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Cherokee Nation employees stand in line to pick up their trees given to them by the Cherokee Nation for Arbor Day.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation recently distributed 5000 trees to employees in honor of Arbor Day.

"We give away trees in a effort to get people to plant trees in their communities", said Angela Drewes, supervisor of land operations for the Cherokee Nation. "Planting a tree is a good project that the family can do together and it educates children about Arbor Day."

Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska in 1872 when settlers and homesteaders planted more than one million trees to provide shade, shelter, fruit, fuel, and beauty for their land. The Cherokee Nation began giving away trees in 1981 and has given away an estimated 44,000 trees. This year, participants were able to select 6 trees from a list that included green ash, bald cypress, red mulberry, native pecan, eastern red bud, and black walnut, and short leaf pine.

The Cherokee Nation plants between 40,000 and 50,000 loblolly pine trees every year in pine plantations in Kenwood and Dahlonageah to rejuvenate forest areas.

"The rest of the year, we take care of the land", Drewes said. "Arbor Day is the one time of year that we get to contribute something to tribal employees in an effort to make them more environmentally sound."

"I’m so glad the Cherokee Nation gives us trees", said Crystal Washington, Cherokee Nation employee. "My yard is so bare. These trees will really dress it up a little. It needs them."

"This is my son’s first spring and I look forward to doing outdoor projects with him", said Tera Shows, Cherokee Nation employee. "Since he’s just a baby and these trees are babies, they can grow up together. It will be neat to show him the tree in ten years and tell him that he planted it wheen he was smaller than it was."

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org