Cherokee Culture & Travel

CLAREMORE, Okla. — A Cherokee family tradition that began along the Old Texas Road in 1886 will mark its 140th gathering this month, making it one of the longest-running Thanksgiving celebrations in the Cherokee Nation. The Milam family — whose descendants trace their Cherokee lineage through Mary Elizabeth (Milam) Hunter — will reunite on Nov. 27 at the Claremore Elks Lodge, continuing a tradition that has survived frontier hardship, two world wars, and a global pandemic. Th

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize—the oldest and most prestigious international award recognizing women+ playwrights writing for the English-speaking stage has announced its finalists for the 2025–26 cycle. Among the ten writers honored this year is DeLanna Studi (Cherokee Nation), celebrated actor, writer, and advocate for Indigenous visibility in the arts.

Author Thomas King has confirmed that genealogical research found no evidence of Cherokee ancestry in his family line—despite decades of identifying as Cherokee. King says he believed family stories about a Cherokee grandfather but now accepts the findings presented by the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds. His announcement adds to a wider conversation about identity fraud and the sovereignty of Cherokee Nations in determining citizenship.