Cherokee Nation reports artist support, language initiatives and upcoming cultural events

Molly Jarvis, director of Cultural Tourism, told the Cherokee Nation cultural committee that cultural programs have put money into local artists and are planning classes and exhibitions across the year. “Since this year, we have in FY '25, so October through now, we spent almost $32,000 with our Cherokee artists, and that's impacted 266 artists in different programs,” Jarvis said, summarizing Artist Recovery Act activity.

Jarvis said a History course will be held at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles later in February, subject to local conditions, and staff will publish a full class schedule later this month. She highlighted two spring events the committee should note: a Trail of Tears art show with a reception on April 4, and Watercress Fest on April 26.

Wyman Kirk, filling in for Howard Payton, delivered the Cherokee Nation Language Department report and outlined education and preservation initiatives. Kirk described the fourteenth Gen grama program for immersion‑school graduates and a grant‑funded Cherokee Nation Teacher Institute of Excellence to train immersion teachers. He also noted a Cherokee Language Teacher Training Scholarship for students at Northeastern State University and said community language classes will resume in April.

Kirk announced a reprint of the Durbin Feeling Dictionary: “We are issuing, having that printed, a fiftieth anniversary edition printed,” he said, adding staff were told the copies should arrive in “2 to 3 weeks.” He also reported Speaker Services’ recent assistance to elders and first‑language speakers — including help with utility bills and funeral costs — and ongoing digitization of records into a Salesforce platform to improve service delivery.

Committee members praised recent exhibits, offered logistical feedback for large public events (for example, more food trucks at Watercress Fest), and expressed enthusiasm for immersion‑school athletics. Kirk said the immersion team’s games had been canceled recently because of a widespread flu but that activity should resume soon.

The meeting concluded without additional committee action on these items; staff indicated they will follow up on scheduling, printed materials and program details.