Cherokee Nation calendar of events for February

February 7

Cherokee Nation is welcoming the public to a free genealogy talk on modern research techniques at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita. The event is hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. and is led by an experienced, professional genealogist from the Cherokee National Research Center. In addition to learning how to begin genealogical research, participants will be introduced to the many resources available to assist them in their efforts. The genealogy talk is open to the public and free to attend with no registration required. For more information on the event, please contact the Cherokee National Research Center at 918-456-6007 or Research@VisitCherokeeNation. com.

Stop by the Cherokee Nation Commerce Innovation Hub every Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. for free entrepreneur and small business development workshops. This will be a weekly discussion of all things small business and entrepreneurship, and will include guest speakers, business development 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 workshops are free, but preregistration is required. For more information, to register or to learn about virtual options, contact Lillian Thrasher at 918-772-4178 or lillian- thrasher@cherokee.org. Learn more at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zs_1uw_t0jD4NL157TvP1ByLuPnLi_SRTShpWjRRaWM/edit?usp=sharing%20–

February 8

All fluent Cherokee speakers are invited to this 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. For more information, please call 918-207-4901 or email language@ cherokee.org.

February 9

The Oklahoma Blood Institute has issued an Emergency Blood Appeal, which means that their blood inventory is below comfortable levels and, if not resolved, many patients could be impacted. To help, Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Blood Institute will be holding an emergency blood drive at the AMO Health Center in Salina, Okla. This event is open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donors will receive a glowin- the-dark T-shirt. Please make an appointment online at obi.org or contact Cherokee Nation Public Health educator Britanie Wacoche at 918-722-8719 to schedule an appointment.

February 10

Second Saturday Artist Showcase: Cherokee National Treasure Barbara Adair will demonstrate her basketry skills from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah. In addition to basket weaving, Adair also specializes in making clay necklaces, twine bags and cornhusk dolls. She was selected as a Cherokee National Treasure in 2022 for preserving and promoting Cherokee art and culture. For this event, Adair will demonstrate how to create round reed baskets. 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 and the artist will have works available for purchase. Go to VisitCherokeeNation.com to learn more.

Cherokee Nation is hosting an atlarge meeting for Cherokee citizens living in Florida. Be sure to join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Mirror Auditorium in Lakeland, Fla., for this exciting meeting with cultural presentations and demonstrations. Visit with Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and at-large councilors Julia Coates and Johnny Kidwell. Lunch will be provided. 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.

February 13

Traditional food demonstration: Learn how to make Three Sisters Stew and to prepare watercress from noon to 1 p.m. in the training kitchen at Sam Hider Health Center in Jay, Okla. For more information, contact Cherokee Nation Public Health educator Cindy Tuder at 918-506-7914. This demonstration is free and open to the public. Sam Hider Health Center is located at 859 E. Melton Drive in Jay.

Ready to live a tobacco-free life? Cherokee Nation is offering a free seven-week tobacco cessation course at the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center, 471688 Hwy 51 E., in Stilwell. Classes will be every Tuesday at 1 p.m. inside the Conference Room. You do not have to be Native American to enroll, but you must be 18 years or older. Contact Cherokee Nation Public Health Educator Kassandra Rosas at 918-316-7765 or kassandra-rosas@cherokee.org to sign up or for more information.

Cherokee Nation Public Health is observing American Heart Month. Join Cherokee County Public Health Educators for heart health information, free blood pressure checks and incentives while supplies last at the Hulbert Community Public Library from 2 to 5 p.m. The library is located at 210 N. Broadway in Hulbert, Okla. For more information, contact Kindle Spry at kindle-spry@cherokee. org.

February 16

Traditional food demonstration: Learn how to make Three Sisters Stew from noon to 1 p.m. in the community room at the AMO Health Center in Salina, Okla. For more information, contact Cherokee Nation Public Health educators Britanie Wacoche at 918-772-8719 or Pawnee Kingfisher at 918-506-9014. This demonstration is free and open to the public. AMO Health Center is located at 900 N. Owen Walters Blvd. in Salina.

February 17

Learn how to make a fringed shawl with Cherokee artist Eva Cantrell in this small group class from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita, Okla. Materials will be provided, but participants will need to bring their own sewing machine and thread. If you don’t have a sewing machine, please contact Carrie Lind at 918-704-5872. This class, which is expected to fill up quickly, is $50. Learn more and reserve a spot at https://shop.visitcherokeenation.com/collections/culturalclasses/products/02-172024-shawl-class

February 19

Cherokee Nation Public Health educators will be observing Through with Chew Week by providing information on quitting tobacco use and handing out “quit kits” and incentives while supplies last at the Vinita Health Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, contact Miranda Russell at 918-256-4800.

February 21

ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᏁᎬ ᏓᏂᏃᏣᎵᏍᎬ: A day to honor and commemorate the past, present and future of Cherokee journalism and printing will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Tahlequah. Enjoy a variety of great events and view fascinating special artifacts. Attend panel discussions, try your hand at printmaking and join the fun of Cherokee mad libs. All events will take place at the Cherokee Arts Center and the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum. The Kawi Café will be open during the event for food and refreshments. Learn more at VisitCherokeeNation.com.

Ready to live a tobacco-free life? Cherokee Nation is offering a free tobacco cessation course that will be taught virtually. There will be classes at noon and at 5:30 p.m. You do not have to be Native American to enroll, but you must be 18 years or older. To sign up, contact Cherokee Nation Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Heather Elliott at heather-elliott@cherokee.org or 918-316-9316 or visit https://compyle.clearimpact.com/#/public/survey/7E11AE10-97FC-40F2A8FF-B77C64B96E6A

February 22

Cherokee Nation Public Health educators will be observing Through with Chew Week by providing information on quitting tobacco use and handing out “quit kits” and incentives while supplies last at the Cherokee County Jr. Livestock Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cherokee County Livestock Arena. All are welcome. For more information, contact Kindle Spry at kindle-spry@cherokee.org.

February 23

Cherokee Nation Public Health educators will be observing Through with Chew Week by providing information on quitting tobacco use and handing out “quit kits” and incentives while supplies last at the Cherokee County Jr. Livestock Show from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cherokee County Livestock Arena. All are welcome. For more information, contact Kindle Spry at kindle-spry@cherokee.org.