Native American Culture at its Finest

J. Stephan Con, Flickr.com, CC BY- NC 2.0

The Cherokee Heritage Center is located in Park Hill, Oklahoma with an Ancient Village and the Trail of Tears being its two major exhibits. It hosts a wide variety of events such as: beading and pottery workshops, educational lectures, and art shows. They also focus on educating the public on Cherokee culture, language, and history. They offer courses in Cherokee Humanities which are accredited courses through Northeastern State University, and other cultural classes including pottery, basket weaving, bead work and making Cherokee moccasins and feather caps. During the Indian Territorial Days they offer the public a way to experience life of what is was like to live in a Cherokee village 300 years ago through activities, games, and living history.

Unknown, commons.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Ancient Village attraction was opened in 1967 and the location was chosen because it used to be home to the Cherokee Female Seminary. After years of research on Cherokee culture and history construction began. The stations visitors have the option to interact with are stickball, basket making, flintknapping, blowguns, and dugout canoes.

The Trail of Tears exhibit works with the National Park Services in order to permanently house the exhibit which displays the forced removal of Indians from their land onto reservations. It shows the six stages the Indians went through: pre-removal, court battles, prisoners with no crime, a look at the trails other tribes took, removal, and starting over. Each stage is supported by documentation and artifacts in order to display Cherokee culture and history.

Wolfgang Sauber, commons.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the major events which will occur at the Cherokee Heritage Center from April 20th to May 27th is the Trail of Tears 42nd Annual Art Show and Sale. The Art Show displays authentic Native American art made by 93 Native American artists from 15 Tribal Nations. The art show will feature 162 art pieces including paintings, sculpture, basketry, jewelry, miniatures, and pottery.

To Learn More Check Out:
http://www.cherokeeheritage.org/