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The blowgun competition is one of the favorites at the Cherokee National Holiday. Traditional competitions will be held in Sallisaw on July 22.

SALLISAW, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation will host a Traditional Native Games Competition on Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City Park in Sallisaw.

“There are a lot of people who play the traditional Cherokee games and we would like all of them to come out and have some fun with us,” said Louie Slagle, Cherokee National Holiday director.

Participants will have the opportunity to compete in Cherokee marbles, horseshoes, stickball, a cornstalk shoot, and a blowgun competition.

There is no fee to enter. Winners will have the opportunity to advance to the community vs. community finals at the 54th Annual Cherokee National Holiday. Prizes will be awarded to each winner in every category.

“We will hold these community competitions in six different communities throughout the year and hope all of the winners will join us in September for some good old-fashioned community rivalry,” Slagle said.

The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 in honor of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. This year’s theme is “The Cherokee Nation Continues in Full Force and Effect” in commemoration of the Act of 1906, which provided that the tribal constitutional governments of the Five Tribes should continue in “full force and effect,” thus ensuring continuous tribal sovereignty.

For more information on the events or to register contact the Cherokee Nation representative assigned to that particular event: horseshoe coordinator Jody Reese, phone: 918-822-2428, Cherokee marbles coordinator Darrell Dry, phone: 918-434-8622, Blowgun coordinator Danny McCarter, phone: 918-456-2782, Cornstalk Shoot coordinator Debra Grayson, phone: 918-207-0796, Stickball coordinator Sharon Dry, phone: 918-453-5483, or Hatchet Throwing coordinator David Boyd phone: 918-774-7234.

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