Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2005 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee National Youth Choir will be presenting a concert featuring music from their latest CD, Cherokee Sunday Morning. The concert will be on Thursday evening, September 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Crescent Valley Baptist Church. Crescent Valley is located nine miles west of Tahlequah, or nine miles east of Fort Gibson on Highway 62. The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.
The Cherokee National Youth Choir (formerly the Cherokee National Children’s Choir) performs traditional Cherokee songs in the Cherokee language. The Cherokee National Youth Choir came into existence from the vision of Principal Chief Chad Smith, who saw it as a way to involve children in Cherokee language and culture. The Choir is an important symbol to the world, demonstrating that Cherokee language and culture continues to thrive in modern society. Founded in 2000, the group has recorded three CDs, including one featuring two-time Grammy® Award winner Rita Coolidge. They have also performed at many prestigious venues across the country, including Ground Zero in New York City, the White House and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and as a guest of Dolly Parton at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Their first CD Voices of the Creator’s Children, garnered two Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) nominations and a win for “Best Gospel Christian Recording” in 2002, and their second CD Building One Fire won the same award again at the 2003 NAMMY’s.
The Cherokee National Youth Choir is made up of students from within the 14-county jurisdictional boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. By city, the Choir members include: Tahlequah - Candice Byrd, Julia Byrd, Chelsey Duvall, Breanna Olaya, Finessa Parks, Jacqueline Sequichie, Kinsey Shade, Anaweg Smith, Feather Smith, Josh Smith, Tycilla Smith, Corey Still, and Meaghan Williams; Stilwell - Daniel Bunch, Haley Hunt, Ashley Miller, Jamie Nakedhead, Isaiah Soap, Elana Workman, and Matt Workman; Locust Grove - Alyssa Fields-Allen, Autumn Vaughn, and Summer Vaughn; Bunch - Mikah Glass, Megan Taylor, Alix Watkins, and Amie Watkins; Hulbert - Angela Chuculate, Richard Chuculate, Jr., Ryan Sierra, Jake Whitener, and Lucinda Witte; Salina - Kayla Standingwater ; Westville - Christina Hanvey; and Adair - Jesse Wilkins.
The goal of the Cherokee National Youth Choir is to increase awareness of Cherokee culture within the Cherokee Nation as well as among the dominant culture. Through the success of the Cherokee National Youth Choir, interest in the Cherokee language has been rekindled among young Cherokees. Several area schools now use the CDs as a learning tool and other schools are interested in developing curriculum to teach Cherokee language and music.
The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 in commemoration of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. It has grown into one of the largest events in Oklahoma, attracting more than 90,000 people from across the world. For a full Holiday schedule, go to the Cherokee Nation’s web site, or call Lou Slagle, phone: 918-456-0671 or 800-256-0671 (ext.2544).
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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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 |
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 |