The Cherokee Nation is hosting several events in April, including new art exhibits, small business workshops and self-defense classes for the public. Events are as follows:
April 1
5 p.m. – Deadline to register to vote for the upcoming Cherokee Nation Tribal Council elections. For more information call the Cherokee Nation Election Commission at 918-458-5899.
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – The Cherokee Arts Center in Tahlequah is hosting an “Earth and Fire” Cherokee pottery gathering workshop, taught by National Treasure Jane Osti. The six-day course, which runs through April 6, costs $500. Space is limited. For more information contact Osti at 918-506-0386 or janeosti@yahoo.com.
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Career Services begins accepting applications for the 2013 Summer Youth Employment Program through May 17. Applicants ready to work this summer must be ages 16-21 and a member of a federally recognized tribe. For more information call Career Services at 918-453-5555.
April 3
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – The Cherokee Arts Center in Tahlequah is hosting a loom weaving class taught by National Treasure Dorothy Ice. The class costs $40 per session for six sessions, which run Wednesdays and Saturdays. An $80 deposit is required. For more information contact the CAC at 918-453-5728 or artscenter@cherokee.org.
April 4
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – The Cherokee Arts Center in Tahlequah is hosting a metalsmith class for making jewelry taught by Steve Mashburn. The cost is $40 per session for eight sessions, which runs Thursdays. A$50 deposit is required. For more information contact the CAC at 918-453-5728 or artscenter@cherokee.org.
April 4-5
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – The Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah is hosting its Indian Territory Days and outdoor classroom experience in Cherokee culture for school-aged students. For more information contact Tonia Weavel at 918-456-6007 or tonia-weavel@cherokee.org.
April 6
8 a.m. – Cherokee Nation’s Healthy Nation Wings Program is hosting the Grand Dam Run in Langley. The 1K fun run begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K run at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration costs are $10 and $15, respectively, and race day registration costs are $15 and $20, respectively. For more information contact Amy Devore at 918-915-0464 or amy-devore@cherokee.org.
April 9
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation Humanities and History Course will be held at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, Ark., in the Baldor Technology Center. The public can learn about Southeast Indian Culture and Design for free. For more information contact Catherine Foreman-Gray at 918-453-5289 or catherine-gray@cherokee.org or Roy Hamilton at roy-hamilton@cherokee.org.
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Health Services is hosting a blood drive open to the public in the Tsa-La-Gi community room, directly behind the Restaurant of the Cherokees, in Tahlequah. For more information call 918-453-5000 ext. 5841.
April 12
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation is holding their annual Environmental Festival at the Tsa La Gi community room in Tahlequah. The festival will include games, door prizes, presentations and Arbor Week tree giveaway. For more information email Jason White at jason-white@cherokee.org or Karen Dye at karen-dye@cherokee.org.
April 13
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – The Cherokee Arts Center in Tahlequah is offering a two-day workshop on making a traditional Cherokee wedding purse by Sandra Pallie. A second class will be April 20. The cost is $70, including a $20 deposit. For information contact the CAC at 918-453-5728 or artscenter@cherokee.org.
8 a.m. – Cherokee Nation’s Healthy Nation Wings Program is hosting the 4th Annual Will Rogers Memorial Race at Rogers State University in Claremore, across from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. The 5K starts at 8 a.m., and the 1K fun run starts at 8:05 a.m. Pre-registration costs are $15 and $10, respectively, and race day registration costs are $20 and $15, respectively. For more information contact Misty Crittenden at 918-575-6062 or misty-crittenden@cherokee.org.
April 15
6 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Tribal Council is meeting in the Tribal Council Chambers at the W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah.
April 16-21
A replica of the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, which is covered with nearly 60,000 names of fallen U.S. soldiers, will be on display at the Sequoyah High School football field in Tahlequah. The memorial is made up of the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The five-day event is free and open to the public, 24 hours a day.
April 16
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance Center is holding a class for QuickBooks training at Oklahoma State Bank in Vinita. The workshop will cover balancing sheets, inventory and more. For information contact Brenda Alley at 918-207-3954 or brenda-alley@cherokee.org.
April 17-19
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service is holding a free women’s personal safety class in Tahlequah. The class is open to the public and will be held in the Tsa La Gi community room behind the Restaurant of the Cherokees. The class is part of the Rape Aggression Defense Systems training. Participants must be at least 18 and should wear comfortable clothing. For more information call the Marshal Service at 918-207-3800.
April 19
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – The Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah is hosting the 42nd Annual Trail of Tears Art Show and Sale Awards Reception. The reception is free and open to the public. For more information call the Heritage Center at 918-456-6007.
April 19-May 27
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – The Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah is having the 42nd Annual Trail of Tears Art Show and Sale on exhibit, Mondays through Saturdays. For more information call 918-456-6007.
April 20
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance Center is teaching a Core Four Business Planning course at The Strategy Center, 6105 SE Nowata Rd. in Bartlesville. It is a two-session course, the second on April 27. Cost is $15 for both sessions. For more information contact Brenda Alley at 918-207-3954 or brenda-alley@cherokee.org.
April 23
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is sponsoring a Cherokee County Senior Citizens Health and Resource Fair in Go Ye Village’s Richardson Hall in Tahlequah. For more information contact Barbara Neal at 918-453-5138 or barbara-neal@cherokee.org.
April 25
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – The Jack Brown Center in Tahlequah is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an open house and tours for the public. The center, which treats teens for drug and alcohol dependency, is located near the dorms on the Sequoyah Schools campus. For more information call 918-453-5501 or email vickie-goodnight@cherokee.org or rhonda-clark@cherokee.org.
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – The Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital Surgical Technology Program is holding an open house at the South Gate complex, directly across from Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah. For more information call Patricia Sumner at 918-316-0718.
April 26
2 p.m. – The Jack Brown Center is breaking ground on its new center at the Male Seminary Recreation Center campus at 1501 Graham Ave. in Tahlequah. For more information, call 918-453-5501.
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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, Okla., the capital of the Cherokee Nation. With more than 318,000 citizens, over 8,900 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 the largest tribal nation in the United States.
To learn more, please visit www.cherokee.org.
