Cherokee National Treasure is a distinction created in 1988 by the Cherokee Nation to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the preservation of the tribe's art, language, and culture.
The tribe published a biographical overview of these cultural bearers, Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words, co-edited by Shawna Morton-Cain and Pamela Jumper-Thurman in 2017.
List of recipients
Name | Year Inducted | Birthday | Death Day | Reason for Induction |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alex England | 1988 | September 3, 1903 | Before 2017 | Bow making |
Todum Hair | 1988 | February 1, 1917 | 2010 | Gig making |
Anna Sixkiller Mitchell | 1988 | October 16, 1926 | March 3, 2012 | Pottery |
Lyman Vann | 1988 (posthumously) | May 22, 1907 | June 15, 1985 | Bow making |
William Cabbagehead | 1989 | Blowgun/Darts | ||
Stella Livers | 1990 | April 20, 1911 | 1994 | Basketry |
Knokovtee Scott | 1990 | February 10, 1951 | December 12, 2019 | Carving |
Lucille Hair | 1990 | April 2, 1917 | October 11, 2012 | Weaving |
Lorene Drywater | 1990 | June 19, 1932 | July 30, 2021 | Traditional clothing sewing |
Mattie Wildcat Drum | 1990 | February 26, 1920 | 1991 | Weaving |
Rogers McLemore | 1990 | September 18, 1912 | Before 2017 | Weaving |
Hester Chair Guess | 1990 | September 15, 1915 | Before 2017 | Weaving |
Ella Mae Blackbear | 1990 | August 23, 1930 | Basketry | |
Clarence Downing | 1990 | Carving | ||
Ruth England | 1990 | Traditional clothing | ||
Mary Foreman | 1990 | September 24, 1926 | Before 2021 | Basketry |
Sally Lacy | 1990 | September 11, 1920 | Before 2017 | Basketry |
Thomas Muskrat | 1990 | Carving | ||
Jennie Sapp | 1990 | February 21, 1923 | Before 2017 | Basketry |
Maxine Stick | 1990 | Basketry | ||
Hastings Shade | 1991 | May 20, 1941 | February 9, 2010 | Carving/Gig making, one-term deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation |
Wendell Cochran | 1991 | Traditional clothing | ||
Alan Herrin | 1991 | Bow making | ||
Dorothy Ice | 1991 | Weaving | ||
Eunice O'Field | 1991 | Basketry/Weaving | ||
Scott Rackliff | 1991 | May 29, 1923 | 1994 | Flintknapping/Carving |
Anna Sixkiller-Huckaby | 1991 | Basketry | ||
Nancy Smith | 1991 | Turtleshell Shackles | ||
Eva Smith | 1991 | Turtleshell Shackles | ||
Betty Jo Smith | 1991 | March 26, 1931 | Traditional Cooking | |
Edith Catcher Knight | 1992 | 2016 | Traditional clothing | |
Minnie Handle Jumper | 1992 | July 25, 1922 | Before 2017 | Doll making |
John Ketcher | 1992 | June 5, 1922 | October 17, 2011 | Weaving |
George Fourkiller | 1992 | December 8, 1907 | Before 2017 | Basketry |
Thelma Forrest | 1992 | Basketry | ||
Betty Scraper Garner | 1993 | February 23, 1924 | June 1997 | Basketry |
Vivian Bush | 1993 | Turtle shell shackles | ||
Jess Oosahwee | 1993 | Blowgun/Darts | ||
David Neugin | 1994 | August 26, 1920 | Bow making | |
Luther "Toby" Hughes | 1994 | Carving | ||
Tom Webber Wildcat | 1995 | August 11, 1922 | 2008 | Turtleshell Shackles |
Vivian Garner Cottrell | 1995 | May 24, 1959 | Basketry | |
Lena Blackbird | 1996 | Basketry | ||
Richard Rowe | 1996 | Carving | ||
William Foster | 1997 | August 13, 1920 | Bow making | |
Nadine Wilbourn | 1997 | Basketry | ||
Noel Timothy Grayson | 1998 | Bow making/Flintknapping | ||
Lee Foreman | 1999 | October 19, 1928 | Marble making | |
Mildred Justice Ketcher | 1999 | November 26, 1922 | Basketry | |
Bessie Russell | 1999 | Basketry | ||
Albert Wofford | 1999 | July 2, 1929 | Gig making/Carving | |
Wyona Dreadfulwater | 2000 | Loomweaving | ||
Marie A. Proctor | 2000 | Basketry | ||
Pollie Whitekiller | 2001 | September 18, 1917 | Before 2017 | Quilting |
Willie Jumper Sr. | 2001 (posthumously) | March 31, 1911 | August 1977 | Stickball Sticks |
Margaret Wilson | 2001 | Quilting | ||
Wanna Lou Barton | 2002 | 2010 | Turtle shell shackles | |
Jim Buckhorn | 2002 | September 13, 1943 | September 28, 2020 | Bow making |
Linda Lou Mouse Hansen | 2002 | March 25, 1925 | Before 2017 | Basketry |
Sam Lee Still | 2002 | January 28, 1925 | Before 2017 | Wood Carving |
Lizzie Jane Whitekiller | 2002 | Hand Sewn Quilting | ||
Kathryn Kelley | 2003 | June 12, 1930 or December 6, 1930 | June 20, 2021 | Traditional basketry |
Rosie Chewie | 2003 | Basketry | ||
Kathy Mae VanBuskirk | 2004 | Basketry | ||
Perry Lynn VanBuskirk | 2004 | Bowmaking | ||
Jane Osti | 2005 | Pottery | ||
Shawna Morton Cain | 2006 | Basketry | ||
Rachel Michelle Dew | 2006 | Basketry | ||
Roger Cain | 2007 | Masks | ||
David Scott | 2008 | Languages | ||
Bill Glass Jr. | 2009 | Sculpture | ||
Wilma Mankiller | 2010 (posthumously) | November 18, 1945 | April 6, 2010 | First woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation |
Ed Fields | 2010 | Language | ||
Betty Christie Frogg | 2010 | Basketry | ||
Edna Sue Thompson | 2010 | Language | ||
Lisa Smith | 2011 | Turtle Shells | ||
Bill Rabbit | 2011 | December 3, 1946 | April 9, 2012 | Artistry and preserving Cherokee culture |
Durbin Feeling | 2011 | April 2, 1946 | August 19, 2020 | Advancing the Cherokee Language, Published first Cherokee-English dictionary |
Victoria Vazquez | 2012 | Pottery | ||
Cecil Dick | 2012 (posthumously) | September 16,1915 | April 25, 1992 | Arts |
Tonia Weavel | 2012 | Traditional clothing | ||
Martha Berry | 2013 | Beading | ||
Donald Vann | 2013 | Painting | ||
Tommy Wildcat | 2013 | Blowgun and flute making | ||
David Comingdeer | 2014 | Stickball sticks | ||
Clesta Manley | 2014 | November 23, 1924 | Painting | |
Eddie Morrison | 2014 | Sculpture | ||
John Ross | 2014 | Language | ||
Robert Lewis | 2015 | Storytelling | ||
Dan Mink | 2015 | Graphic Design | ||
Dennis Sixkiller | 2015 | Language | ||
Richard Fields | 2016 | Bow making | ||
Demos Glass | 2016 | Metalsmithing | ||
Vyrl Keeter | 2016 | October 28, 1931 | Flintknapping | |
Jesse Hummingbird | 2017 | February 12, 1952 | June 17, 2021 | Unique paintings and graphics |
Mike Dart | 2017 | February 1, 1977 | Contemporary Basketry | |
Troy Jackson | 2018 | Sculpture | ||
Lisa Rutherford | 2018 | Pottery | ||
Loretta Shade | 2018 | Language | ||
Annie Wildcat | 2018 | 1945 | 2018 | Clay Beads |
Candessa Tehee | 2019 | Weaving | ||
Choogie Kingfisher | 2019 | Storyteller | ||
Lula Elk | 2019 | Shell Shaker | ||
David Crawler | 2020 | Language | ||
Crosslin Smith | 2020 | Language | ||
Traci Rabbit | 2020 | Painter | ||
Dorothy Sullivan | 2020 | Painter | ||
Danny McCarter | 2021 | Blowguns | ||
Cathy Abercrombie | 2021 | Weaving | ||
Harry Oosahwee | 2021 | Artist and Stonecarver | ||
Barbara Adair | 2022 | Basketry | ||
Weynema Smith | 2022 | Cherokee language preservation | ||
Lena Stick | 2022 | Basketry | ||
Diana Smith Cox | 2023 | Turtle shell shackles | ||
Steven Daugherty | 2023 | Traditional weapons |
Notes
- Birthdays for all Cherokee National Treasures up to 2017 are from the "Cherokee National Treasures" book.
- ^ While specific death dates are unavailable, the book "Cherokee National Treasures" confirms their death.
References
- ^ Morton-Cain, Shawna; Jumper Thurman, Pamela, eds. (2017). Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words. Cherokee Nation. ISBN 978-1-934397-18-3.
- ""Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words" receives international recognition". Native News Online.
- ""Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words" wins award". Muskogee Phoenix. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-05-12.
- ^ "Cherokee National Treasures". issuu.com. Anadisgoi. 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "The Lost Arts Project-1988" (PDF). cherokeeheritage.org. Cherokee Heritage Center. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Archives, Phoenix (17 September 2010). "Cherokee National Treasure more than a title". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "Cherokee National Treasure Knokovtee Scott dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "OBITUARY Margaret Lucille Hair". dignitymemorial.com. Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "Cherokee National Treasure Lorene Drywater dies at 89". Cherokee Phoenix. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- Chavez, Will (22 February 2012). "National Treasure teaches class to save weaving". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "Cherokee National Treasure Bessie Russell "Weaving a Tradition" at Saline Courthouse Museum". Anadisgoi. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- "Cherokee National Treasures Art Show opens Oct. 1". Cherokee Phoenix. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "BREAKING: Former Deputy Chief John Ketcher dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Wildcat, Tommy (29 July 2021). "Osiyo, my Late Father, Cherokee National Treasure Tom Webber Wildcat, a Mono-Fluent Cherokee Speaker R.I.P 1922-2008 & my Late Mom Cherokee National Treasure Annie Wildcat, a Mono-Fluent Cherokee Speaker, R.I.P 1945-2018. Both were my greatest Cherokee teachers on my Life's Path". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "Cottrell to virtually demonstrate basket making March 16". Cherokee Phoenix. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- "Cherokee National Treasure, bow maker Buckhorn dies at 77". Cherokee Phoenix. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "CN loses two Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Chavez, Will (10 October 2003). "Kelley, Chewie named Master Craftspeople". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Chavez, Will (30 September 2004). "Cherokee National Living Treasures Named". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Chavez, Will (1 September 2006). "2006 Cherokee National Living Treasure artists announced". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- "Cherokee National Treasure Bill Rabbit dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- "Cherokee Nation mourns passing of Cherokee National Treasure Durbin Feeling, single-largest contributor to Cherokee language since Sequoyah". Anadisgoi. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Chavez, Will (5 September 2012). "3 named 2012 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Chavez, Will (13 September 2013). "3 named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "4 named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "3 named 2016 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- "Hummingbird, Dart named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "4 named as 2018 Cherokee National Treasure honorees". Cherokee Phoenix. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "CN announces 2019 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Cherokee Nation announces 2020 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Cherokee Nation announces 2021 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Cherokee Nation announces 2022 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. September 2, 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Cherokee Nation announces 2023 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. September 3, 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.