Honoring Dinner a Huge Success

The dinner honoring Speaker of the House Larry Adair and Senator Herb Rozell held at the Cherokee Casino in Catoosa was a huge success, thanks to the efforts and financial support of many friends, Heritage Center board members and staff, support from the Cherokee Nation, and assistance from Cherokee Nation Enterprises. Click on the links below for photo galleries of the event. A detailed list of supporters and those who helped make this fantastic event happen will be posted soon!

Auction items
Band
Cherokee Flutes
Guests
Speakers


Cherokee art donated for silent auction

Jazz guitarist setting the tempo for a great evening!

Cherokee flute players putting on a wonderful show

Guest enjoying the fun

Principal Chief Chad Smith giving the closing speech

Herb Rozell getting roasted by president of NSU

Herb Rozell getting roasted some more...

Larry Adair getting roasted by Keith Crittenden

Rick Fields introducing the Heritage Center

Lt. Governor Fallin bidding up the silent auction items

Larry Adair thanking the crowd

Jay Harrah entertaining everyone

Herb Rozell thanking the guests

Tribal Council Member Cara Cowan visits Cherokee Heritage Center

Tribal Council Member Cara Cowan visited the Cherokee Heritage Center today and visited with executive director Rick Fields. Thanks for dropping by, Cara, and for all the support and encouragement from the Cherokee Nation!


Tribal Council Member Cara Cowan and Cherokee Heritage Center executive director Rick Fields pose in front of the seal of the Cherokee Nation

Photo 2

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Daily Oklahoman Features Cherokee Heritage Center

The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma's largest newspaper, ran a full page, full color story on the back of the sports section about the Cherokee Heritage Center's newest exhibit, "Cherokee Athletes."

Curator Mickel Yantz, in addition to being pleased at this tremendous level of coverage, had this to say: "It's gratifying, to say the least, but this couldn't have happened without support from the Cherokee Nation, volunters who donated artifacts and personal stories, and our own staff."

The Cherokee Heritage Center also thanks: Sequoyah High School, Cherokee Phoenix, Northeastern State University, Tennessee Titans, Conners University, Will Rogers Museum, Thunderbird Bowling Alley, Dan Agent, Calico Family, Dr. Brad Cobb, Hammer Family, Chris Houston, Brand Johnson, Killer Family, Jim Pate, Bryan Pollard, Virginia Russell, Cecil Sharp, Becky Barrows Smythe, Eunice Soap, Joe Thornton, Wilson Vann, Shirley and Shoat Webster, Parker and Rider Weavel, and Margaret Yattanzo.

Mickel Yantz, curator, with Daily Oklahoman news story

Mickel again...

Closeup of news story

Story headline

Photos from Cherokee Athletes Exhibit

Poster for World Archery, Oslo, Norway, 1961

Tennessee Titans uniform, courtesy NFL and Heritage Center board member Bud Adams

Exhibit trophy

Cherokee baseball team, early 20th Century

Cherokee football players, early 20th Century

Girls' softball team uniform

Rogers County Cherokee Association info

Claremore, OK-Rogers County Cherokee Association (RCCA) held its monthly meeting February 8th at the Rogers County Fair Board building. The organization elected officers for 2005 as follows: Talisha Nichols, President; Tina Foutz, Vice President; Sandee McClure, Secretary; and Greg Sneed, Treasurer.

The membership also heard a presentation from Mr. Rick Gassaway; Cherokee Nation Community Development regarding the Compassion Capital Grant Training and how the program can positively impact RCCA. The organization recently purchased acreage near Tiawah that will be home to a community facility to serve the Rogers County Cherokee Association and its cultural and heritage events. RCCA also received 501c3 status.

Cara Cowan, Cherokee Nation Tribal Representative for Rogers County, congratulated Talisha Nichols and the membership for their outstanding service and work toward achieving the goals to support the Cherokee heritage and cultural awareness.

Brian Slover, Membership Chairman for RCCA, has begun a membership drive for the organization. If you are interested in learning more about membership join us for our next meeting Tuesday, March 8th, at 7 PM. We will be meeting at the Claremore Sr. Citizens Center at 116 N. Missouri. For more information please contact Pamela Bickford at 343-3577 or Bickford7@aol.com.

Basketweaving Class

Rogers County Cherokee Association is pleased to announce that Marie Deffenbaugh will demonstrate traditional Cherokee basket weaving at the Rogers County Cherokee Association monthly meeting.

Please join us, Tuesday March 8th at the Claremore Senior Citizen Center located at 116 North Missouri in Claremore. The meeting will begin at 7 PM. You are encouraged to attend and learn about the rich heritage of our Cherokee culture. Membership information will be available at the meeting. As always, refreshments and fellowship will be available following the meeting.

Contact Pamela Bickford for more information at 343-3577 or write Bickford7@aol.com

Belated photos of staff retreat

Heritage Center staff assembled at Sequoyah State Park

Star volunteer Roy Hamilton...

Becky Adair...

IT guru Will Burgess...

Ami Maddocks, realizing that all 2,500 invitations have got to be addressed and stamped in the next hour...

Susan Cro...

Tonia Weavel, skeptical of an anonymous e-mail telling her that she's won the Powerball Lottery...

Rick Fields...

Mickel Yantz...

Mel Phillips, anticipating lunch...

Gene Norris, realizing that he's got 400 e-mails back at the office inquiring about the dreaded Cherokee princess great-great grandmother...

Robert Lewis, deep in thought...

Perry VanBuskirk...

Rachel Dew...

Tom Mooney, explaining that yes, you're wrong, and yes, he's right...again...

Rex Smith...

Mel and Rhonda...

Rhonda Clemons...

Fire extinguisher lecturer explaining that it's unwise to use a Class Q extinguisher on a Class A birthday cake...

Blood-borne pathogens speaker explaining that blood can be icky...

Kathryn Roastingear...

Dave Norfolk, asking if we can add hula dances to the standard group tour package...

Mickel Yantz, thinking "No, we can't."...

Fire extinguisher used to treat blood-borne pathogens...

Sam Nofire...

Robert Channel...

Orville Neugin...

Andrea Butler...

Will Lowe, counting the cookies to break time...

Entire gang, freezing...

Robert, Becky, and Robert, strapped into automatic chairs...

Chrissie Moore, water-skiing on the carpet...

Everyone smiling...END

Cherokee National Museum Exhibit Schedule 2005

Stone sculpture by Cherokee artist Harry Oosahwee

February 1-April 25: Cherokee Athletes--from Stickball to the Olympics April 30-May 29: 34th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show June 6-October 2: State of Sequoyah Convention Centennial October 8-November 14: 10th Annual Cherokee Homecoming Art Show November 14-December 31: Cherokee Heritage Center Staff Art Show Posted by Seth

Cherokee Humanities Course

The Cherokee Heritage Center offers a humanities class that explores the origins, history, and modern status of the Cherokee people. The course is free, and classes meet once a week for three hours in the evening at the Osiyo classroom at the Cherokee Nation.

There are Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Summer semester runs from April to June. First-time studens must enroll in the fall course. Contact Tonia or Becky in our education department, 918-456-6007, extension 33, for more information. Posted by Seth

Cherokee Heritage Center Staff

It takes a diverse and wonderful group of folks to keep the Cherokee Heritage Center going, and here is a brief rogues' gallery of staffers I was lucky enough to photograph at a recent event. Other photos will be posted as I can trick people into sitting still for a few moments in front of the camera's blinking eye.

Tonia Weavel, Director of Education, superb organizer and teacher, positive and enthusiastic force for the Center

Ami Maddocks, PR and Special Events Coordinator, woman who makes things happen that are astonishing in their complexity and level of detail

Will Burgess, IT genius and general man-who-keeps-the-whole-place-from-falling-apart

Cora Lathrop, warm-hearted woman who makes sure that you don't spend more than you bring in, and general enforcer of the Heritage Center Laws!

Zach Ford, man of infinite patience and good cheer who keeps the grounds looking spiffy and welcoming

Tom Mooney, archivist and general authority on everything that happened back before bicycles had wheels

Chrissie Moore, accountant and totally professional manager of the books

Will Lowe, ex-Marine, softball star, and master of the membership rolls here at the Center

Sam No-Fire, Cherokee elder and keeper of the cultural flame

Kathryn Roastingear, museum store coordinator, always smiling, and keeps everything upstairs in perfect order

Rachel Dew, interpretive guide for the ancient village, basketmaker, and lovely lady!

Susan Cro, administrative specialist, cheery staffer, and person who gets things done when they need doing

Gene Norris, genealogist, and person who can definitively tell you that your great-grandmother was definitely NOT a Cherokee princess (because there weren't any!)

Mickel Yantz, museum curator who makes the impossible possible, lover of great Seattle coffee, and first-rate guy

Perry VanBuskirk, manager of the ancient village, expert on Cherokee culture, craftsman who specializes in blowguns, stickball sets, and numerous other things of beauty

Mel Phillips, grantwriter, person of infinite good humor, snappy dresser, and first-rate dad

Kathy VanBuskirk, receptionist, master basketmaker, wonderful cook and baker, and keeper of Cherokee culture and language

Becky Adair, education coordinator, woman of infinite grace, good cheer, exceptional talent, and she-who-makes-sure-education-events-are-done-according-to-plan. Posted by Seth, and no, it's no coincidence that my photo is nowhere to be found!

Get Listed

The Cherokee Heritage Center sent its first e-newsletter on Thursday, and so far we've gotten high marks. Take a moment to visit our home page or the link on the left-hand side of this blog to sign up for the newsletter. We'll keep you apprised on a monthly basis of our multitudinous happenings! Posted by Seth

Molding the Future with Mortar from the Past

David Scott, Cherokee Heritage Center board member, linguist, and tireless advocate for the preservation and teaching of the Cherokee language. David starred in a moving and impressive "newscast of the future" that showed the possibilities for a Cherokee renaissance if language and culture are made a central priority. Posted by Seth

Board Member Photo at Annual Retreat

Cherokee Heritage Center board members at annual January retreat, 2005, Locust Grove Posted by Seth

Audra Smoke-Conner Visits Center

Tribal Councilor Audra Smoke-Conner and Cherokee Heritage Center Executive Director Richard Fields in front of the columns 

Cherokee Nation District 1 Tribal Councilor Audra Smoke-Conner, visited the Cherokee Heritage Center February 18th. Sharing stories of when she competed for the Miss Cherokee competition in the Tsa La Gi Amphitheatre, Ms Smoke-Conner has agreed to visit an upcoming staff meeting to talk with Center employees. It is always encouraging when Tribal Council members visit us, and we feel honored the Ms Smoke-Conner visited. Posted by Rick

February Flute Circle Report

Osiyo,

This month we were honored to have Kiowa Elder
“Smoky” attend our flute circle to smoke and bless the
youth’s involved in the Tsalagi Native Flute Youth
Ensemble, the members of our Tahlequah Native American
Flute Circle, and the Cherokee Heritage Center with
the assistance of Lee and Julie Harris. We would like
to extend a special “wado” to Smoky for honoring us
with his knowledge, blissing, and presence.

Many of the youth’s involved in the Tsalagi Flute
Youth Ensemble regularly perform in the Tahlequah
Native American Flute Circle. We are always excited
to see what these individuals will come up with and
share with the group. This month Cheyanne Olson
performed an honoring song for Smoky. Amber Harris
also performed her song “Sunrise” to honor the sun
rising over the new day. Rebecca Batchelor and Catlin
Coney performed new songs that they have been working
on for the past few weeks.

Our presenter this month was local flute
maker Sonny Arm in Trout. Sonny brought along several
of his beautiful flutes to demonstrate for us. Some
of the woods range from various maples to aromatic
cedar. His presentation on his flute making methods
and his knowledge of the Native American Flute was
exciting to hear and enjoyable to watch. Thank you
Sonny for a great presentation!

As we went around the group our members got to
share with us their beautiful songs and interests in
the Native American Flute. We got to hear from our
friends from Tulsa, thank you for coming!

Director of the Cherokee Heritage Center Richard
Fields, and Curator Mickel Yantz, were there to help
with the smoking ceremony. As always we appreciate
the Cherokee Heritage Center for letting us utilize
their facilities.

The night was wrapped up with a short closing
song. Please bear with us as we continue to work out
the format for these flute circles. We are learning
as we go and are planning to add more features to the
circle during the year. If you have an idea for a
flute circle agenda or discussion please call or email
us so we make sure to give you all the time you need.
We appreciate any ideas or comments you have for or
about our group. One idea we are continuing is our
opening and closing song. To end where we began,
completing the circle.

Remember the next Flute Circle will be March 18th. See you there!

Osiyo!

Cherokee Heritage Center board member John Ketcher

John Ketcher was a guest speaker at the Heritage Center's staff meeting yesterday. This amazing World War II Navy veteran told us about growing up and how things are today. His vision is that Cherokees become the most significant cultural and regional brand for northeastern Oklahoma by propagating "Osiyo" the same way that Hawai'ians have brought international recognition to "Aloha." John has been a tireless supporter of the Heritage Center and its mission to preserve and promote Cherokee culture, and it was great to hear from this hale, hearty, and respected Cherokee elder.

Posted by Seth

Learn and Serve Program Held at Center

Today's Learn and Serve program, funded by the Cherokee Nation, brought kids to the Heritage Center. The students took a tour of the museum and the village, where they got to play stickball.

This program is part of the Nation and the Center's ongoing effort to educate students about Cherokee culture, and give them a chance to experience it first-hand.

Then the students were were divided into groups of "Ross Party" and "Treaty Party," and they debated about the Trail of Tears and whether they would have gone. Some said the reason to relocate is because removal was inevitable, and because removal offered more land and natural resources. The Ross party wanted to stay where they'd grown up and where their ancestors were buried--they made a strong argument to be able to remain in their historic home.

"The kids learned a lot, details about the Trail of Tears, they seemed to enjoy it and have a lot of fun," said Heritage Center staffer Becky Adair. Becky and education director Tonia Weavel put on the program, with funding from the Cherokee Nation Learn for materials, admission, food, and Cherokee Nation funding for the schools to allow them to continue the project at school. "We have more schools listed for later in the year--about five more schools," said Adair.

"The Nation lets us recruit more schools, and we get new schools to the Center. In the end the Nation can rely on us more to assist with their programs," said Adair.

"They all learned traditional crafts like blowguns and darts, and most already knew how to play stickball. They enjoyed learning how to make them. It's an important part of keeping the culture healthy and alive," she added. Posted by Seth

Keeping Cherokee Heritage Alive

The motivation to keep Cherokee heritage alive is what Dr. Lynda Dee Dixon is all about. She was born and reared in Oklahoma. Her Cherokee family worked hard to keep their traditions alive. Dixon said that growing up she didn’t exactly know she was practicing Cherokee rituals, she just knew her family was a little different from the rest.

Mrs. Dixon, now a professor of Interpersonal Communication at Bowling Green State University, is now conducting research for her book, “Oklahoma Cherokees in the Twenty-First Century: The Relationship of Language and Culture."

“I believe this study will benefit us as Cherokees by showing our Nation’s leaders what our language means to us,” said Dixon

Dixon said that while her family tried to maintain Cherokee traditions she had difficulty distinguishing which were Cherokee andwhich were just her individual family traditions. Dixon decided to do research on other Cherokees to see if speaking the Cherokee language is a significant part of identification with the culture.

Previous research has been conducted on the health and aging of Cherokee women in modern Cherokee culture. Dixon's goal is to combine previous research with Tahlequah interviews for her upcoming book on the subject.

Dixon wants to examine the quality of Cherokee life and determine how Cherokees identify themselves. Her research suggests that Cherokee-speaking Cherokees are not the only ones that identify themselves with the Cherokee culture.

The interviews conducted by Ms. Dixon include a collection of questions that include: How much do you use the Cherokee language and is it important to your self-identification as a Cherokee? What do you want other tribes or non-Native Americans to know about being Cherokee?

While at the Cherokee Heritage Center she interviewed Roy Hamilton, a Cherokee and volunteer genealogist.

"While conducting the interview she encouraged me to open up about the atmosphere of growing up Cherokee. It’s good she is doing this research. I think she will get a lot of diverse feedback. I can’t wait till the research is done so I can read it,” said Hamilton.

“I hope the book will be important to see how people live their lives as Cherokees,” said Dixon.

For more information call Cherokee Heritage Center, (918) 456-6007 or toll free 1-888-999-6007. Posted by Andrea Butler, communications intern from NSU

A Man of Many Hats

Robert Lewis, interpretive guide for the Ancient Villge

Robert Lewis, a man of many hats. A Cherokee Heritage Center employee since 2001, Lewis knows the value of hard work, dedication and community involvement. His face appears everywhere from brochures, to dramas, and life size pictures of him in all the welcome centers. Everyone wants to know the man behind the face.

This Oklahoma native was born in Salina but grew up in Ft. Gibson. His mother is Cherokee and his father is Apache and half Navaho. While growing up Lewis knew little about his Native American culture. His father was removed from the reservation and put into boarding school. His mother graduated from Sequoyah. His grandparents converted to Christianity, so they did not talk much about their heritage.

He graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and a minor in Humanities and Literature. He is an art instructor at the university and his art work was showcased last year at the Cherokee Heritage Center.

He first started participating in the Trail of Tears drama in 1994, before he was ever employed at the Cherokee Heritage Center. He started working for the Cherokee National Historical Society in 2001 in the society’s pottery plant. In the summer of 2002 he started working in the ancient village at the Cherokee Heritage Center to help maintain the historical site.

Lewis's responsibilities at the center include giving tours of the ancient village and story telling for groups. When area schools visit, Lewis gives demonstrations of basket making, bow and arrows, and flint napping.

He always gets the school children involved, especially the Cherokee students, to give them exposure to their heritage.
He also strives to tell his children as much as he can about the Cherokee culture.

Lewis’s family is very active in conserving Cherokee heritage.
His wife, Veronica, who is also Cherokee, is very interested in Native American pottery and art. She also gives demonstrations for the center on weaving and pottery.

He said his future goal is to learn the Cherokee language completely.

When asked what his favorite part was about working at the center, Lewis said, “All the people that work here. It’s more like a family than an ordinary work environment.”

“I feel the Cherokee Heritage Center is a way to maintain Cherokee history by getting the community involved,” said Lewis.

This husband and father of two tries hard to restore the Cherokee history at the center as well as at home.

Posted by Andrea Butler, communications intern from NSU

Wiping Away the Tears

The Cherokee Heritage Center has teamed up with the Association for Core Texts and Courses to host a workshop for high school teachers in science, literature, and art that focuses on the renewal and better understanding of Cherokee Culture by focusing on the Trail of Tears. Read a complete description of the project, along with guidelines for applying to the workshop, here. Posted by Seth

Johnson O'Malley Conference

The Cherokee Heritage Center will attend the 2005 Johnson O'Malley Conference in Tulsa, April 21-24. The conference focuses on meeting the unique cultural and educational needs of American Indian learners. Posted by Seth

Silent Auction

Silent Auction at the Honorary Dinner will be awesome! Three silent auction items will be set up to do a blind auction. The items will have a Cherokee emphasis. Donations to date include items from Cherokee Living Treasures to be combined as one item, a weekend stay at the Cherokee Casino and Resort, as well as Cherokee Heritage Pottery Dinnerware. Don't miss this chance to see and bid on one of a kind Cherokee items! Posted by Seth

Cherokee Heritage Center Opens with Cherokee Athletes Exhibit

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The Cherokee Heritage Center begins its 2005 season on Feb. 1 with the highly anticipated Cherokee Athletes exhibit. From the brutal origins of stickball to modern athletics events, sports have played a prominent role in Cherokee culture. The Cherokee Athletes exhibit showcases the past and present, and pays tribute to the many Cherokee athletes who helped shape the world of sports.

Traditionally, games like stick-and-hoop, chunkey and stickball were played to refine skills needed for daily survival. Stickball was often played to settle disputes between villages, while other games were used to gamble.

“Today’s games are more structured,” said Archivist Tom Mooney. “On a modern team you learn to discipline yourself by preparing for a game. This may involve intense practice, making a game plan, executing the plan and preparing for opponents at all levels. These skills are directly translatable into preparing one’s self for the business world and facing the challenges of today’s life.”

In addition to teaching the public about Cherokee games, the Cherokee Athletes exhibit offers guests an opportunity to view memorabilia such as game-worn jerseys, awards and historic photos from every time period.

“I think one of the most popular things will be comparing a modern football helmet with an older leather type worn in the mid-20th century,” said Cherokee Heritage Center Executive Director Richard Fields. “It’s amazing what used to pass for protective equipment.”

Museum Curator, Mickel Yantz, worked diligently with the community to create an exhibit that is both entertaining and educational.

“This exhibit is a wonderful example of the community coming together to honor the athletes in the Cherokee culture,” said Yantz. “Sports have always been a part of Cherokee culture displaying athleticism and a competitive spirit that has not faded. This exhibit shows athletes as more than historic figures, but as people of the community and the future.”

The Cherokee Athletes exhibit is one more way the Cherokee Heritage Center fulfills its mission of preserving and promoting Cherokee history and culture and educating the public about that history and culture.

“Far too many people only know about the Trail of Tears removal, or the Cherokee involvement in the Civil War,” said Fields. “This exhibit gives us the chance to share the story of everyday Cherokees who excel in sports, games and life.”

The Cherokee Athletes exhibit can be viewed at the Cherokee National Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call the Cherokee Heritage Center at 918-456-6007, toll free at (888) 999-6007, or visit the Web site at http://www.cherokeeheritage.org/. Posted by Ami Maddocks, PR and Special Events Coordinator