Cherokee Nation April calendar of events

April 5

Celebrate award-winning art and exceptional Native artists at the 53rd annual Trail of Tears Art Show awards reception. The reception, which is free and open to the public, kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah. Don’t miss your chance to view and purchase the best selection of artwork from the show. This show will be open to the public from April 6 to May 11. Go to trailoftearsartshow.com to learn more.

April 6

Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in or near Oklahoma City. Be sure to join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom at Rose State College, 1910 Hudiburg Drive, in Midwest City, 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, call 918-207-4963.

April 13

Yoga on the Lawn: Cherokee Nation citizen Jessica Lewandowski will be leading a yoga class from 11 a.m. to noon on the lawn of the Cherokee Nation Capitol Square, located just outside of the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah. Participants will be following along with the instructor and will need to bring their own mat. This class is limited to 25 people and is free, but participants must reserve a spot ahead of time. To do so, visit shop.visitcherokeenation. com. Traditional Native Games: Cherokee Nation will kick off its 2024 annual Traditional Native Games competition at the Cherokee Nation’s One Fire Field in Tahlequah. Competitions will include horseshoes, marbles and blowgun which will start at 10 a.m., with the stickball shootout at 11 a.m. and cornstalk shoot, hatchet-throwing and chunkey at noon. Registration will be held 30 minutes before each of the games. Competitors in the hatchet throw, stickball shootout, and cornstalk shoot must bring their own sporting materials for the games. For more information, go to thecherokeeholiday.com/communitygames.

Cultural class: Stop by the Cherokee Arts Center in downtown Tahlequah from 10 a.m. to noon to learn one of the earliest forms of Cherokee textiles, finger weaving. This class costs $15 and is limited to 25 people. For more information or to sign up for this class, call 918-453-5728 or email artscenter@cherokee.org. Learn more at www.facebook.com/events/1506655059882290.

April 17

Ready to live a tobacco-free life? Cherokee Nation is offering a free tobacco cessation course that will be taught virtually over seven weeks. 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 Miranda Russell at miranda-russell@cherokee.org or visit https://compyle.clearimpact.com/#/public/survey/9DCFC136-2D724B55-AADB-D067ECA83922

April 20

Watercress Fest: The Saline Courthouse Museum will host its first-ever Watercress Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rose, Okla. Enjoy live music from King Cabbage Brass Band, the Cherokee National Youth Choir and many more great acts. Watercress Fest will feature cultural games, art demonstrations, conservation and ethnobotany tours, a pop-up market, Native food trucks and more. This festival centers around the Land & Water Summit, focusing on conservationism and stewardship on the Cherokee Nation Reservation. The summit will include lectures and panels on the topic of environmental awareness, focusing on how they affect Cherokee Nation citizens and the tribe as a whole. Learn more at VisitCherokeeNation.com.

April 23

The Cherokee Nation Commerce Innovation Hub is kicking off a four-part lunch & learn series titled, “Automating Small Business with AI.” Pinnacle Marketing Group will help the group dive into the world of artificial intelligence and explain how it can revolutionize small businesses. Learn how AI can streamline processes, boost efficiency, and drive growth for business. This four-part series will be held April 23, 25 and 30 and May 2 from noon to 1 p.m. on the second floor of the Cort Mall, 215 S. Muskogee Ave., in downtown Tahlequah. The cost is $40 per person. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/automatingsmall-business-with-ai-tickets-871888320437?aff=oddtdtcreator.

April 26

Cherokee Nation Career Services will be hosting a fire safety fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at One Fire Field, west of the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, in Tahlequah. This event will promote safety awareness and show appreciation to area firefighters, law enforcement, EMS professionals and other first responders. Special guest Smokey Bear will be on hand at this year’s safety fair beginning at noon. Come meet Smokey and wish him a happy birthday at this free event that is open to the public. For more info, email sambowlin@cherokee.org or call 918506-9808.