777 W CHEROKEE ST CATOOSA OK

Transcription

1 777 W CHEROKEE ST CATOOSA OK

2 Osiyo! Osiyo (pronounced oh-see-yo) is the traditional Cherokee greeting. The simple translation is hello. But the true spirit of Osiyo lies in the word s deeper meaning: It is good to see you. For centuries, the Cherokee people have been noted for a strong sense of shared responsibility and genuine hospitality. It is with pride and honor that we invite you to visit the great Cherokee Nation. Come take part in our thriving culture and celebrate our enduring spirit through a variety of cultural tours. As you learn about our people, you will find that not only are we a people of the past, but also of the present and the future. The untold story of the Cherokee Nation to the unprecedented growth of recent years, the Cherokee Nation has flourished through its ability to face adversity, survive, adapt, prosper, and excel. This repeated adaptation and rebuilding highlights a people who have constantly reshaped and renewed themselves in order to not merely survive, but to attain the highest possible levels of achievement. The fires kept burning are merely emblematic of the greater Fire, the greater Light, the Great Spirit. I realize now as never before it is not only for the Cherokees, but for all mankind. That fire burns here today. Come and enjoy the warmth with us. is the foundation of both a state and a nation. We are a nation dedicated to the betterment of From the emotional depths of the Trail of Tears our people by creating a legacy for our children. Cherokee spiritual leader Redbird Smith wrote, Charles Banks Wilson

3 A Proud Heritage. Dorothy Sullivan Upon earliest contact with European explorers quarter of the Cherokee people died in Soon, the Cherokee s educational system Cherokee lands and rights were taken by the At the same time, our leaders continue to in the 1500s, the Cherokee Nation was identi- internment camps, on the trail, and after outpaced the best systems in the US. Many government as a result of the Cherokees having promote the ancient practice of ga du gi, which fied as one of the most advanced among Native arriving in Indian Territory, in what is now white settlements bordering the Cherokee signed a treaty with the Confederacy early in the means working together for a common cause, American tribes. For over a hundred years, the the state of Oklahoma. Nation took advantage of its superior school war. What remained of Cherokee tribal land was encouraging citizens toward self-reliance and Cherokees traded with Europe, South America, system, and paid tuition to have their children divided into individual allotments, which were independent sovereignty. The Cherokee and Asia. Cherokee society and culture continued From turmoil to transcendence. attend Cherokee schools. Other bilingual given to Cherokees listed in the census compiled language is being preserved and revitalized. to develop and shape a bicultural government Survivors of the removal, led by Principal materials, made possible by the syllabary that by the Dawes Commission. Today, descendants Historic sites are being restored, museums and society that matched the most civilized of Chief John Ross, ended their journey near Sequoyah introduced in 1821, led the Cherokees of those original enrollees make up Cherokee endowed. Ancient history, culture and the time. All prospered, but competition for Talmadge Davis present-day Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where a to literacy rates higher than those of their white Nation of more than 280,000 official members. ceremonies are being honored and revived. resources and profit soon began. In 1829, gold was discovered in Georgia. White settlers began to covet the Cherokee homelands, and despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Cherokee sovereignty, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 passed in Congress by one vote, over the objection of Daniel Boone and others, and was signed into law. In 1838, more than 16,000 Cherokee men, women and children were rounded up and marched over a thousand miles to Indian Territory on a route that became known as The Trail Where They Cried. About one majority of Cherokees counseled in 1839 and established one constitution under their newly re-formed Cherokee Nation. Tahlequah, the new Cherokee capital, along with nearby Park Hill, became hubs of business and cultural activity. In 1844, the Cherokee Advocate, printed in both Cherokee and English, became the first newspaper in Indian Territory. counterparts all prior to Oklahoma statehood in From remnants of their southeastern society, the Cherokees rebuilt a progressive lifestyle, with exemplary educational and judicial systems that have continued to flourish to this day. The years between the removal and the 1860s were called the Cherokee Golden Age, a period of prosperity that ended with division over the Civil War. After the Civil War, additional Today s Cherokee Nation. The modern Cherokee Nation is not an isolated entity it is all around you, encompassing 14 counties in northeastern Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation owns significant businesses as well as corporate, real estate and agricultural interests. We are a powerful and positive political force in Oklahoma. Our people benefit from a growing economy, equality and prosperity. Every Cherokee who speaks the language, every basket maker, potter, wood carver, singer, and citizen is helping revive the sacred fire that Redbird Smith spoke of long ago. Walk along the pathways of our ancestors and let our unique cultural offerings ignite a fire within you. Visit the Cherokee Nation today. Call (877) or logon to CherokeeTourismOK.com. The 7 clans of the Cherokee Nation Talmadge Davis Roger Cain Dan Mink

4 Share Our Journey Across the Cherokee Nation. While historical points of interest are spread throughout the 14 counties that comprise the Cherokee Nation, many are clustered near Tahlequah and Park Hill, Oklahoma. Tahlequah, Oklahoma Established as the capital of The Cherokee Nation in 1839, Tahlequah remains to this day, the heart of the Cherokee people. Historic Tahlequah sites include: 1. Cherokee National Capitol The Cherokee Council first met in 1870 under a large open shed in the center of the settlement in Tahlequah. This building was completed in 1869 and currently houses the judicial branch of the Cherokee Nation. 2. Cherokee National supreme court building This structure was built in 1844 by James S. Pierce to house the Cherokee National Supreme Court. It is the oldest government building still standing in the state of Oklahoma. 3. Cherokee National Jail Built in 1875, this structure was the only penitentiary in the contentious Indian Territory through Seminary Hall at Northeastern State University After the original Cherokee Female Seminary (the first learning institution west of the Mississippi) in Park Hill burned in 1887, Seminary Hall was reconstructed in Tahlequah in Park Hill, Oklahoma Many of the Cherokees that marched on The Trail of Tears, including Chief John Ross, made their home in Park Hill. The first post office in Indian Territory was also established here in Other important Park Hill sites include: 5. Murrell Home George Michael Murrell was a Virginian who married Minerva Ross, a member of a wealthy Cherokee family and niece of Chief John Ross. When the Cherokees were forced to leave their homes and move west to Indian Territory, Murrell moved with his wife s family to the new Nation in Their home is the only remaining antebellum plantation home in Oklahoma. 6. The Ross Cemetery Just down the road from the Murrell home, the Ross Cemetery is the burial place of Principal Chief John Ross, numerous high-ranking leaders of the Cherokee Nation, members of the Murrell family, members of the Ross Family, and several survivors from the Cherokee Trail of Tears relocation. The cemetery was added to the 7. Rural School 51 Rural School 51 was a public school built in The school is adjacent to the Ross Cemetery. National Register of Historic Places in

5 8. Cherokee Heritage Center and Cherokee National Museum Since 1967, the Cherokee Heritage Center has been committed to telling the story of the Cherokee. The Center was built on the original site of the Cherokee National Female Seminary. It offers a look at Cherokee history through exhibits, cultural workshops and events throughout the year. Cherokee National Museum The Cherokee National Museum was built in It houses a special exhibit gallery, two nationally recognized Native American annual art shows, and the award-winning Trail of Tears interpretive exhibition. Ancient Village The village features replicas of traditional homes and public structures from a time of intense cultural transformation. Guides and villagers demonstrate such traditional Cherokee crafts as basketry, pottery, flint knapping, and blowguns. Adams Corner Rural Village and Nofire Farms Adams Corner Rural Village is a contrast with the Ancient Village as it illustrates the great change in Cherokee society in Indian Territory in the days before Oklahoma statehood. Associated with the Rural Village is Nofire Farms. It includes animals typically found in the Cherokee Nation in the nineteenth century. Other sites of interest. 9. Saline Courthouse When the Cherokees arrived in Indian Territory, they divided their new lands into nine districts based on the 1839 Constitution of the Cherokee Nation. The Saline Courthouse, located in Rose, Oklahoma, is the only one of the nine courthouses to remain standing today. 10. Sequoyah s Cabin State Park Sequoyah s Cabin State Park preserves on its original site the cabin constructed by Sequoyah in The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966, and a National Literary Landmark in Fort Gibson Historic Site Built in 1824, Fort Gibson served as a staging area for several military expeditions which explored the west and sought peace between the tribes of the region. In 1890, the army abandoned Fort Gibson for the last time. 12. Dwight Mission Dwight Mission, located on Sallisaw Creek in Vian, Oklahoma, was built in It is the oldest school in the State of Oklahoma, although Union Mission was established at an earlier date. 13. Tahlonteeskee This site in Gore, Oklahoma, was named after Chief Tahlonteeskee who presided over the Cherokee Nation from 1809 to Tahlonteeskee became the first capital of the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory from and is considered the oldest governmental capital in Oklahoma. 14. Will Rogers Museum and birthplace Born in Oolagah, Indian Territory, Will Rogers was son to a prominent Cherokee senator, judge and cattleman. Visitors can see Rogers birthplace at the Dog Iron Ranch, or travel to the Will Rogers Museum, located in Claremore, Oklahoma. 15. Roland Art Gallery and Theater Located inside the Roland Travel Plaza in Roland, Oklahoma, The Roland Art Gallery and Theater gives visitors an authentic view of Cherokee art ranging from hand-produced woven baskets to intricate Cherokee paintings and gourd-art. Visitors may also watch the Cherokee-made film, Stories of the Cherokees. For a complete, up-to-date listing of events, visit CherokeeTourismOK.com

6 66,000 Acres of Culture. The Cherokee Nation is the second largest Indian tribe in the United States. There are more than 280,000 tribal members. Almost 70,000 of these Cherokees reside in the 7,000 square mile area of the Cherokee Nation, which is not a reservation, but a jurisdictional service area that includes all of eight counties (and portions of additional six) in northeastern Oklahoma. As a federally-recognized Indian tribe, the Cherokee Nation has both the opportunity and the sovereign right to exercise control and development over tribal assets, which includes 66,000 acres of land, as well as 96 miles of the Arkansas Riverbed. For more information on the Cherokee Nation and the services and organizations it offers, please visit Cherokee.org. always a celebration. In addition to our rich array of cultural sites, there are a variety of annual events that provide unique opportunities to celebrate the Cherokee way of life. Cherokee National Holiday The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 in tribute to the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. It is held Labor Day weekend and has grown into one of the largest events in Oklahoma, attracting more than 90,000 visitors. Each year a theme is chosen for the Cherokee National Holiday that celebrates our rich heritage and culture. The holiday hosts many different cultural and artistic events such as a two night inter-tribal pow wow, stickball, marbles, horseshoes and cornstalk shoot tournaments, softball, rodeos, car and art shows, gospel singing, the annual Miss Cherokee pageant, the Cherokee National Holiday parade, and the annual State of the Nation address by the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. cherokee art market From gourds and reeds, to river cane and simply the earth beneath their feet, the Cherokee people have found vast and beautiful ways to utilize the natural resources available to them to create art. Artists today are utilizing both traditional methods, and newer more modern art forms to capture Cherokee life and history. To celebrate all forms of Native American art, Cherokee Nation Enterprises hosts the Annual Cherokee Art Market each year in October. The Cherokee Art Market brings together an elite group of Native American artists to display and sell their work. More than one hundred and fifty influential Native American artists from across the nation are featured at the event which includes eleven categories such as jewelry, Jane Osti pottery, paintings, photography, sculpture, and basketry. For more information about this event, please visit the Cherokee Art Market web site, Cherokeeartmarket.com. Gospel Sing & Hog Fry Cherokee gospel groups celebrate Cherokee culture. This free concert and hog-fry takes place in early May on the grounds of the Cherokee Heritage Center. Under the cherokee moon Held every summer at the Cherokee Heritage Center with Friday and Saturday evening performances. Act I takes place in the Adams Corner Rural Village as the 1800s Indian Territory comes to life. Act II is performed in the Ancient Village. You decide with Cherokee leaders important issues of the day. annual homecoming art show & sale Held at the Cherokee Heritage Center, this juried show offers categories such as basketry, jewelry, pottery, sculpture and textiles. A time-honored tradition, the show brings skilled artisans together in order to preserve the Cherokee craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation. David and Sam-Watts Scott For a complete, up-to-date listing of events, visit CherokeeTourismOK.com Daniel Horsechief

7 See the Great Outdoors Through Cherokee Eyes. Discover the Osiyo Spirit. The Cherokee Nation is located in the heart of Green Country. This outdoor lover s paradise is home to more than half of Oklahoma s state parks and has more lakes than any other geographical area of Oklahoma. The area s numerous attractions and events give guests an inside look at the Cherokee way of life, both past and present, while offering the perfect combination of fun and educational exploration that will excite the entire family. Lakes & Camping River Rafting RV Hookups Hiking & Backpacking Bird Watching Horse Back Riding Fishing tours & Lodging Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism offers a variety of tourism-related services centered around the rich historical story of the Cherokee. Pre-scheduled, customized, group and self-guided tours are offered to sites across the Cherokee Nation, and can be designed to fit any schedule. Popular Online Tour Packages include: Cherokee Old Settler Tour Historical sites include Sequoyah s Cabin State Park, Cherokee Civil War Tour Experience historic Civil War sites of what was once Indian Territory, including Tahlequah, the Murrell home, Fort Gibson, and the Honey Springs Battle Site. Cherokee History Tour Tour begins at the Cherokee Heritage Center and Cherokee National Museum. Other sites include the Murrell home, Tahlequah, and Northeastern State University s Seminary Hall to build a customized tour around your specific needs and interests. If you are interested in booking a hotel room in conjunction with your tour, visit CherokeeCasino.com to make online reservations, or call (800) Dwight Mission, and Fort Gibson. For complete tour descriptions and prices, Will Rogers History Tour Tour please visit CherokeeTourismOK.com. highlights the Will Rogers Museum and birthplace. Get to know the man who never met a man he didn t like. For large tours, please call (918) , or toll free (877) , or us at cherokee.tourism@cnent.com. We are happy

8 Sites North Cherokee Nation Cultural Attractions Gilcrease Museum Philbrook Museum of Art Bartlesville Area History Museum Phillips Petroleum Museum Grand Lake O The Cherokees Coo-y-Yah County Museum Cabin Creek Battlefield Zeke Proctor Gravesite Will Rogers Museum Lewis Ross Orphan Asylum Springhouse Dog Iron Ranch Honey Springs Battlefield State Park South Cherokee Nation Cultural Attractions Cherokee National Capitol Cherokee National Supreme Court Building Cherokee National Jail Cherokee Nation Complex Cherokee Nation Veterans Memorial Seminary Hall at Northeastern State University Dr. Irwin D. Loeser Log Cabin Joseph M. Thompson House Sequoyah State Park Sequoyah s Cabin State Park Tenkiller State Park Worcester Cemetery The Saline Courthouse The Thompson Home Rural School 51 Cherokee Heritage Center and National Museum Old Baptist Mission Rev. Jesse Bushyhead s Grave Roland Art Gallery and Theater Locust Grove Battlefield Oaks Mission School J. T. Nickel Wildlife Preserve KS MO AR Fort Gibson National Cemetery Fort Gibson Historic Site Dwight Mission Tahlonteeskee Murrell Home The Ross Cemetery Legend North Cherokee Nation Cultural Attractions South Cherokee Nation Cultural Attractions Waterways Highways Cherokee Hills Byway Counties Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation Capitol For more NE Oklahoma and tourism related services visit Green Country Marketing at GreenCountryOK.com or visit the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department at TravelOK.com For a complete listing of addresses, attraction times and fees, visit CherokeeTourismOK.com. Historical photos provided by the Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Additional photos provided by Catherine Foreman Gray. Photos of Will Rogers provided by Will Rogers Museums.