contact OBI at 877-340-8777, Patricia Hawk at 539-234-1817 or Community Health Nursing at 539234-1816.

June 23

Cherokee Nation cyclists taking part in the 2023 Remember the Removal Bike Ride are set to return to Tahlequah after weeks spent retracing the northern route of the Trail of Tears. Join family, friends and community members as we greet these cyclists with a celebration through downtown Tahlequah. Follow Cherokee Nation on social media throughout June to keep up with the Remember the Removal Bike Ride and for more details on the return celebration.

June 28

Stories on the Square: Join us as traditional stories are brought to life by Cherokee storyteller Tonya Still at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion in Tahlequah. The stories start at 10 a.m. After the stories, children of all ages are invited to a “Make & Take” take-home craft activity to create their own cornhusk flowers. Admission is free. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation. com.

Ongoing

The “Jane Osti: A Legacy of Her Own” exhibit is on display now through October 29 at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita. One of the most awarded living Cherokee potters, Cherokee National Treasure Jane Osti has led a distinguished career as an artist embracing Cherokee traditional pottery and its proliferation. This exhibit looks at her life, work and the artist who guided Osti through her expression of Indigenous Southeastern forms in clay — Anna Mitchell. Through her relationship with the Cherokee pottery revivalist, Osti found inspiration to create stunning, in-demand works of art that have brought her renown. More than two dozen pieces will be on display, including works available to the public for purchase. Admission is free and the welcome center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation. com.

The “Advocate-in-Chief: The Life of William Potter Ross” exhibit is on display through January 27, 2024, at the John Ross Museum in Park Hill. William Potter Ross was a Cherokee scholar, journalist, merchant, representative and leader who had the distinction of becoming Cherokee Nation’s Principal Chief twice before Oklahoma statehood, though never by a popular vote of the Cherokee people. This exhibit looks at the life of Ross — a nephew of Principal Chief John Ross — who became the first editor of the Cherokee Advocate newspaper, a Cherokee Nation delegate and an eloquent leader who struggled in turbulent times. 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 “Anna Sixkiller: The Language of Reeds” exhibit is on display through July 15 at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose. The exhibit features beautiful traditional Cherokee basketry by Sixkiller, a Cherokee National Treasure for basketry and first-language Cherokee speaker. Celebrating her commitment to Cherokee culture and language as a teacher and translator, the exhibit displays some of Sixkiller’s favorite works. A limited number of her handmade baskets are available 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 June 24 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.

About Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Nation is the federally recognized government of the Cherokee people and has inherent sovereign status recognized by treaty and law. The seat of tribal government is the W.W. Keeler Complex near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capital of the Cherokee Nation. With more than 450,000 citizens, 11,000 employees and a variety of tribal enterprises ranging from aerospace and defense contracts to entertainment venues, Cherokee Nation is one of the largest employers in northeastern Oklahoma and is the largest tribal nation in the United States.

To learn more, visit www.cherokee.org.