"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - State of Sequoyah Conference

The Cherokee Nation will host the 5th annual State of Sequoyah Conference on Thursday, September 3, and Friday, September 4, in the Technology Auditorium of Northeastern State University on the Tahlequah campus. The conference is being held in conjunction with the 57th Annual Cherokee National Holiday held over Labor Day weekend.

Named for the state that Native Americans attempted to establish in 1905 in Indian Territory, the State of Sequoyah Conference will bring together nationally recognized authors, historians and educators to present information about Cherokee history, culture and contemporary issues that affect the tribe today and are of interest to Cherokee citizens.

The event is open to the public and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register by Tuesday, Sept. 1, if possible. On-site registration will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 3, with the conference starting at 1 p.m. and continuing until 5 p.m. On Friday, on-site registration will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., with conference presentations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The conference is hosted by the State of Sequoyah Commission, whose members were appointed by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Smith. Commissioners include Wilma P. Mankiller, author and former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief; Ellen Cushman, Ph.D., associate professor, Michigan State University; Lynda Dee Dixon, Ph.D., professor, department of Interpersonal Communications, Bowling Green State University; Leslie Hannah, Ph.D., assistant dean of Academics and Diversity, Kansas State University, Salina; and Tom Holm, Ph.D., professor emeritus, University of Arizona.

The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. With its exciting array of entertainment, cultural and athletic events, it has grown into one of the largest festivals in Oklahoma, attracting more than 90,000 visitors from across the world. This year’s theme is elohi nusdidanv degadelaquasgesdi (“I learn from all that I observe”), reflecting the Cherokee Nation’s long held belief in education as a means to uplift individuals and their communities. The 57th Cherokee National Holiday is a smoke-free event. For more information about the Cherokee National Holiday, please call 918-453-5536 or visit http://holiday.cherokee.org online.

To pre-register, please contact Vera Blackburn by e-mail: vera-blackburn@cherokee.org. For additional information about the State of Sequoyah Conference, contact Dr. Richard L. Allen by phone: 918-453-5466 or by e-mail: rallen@cherokee.org.