Cherokee National Treasure

Jane Osti
Durbin Feeling
Wilma Mankiller
Hastings Shade
Several people designated as Cherokee National Treasures. Clockwise from top left: Jane Osti, Durbin Feeling, Hastings Shade, Wilma Mankiller

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.[1]

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.[2][3]

List of recipients

List of Cherokee National Treasures
Name Year Inducted Birthday[1][nb 1] Death Day Reason for Induction
Alex England 1988 September 3, 1903 Before 2017[nb 2] Bow making[4][5]
Todum Hair 1988 February 1, 1917 2010 Gig making[6]
Anna Sixkiller Mitchell 1988 October 16, 1926 March 3, 2012 Pottery[5]
Lyman Vann 1988 (posthumously) May 22, 1907 June 15, 1985[1] Bow making[5]
William Cabbagehead 1989 Blowgun/Darts [5]
Stella Livers 1990 April 20, 1911 1994 Basketry[5]
Knokovtee Scott 1990 February 10, 1951 December 12, 2019 Carving[7]
Lucille Hair 1990 April 2, 1917 October 11, 2012 Weaving[8]
Lorene Drywater 1990 June 19, 1932 July 30, 2021 Traditional clothing sewing[9]
Mattie Wildcat Drum 1990 February 26, 1920 1991[nb 2] Weaving[5]
Rogers McLemore 1990 September 18, 1912 Before 2017[nb 2] Weaving[5][10]
Hester Chair Guess 1990 September 15, 1915 Before 2017[nb 2] Weaving[5]
Ella Mae Blackbear 1990 August 23, 1930 Basketry[5]
Clarence Downing 1990 Carving[5]
Ruth England 1990 Traditional clothing[5]
Mary Foreman 1990 September 24, 1926 Before 2021[11] Basketry[5]
Sally Lacy 1990 September 11, 1920 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Thomas Muskrat 1990 Carving[5]
Jennie Sapp 1990 February 21, 1923 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Maxine Stick 1990 Basketry[5]
Hastings Shade 1991 May 20, 1941 February 9, 2010 Carving/Gig making, one-term deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation[6]
Wendell Cochran 1991 Traditional clothing[5]
Alan Herrin 1991 Bow making[5]
Dorothy Ice 1991 Weaving[5]
Eunice O'Field 1991 Basketry/Weaving[5]
Scott Rackliff 1991 May 29, 1923 1994 Flintknapping/Carving[5]
Anna Sixkiller-Huckaby 1991 Basketry[4][5]
Nancy Smith 1991 Turtleshell Shackles[5]
Eva Smith 1991 Turtleshell Shackles[5]
Betty Jo Smith 1991 March 26, 1931 Traditional Cooking[5]
Edith Catcher Knight 1992 2016 Traditional clothing[5][12]
Minnie Handle Jumper 1992 July 25, 1922 Before 2017[nb 2] Doll making[5]
John Ketcher 1992 June 5, 1922 October 17, 2011[13] Weaving[5]
George Fourkiller 1992 December 8, 1907 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Thelma Forrest 1992 Basketry[5]
Betty Scraper Garner 1993 February 23, 1924 June 1997 Basketry[5]
Vivian Bush 1993 Turtle shell shackles[5]
Jess Oosahwee 1993 Blowgun/Darts[5]
David Neugin 1994 August 26, 1920 Bow making[5]
Luther "Toby" Hughes 1994 Carving
Tom Webber Wildcat 1995 August 11, 1922 2008 Turtleshell Shackles[5][14]
Vivian Garner Cottrell 1995 May 24, 1959 Basketry[5][15]
Lena Blackbird 1996 Basketry[5]
Richard Rowe 1996 Carving[5]
William Foster 1997 August 13, 1920 Bow making[5]
Nadine Wilbourn 1997 Basketry[5]
Noel Timothy Grayson 1998 Bow making/Flintknapping[5]
Lee Foreman 1999 October 19, 1928 Marble making[5]
Mildred Justice Ketcher 1999 November 26, 1922 Basketry[5]
Bessie Russell 1999 Basketry[5]
Albert Wofford 1999 July 2, 1929 Gig making/Carving[5]
Wyona Dreadfulwater 2000 Loomweaving[5]
Marie A. Proctor 2000 Basketry[5]
Pollie Whitekiller 2001 September 18, 1917 Before 2017[nb 2] Quilting[5]
Willie Jumper Sr. 2001 (posthumously) March 31, 1911 August 1977 Stickball Sticks[5]
Margaret Wilson 2001 Quilting[5]
Wanna Lou Barton 2002 2010 Turtle shell shackles[6]
Jim Buckhorn 2002 September 13, 1943 September 28, 2020 Bow making[16]
Linda Lou Mouse Hansen 2002 March 25, 1925 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Sam Lee Still 2002 January 28, 1925 Before 2017[nb 2] Wood Carving[5]
Lizzie Jane Whitekiller 2002 Hand Sewn Quilting[5]
Kathryn Kelley 2003 June 12, 1930[17] or December 6, 1930[1] June 20, 2021 Traditional basketry[18]
Rosie Chewie 2003 Basketry[5][18]
Kathy Mae VanBuskirk 2004 Basketry[5][19]
Perry Lynn VanBuskirk 2004 Bowmaking[5][19]
Jane Osti 2005 Pottery[5]
Shawna Morton Cain 2006 Basketry[5][20]
Rachel Michelle Dew 2006 Basketry[5][20]
Roger Cain 2007 Masks[5]
David Scott 2008 Languages[5]
Bill Glass Jr. 2009 Sculpture[5]
Wilma Mankiller 2010 (posthumously) November 18, 1945 April 6, 2010 First woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation[6]
Ed Fields 2010 Language[4]
Betty Christie Frogg 2010 Basketry[4]
Edna Sue Thompson 2010 Language[4]
Lisa Smith 2011 Turtle Shells[4]
Bill Rabbit 2011 December 3, 1946 April 9, 2012 Artistry and preserving Cherokee culture[21]
Durbin Feeling 2011 April 2, 1946 August 19, 2020 Advancing the Cherokee Language, Published first Cherokee-English dictionary[22]
Victoria Vazquez 2012 Pottery[23]
Cecil Dick 2012 (posthumously) September 16,1915 April 25, 1992 Arts[4][23]
Tonia Weavel 2012 Traditional clothing[23]
Martha Berry 2013 Beading[24]
Donald Vann 2013 Painting[24]
Tommy Wildcat 2013 Blowgun and flute making[24]
David Comingdeer 2014 Stickball sticks[25]
Clesta Manley 2014 November 23, 1924 Painting[25]
Eddie Morrison 2014 Sculpture[25]
John Ross 2014 Language[25]
Robert Lewis 2015 Storytelling[4]
Dan Mink 2015 Graphic Design[4]
Dennis Sixkiller 2015 Language[4]
Richard Fields 2016 Bow making[26]
Demos Glass 2016 Metalsmithing[26]
Vyrl Keeter 2016 October 28, 1931 Flintknapping[26]
Jesse Hummingbird 2017 February 12, 1952 June 17, 2021 Unique paintings and graphics[17]
Mike Dart 2017 February 1, 1977 Contemporary Basketry[27]
Troy Jackson 2018 Sculpture[28]
Lisa Rutherford 2018 Pottery[28]
Loretta Shade 2018 Language[28]
Annie Wildcat 2018 1945 2018 Clay Beads[28][14]
Candessa Tehee 2019 Weaving[29]
Choogie Kingfisher 2019 Storyteller[29]
Lula Elk 2019 Shell Shaker[29]
David Crawler 2020 Language[30]
Crosslin Smith 2020 Language[30]
Traci Rabbit 2020 Painter[30]
Dorothy Sullivan 2020 Painter[30]
Danny McCarter 2021 Blowguns[31]
Cathy Abercrombie 2021 Weaving[31]
Harry Oosahwee 2021 Artist and Stonecarver[31]
Barbara Adair 2022 Basketry[32]
Weynema Smith 2022 Cherokee language preservation[32]
Lena Stick 2022 Basketry[32]
Diana Smith Cox 2023 Turtle shell shackles[33]
Steven Daugherty 2023 Traditional weapons[33]

Notes

  1. ^ Birthdays for all Cherokee National Treasures up to 2017 are from the "Cherokee National Treasures" book.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k While specific death dates are unavailable, the book "Cherokee National Treasures" confirms their death.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Morton-Cain, Shawna; Jumper Thurman, Pamela, eds. (2017). Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words. Cherokee Nation. ISBN 978-1-934397-18-3.
  2. ^ ""Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words" receives international recognition". Native News Online.
  3. ^ ""Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words" wins award". Muskogee Phoenix. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-05-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cherokee National Treasures". issuu.com. Anadisgoi. 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj "The Lost Arts Project-1988" (PDF). cherokeeheritage.org. Cherokee Heritage Center. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Archives, Phoenix (17 September 2010). "Cherokee National Treasure more than a title". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Cherokee National Treasure Knokovtee Scott dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ "OBITUARY Margaret Lucille Hair". dignitymemorial.com. Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Cherokee National Treasure Lorene Drywater dies at 89". Cherokee Phoenix. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  10. ^ Chavez, Will (22 February 2012). "National Treasure teaches class to save weaving". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Cherokee National Treasure Bessie Russell "Weaving a Tradition" at Saline Courthouse Museum". Anadisgoi. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Cherokee National Treasures Art Show opens Oct. 1". Cherokee Phoenix. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ "BREAKING: Former Deputy Chief John Ketcher dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b 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.
  15. ^ "Cottrell to virtually demonstrate basket making March 16". Cherokee Phoenix. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Cherokee National Treasure, bow maker Buckhorn dies at 77". Cherokee Phoenix. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  17. ^ a b "CN loses two Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ^ a b Chavez, Will (10 October 2003). "Kelley, Chewie named Master Craftspeople". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  19. ^ a b Chavez, Will (30 September 2004). "Cherokee National Living Treasures Named". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  20. ^ a b Chavez, Will (1 September 2006). "2006 Cherokee National Living Treasure artists announced". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Cherokee National Treasure Bill Rabbit dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ a b c Chavez, Will (5 September 2012). "3 named 2012 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  24. ^ a b c Chavez, Will (13 September 2013). "3 named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  25. ^ a b c d "4 named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  26. ^ a b c "3 named 2016 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Hummingbird, Dart named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  28. ^ a b c d "4 named as 2018 Cherokee National Treasure honorees". Cherokee Phoenix. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  29. ^ a b c "CN announces 2019 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  30. ^ a b c d "Cherokee Nation announces 2020 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "Cherokee Nation announces 2021 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  32. ^ a b c "Cherokee Nation announces 2022 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. September 2, 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Cherokee Nation announces 2023 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. September 3, 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

Further reading