Copyright © 2007 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

"The blowgun competition is just one of several exciting traditional games being played in the community games series being held by Cherokee Nation as a part of the 2007 Cherokee National Holiday event. The games will be held various locations this spring and summer, with finals taking place during the Holiday." TAHLEQUAH, OK — The Cherokee Nation will be hosting traditional native games competitions in various communities, beginning Saturday, April 21, in Tahlequah. The games are being held in conjunction with the 55th Annual Cherokee National Holiday which takes place in Tahlequah over Labor Day weekend. “Traditional games are a large part of our history,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “These competitions help the Cherokee Nation to keep its culture alive by passing the knowledge and skills associated with these games down to our younger generations of Cherokees.” Traditional games such as horseshoes, Cherokee marbles, corn stalk shoots, stickball competitions, hatchet throwing and blowgun competitions will be held in the months leading up to the Cherokee National Holiday. The winners of each community competition will be invited and encouraged to participate in the play off games at the Holiday on Sunday, September 2. “We have a lot of fun holding these community competitions,” said Lou Slagle, Holiday Event Coordinator. “I encourage everyone to come out and take part in these community games. Even if you don’t participate, they are great to watch.” There is no entry fee required. Community games will be played in the following locations: * Tahlequah, west of Cherokee Nation complex, Saturday, April 21 * Kansas, OK, City Park, Saturday, May 5 * Catoosa, Rogers Point Park, Saturday, June 9 * Sallisaw, City Park Hwy 64, Saturday, July 14 * Bell, Bell Powwow Grounds, Saturday, August 4 The Cherokee National Holiday has been held yearly since 1953, in honor of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. This year’s theme is “Common Values, Common Ground,” in commemoration of the rich history that exists between the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma. For more information about the traditional native games competition, contact Lou Slagle, phone: 918-453-5544 or 918-453-1689.

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