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CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation is hosting the State of Sequoyah Centennial History Conference to remember the state that almost was. The conference titled, “The State of Sequoyah, 1905 - 2005: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” will be held in conjunction with the 53rd annual Cherokee National Holiday, September 4 and 5 at the Cherokee Casino in Catoosa, Oklahoma.

“The State of Sequoyah was proposed as a separate Indian state in 1905 by the Five Civilized Tribes,” said Richard Allen, Ph.D., conference organizer. “Most Oklahomans and many Indian citizens are not aware that this state was proposed and included a proposed constitution, state seal and counties that would be incorporated into this state. Legislation was submitted to the United States Congress in 1905, but was allowed to languish in committee and, therefore, was not enacted.”

In 2003, Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, appointed 5 commissioners to the State of Sequoyah Commission to find a way to tell the story of the State of Sequoyah in preparation for the Oklahoma Centennial in 2007. The five State of Sequoyah Commission members are: Wilma P. Mankiller, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, author and former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Tom Holm, Ph.D., a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona, Daniel F. Littlefield, Ph.D., a professor and director of the Sequoyah Research Institute at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Rennard Strickland, J.D., a Phillip Knight professor of law at the University of Oregon School of Law and Russell Thornton, Ph.D., a professor of anthropology at the University of California in Los Angeles.

There is no fee to register for the conference, but pre-registration is required. For more information or to pre-register contact Richard Allen phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2466).

The Cherokee Nation celebrates its National Holiday every year over Labor Day weekend, in observance of the signing of the Cherokee Nation constitution. This year’s Holiday theme, “Celebrating the Great State of Sequoyah”, commemorates Indian Territory and the state that almost was. For more information on the Cherokee National Holiday contact Lou Slagle phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2544) or visit the Cherokee Nation’s web site.

Related Cherokee Nation 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