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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...

For Cherokee 411 ᏣᎳᎩ ᏫᏗᎦᏅᏍᎩ Sunday Dispatch

Every Labor Day weekend, the city of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, comes alive with the sounds of laughter, music, stomp dances, and the proud...