Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words

“The legend says that a long time ago we lived on land surrounded by water that we couldn’t drink . . .” —Traditional beginning to Cherokee stories

Cherokee origin stories have been handed down over thousands of years. They intertwine to form a rich history of oral and artistic traditions that tell the Cherokee story. The vast array of art objects unearthed from prehistoric mounds throughout the southeastern United States evidence the antiquity of this rich cultural history. To some, these may be artifacts, but to the Cherokee people, they are tribal history: objects that were touched by ancestors, ancestors who have continued to teach their skills through gifts they left behind to be discovered. 
 
Stories in this book reflect how history has woven itself into the fabric of the present. The stories are intimate and told by the artists, by family members, by friends in their own words. The telling will make you feel as though you are fortunate enough to sit in the presence of the Cherokee artists, who intimately share the story of themselves, of their art, who their family was, how they came to be artists, who and what influenced them, and how their art reflects who they are as Cherokee people. They are the Cherokee National Treasures. 
 
The Cherokee National Treasure Award was established in 1988 by the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee National Historical Society. Currently, there are ninety-four individuals who have been designated Cherokee National Treasures. They have all been recognized not only for their roles as artisans, but also for their roles as teachers, mentors, and advocates. The award recipients have preserved and perpetuated traditional and contemporary artistic methods and practices, ensuring that their arts and skills are not lost. These powerful stories of Cherokee National Treasures are captivating and leave lasting impressions of Cherokee life, values, and artistic traditions—cultural treasures that continue into the twenty-first century.