Oklahoma Cherokees

Oklahoma Cherokees
Name	Oklahoma Cherokees
Native name	ᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏰᎵ
Settlement type	Indigenous people
Region	Oklahoma

Oklahoma Cherokees are members of the Cherokee Nation and related tribal entities who primarily reside in the U.S. state of Oklahoma after removal from the Southeastern United States in the 19th century. They trace lineage to ancestral Cherokee communities in present-day Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama and maintain distinct political, cultural, and social institutions within Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cherokees engage with federal and state law, participate in intertribal organizations, and contribute to regional cultural, economic, and political life.

History

The history of Oklahoma Cherokees involves migration, treaties, conflict, and legal struggle involving actors such as Andrew Jackson, John Ross, John Ridge, Major Ridge, Elias Boudinot, Sequoyah, and events including the Trail of Tears, the Indian Removal Act, the Treaty of New Echota, and the Worcester v. Georgia decision. Removal routes intersected with locations like Fort Gibson, Ross's Landing, Cherokee Agency (Oklahoma), and camps tied to Black Hawk-era displacements. During the 19th century, conflicts such as the American Civil War affected Cherokee allegiances; leaders like Stand Watie and Ely S. Parker played roles in wartime politics. Postwar reconstruction led to agreements including the Treaty of 1866 and later allotment policies under the Dawes Act and the Curtis Act, restructuring landholdings and governance. Notable legal milestones include Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and McGirt v. Oklahoma, shaping jurisdictional frameworks alongside federal agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The 20th century saw cultural revitalization driven by institutions like the Cherokee Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and advocacy at forums such as the National Congress of American Indians and actions involving the Indian Reorganization Act.

Culture and Language

Cultural preservation centers on the Cherokee language, syllabary created by Sequoyah, and practices maintained in communities, schools, and media institutions like The Cherokee Phoenix and language programs tied to universities such as the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University. Artistic expression includes craftsmanship in basketry, beadwork, and textile traditions displayed at venues like the Gilcrease Museum, the Philbrook Museum of Art, and regional festivals such as the Cherokee National Holiday and powwows hosted at sites like Tahlequah and Pawhuska. Cultural transmission intersects with federal programs and organizations including the Administration for Native Americans, Smithsonian Institution, National Endowment for the Arts, and collaborations with institutions such as the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, National Museum of the American Indian, and the Library of Congress. Language revitalization efforts connect to scholars and activists associated with Noah Webster, Henry Lewis Gannett, contemporary linguists at University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University, and technology ventures that partner with companies like Google and Apple for digital resources.

Government and Tribal Organization

Tribal governance in Oklahoma involves the Cherokee Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, and overlapping jurisdictions engaging with entities such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and federal courts including the United States Supreme Court. Leadership structures feature roles like the Principal Chief, tribal council members, and judicial branches modeled in part on documents akin to constitutions influenced by John Ross-era precedents and later federal legislation including the Indian Reorganization Act. Intergovernmental relations include compacts with the State of Oklahoma, consultations under statutes like the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and participation in multilateral bodies such as the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes and collaborations with United States Congress delegations, tribal advocacy at the National Congress of American Indians, and partnerships with nonprofits like the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Demographics and Population

Population data derive from sources such as the United States Census Bureau, tribal enrollment rolls maintained by the Cherokee Nation, and studies by researchers at institutions like the Pew Research Center and University of Oklahoma. Communities cluster in municipalities and counties including Tahlequah, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Rogers County, Oklahoma, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, and Adair County, Oklahoma. Demographic trends reflect migration patterns influenced by employment hubs like Walmart, regional energy sectors including Phillips 66 operations, and educational migration to universities such as Northeastern State University and Carl Albert State College. Health and social metrics are monitored by agencies such as the Indian Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and tribal health programs supported by grants from entities including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Economy and Education

Economic activity encompasses enterprises operated by the Cherokee Nation Businesses, partnerships with corporations such as Caterpillar Inc., development projects funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and ventures in gaming regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act with operations like tribal casinos. Employment and training programs coordinate with workforce initiatives from the Department of Labor and educational pipelines through institutions such as Northeastern State University, University of Tulsa, Rogers State University, and vocational programs aligned with the Carl Albert State College. Business incubation involves collaborations with organizations like the SBA and regional chambers including the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Cultural tourism and heritage sites, including the Cherokee Heritage Center, contribute to local economies alongside agriculture, energy, and health services.

Religion and Social Life

Religious life includes practitioners of United Methodist Church, Baptist churches, Roman Catholic Church, traditional ceremonies tied to the Green Corn Ceremony, and syncretic practices preserved in community settings such as tribal community centers and cultural grounds in Tahlequah and Imnaha. Social institutions include chapters of organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, local chapters of national civic groups such as the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, and cultural associations that maintain festivals, language classes, and elder care services often coordinated with federal programs like the Administration on Aging.

Notable Figures and Contributions

Notable individuals connected to Oklahoma Cherokee communities include leaders and cultural figures such as John Ross, Sequoyah, Stand Watie, Wilma Mankiller, Bill John Baker, W. W. Keeler, Ellison "Tarzan" Brown (as regional athlete associations), scholars at Harvard University and University of Oklahoma, artists exhibited at the National Museum of the American Indian, and public servants who've engaged with the United States Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States. Contributions span law, arts, education, and public policy, with influence seen in landmark cases like Worcester v. Georgia, Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, and recent decisions such as McGirt v. Oklahoma, and cultural revival initiatives supported by foundations including the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Category:Cherokee Nation