Premium Cherokee 411

Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee 411 correspondent, sat down with Dr. Corey Still to talk about his difficult health journey so the community could better understand what he has faced and how to support him in the months ahead.

Brandi Ross is a Cherokee Nation citizen and one of the newest correspondents for Cherokee 411. As an At-Large citizen, Brandi is passionate about amplifying the voices, stories, and lived experiences of Cherokee people wherever they may call home. With a background in storytelling, digital content creation, and community engagement, Brandi brings a thoughtful and people-first approach to her reporting.

When we study American history, we find that Cherokee history is already woven into its foundation—shaping laws, treaties, and rulings that still guide federal Indian policy today. From the Indian Removal Act to the rebuilding of a constitutional government in 1839 and the modern affirmation of treaty rights in McGirt v. Oklahoma, this story reveals a legacy of sovereignty that endured every attempt to erase it. Drawing insight from Chad Smith’s Cherokee Nation: Proceed Undau

On the banks of the Illinois River, where mist settles between the Ozark hills and the sound of coonhounds once echoed through the night, a quiet boy from Cherokee County dreamed of becoming a writer. His name was Wilson Rawls, and though few could have imagined it at the time, his story would come to define rural Oklahoma for generations of readers.

At the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, visitors are greeted by a striking portrait of the Cherokee diplomat Ostenaco—Syacust Ukah—painted by renowned British artist Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1762. The painting invites viewers to pause and reflect on a moment of cultural tension, trans-Atlantic diplomacy, and enduring Native leadership.

When Chief Ostenaco (Syacust Ukah) stepped onto British soil in 1762, he did more than participate in a diplomatic mission—he reshaped...