Cherokee National Treasure

Cherokee National Treasure is a distinction created in 1988 by the Cherokee Nation to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the preservation of the tribe's art, language, and culture.[1]

Jane Osti
Durbin Feeling
Wilma Mankiller
Hastings Shade
Several people designated as Cherokee National Treasures. Clockwise from top left: Jane Osti, Durbin Feeling, Hastings Shade, Wilma Mankiller

The tribe published a biographical overview of these cultural bearers, Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words, co-edited by Shawna Morton-Cain and Pamela Jumper-Thurman in 2017.[2][3]

List of recipients
List of Cherokee National Treasures
NameYear InductedBirthday[1][nb 1]Death DayReason for Induction
Alex England 1988 September 3, 1903 Before 2017[nb 2] Bow making[4][5]
Todum Hair 1988 February 1, 1917 2010 Gig making[6]
Anna Sixkiller Mitchell 1988 October 16, 1926 March 3, 2012 Pottery[5]
Lyman Vann 1988 (posthumously) May 22, 1907 June 15, 1985[1] Bow making[5]
William Cabbagehead 1989 Blowgun/Darts [5]
Stella Livers 1990 April 20, 1911 1994 Basketry[5]
Knokovtee Scott 1990 February 10, 1951 December 12, 2019 Carving[7]
Lucille Hair 1990 April 2, 1917 October 11, 2012 Weaving[8]
Lorene Drywater 1990 June 19, 1932 July 30, 2021 Traditional clothing sewing[9]
Mattie Wildcat Drum 1990 February 26, 1920 1991[nb 2] Weaving[5]
Rogers McLemore 1990 September 18, 1912 Before 2017[nb 2] Weaving[5][10]
Hester Chair Guess 1990 September 15, 1915 Before 2017[nb 2] Weaving[5]
Ella Mae Blackbear 1990 August 23, 1930 Basketry[5]
Clarence Downing 1990 Carving[5]
Ruth England 1990 Traditional clothing[5]
Mary Foreman 1990 September 24, 1926 Before 2021[11] Basketry[5]
Sally Lacy 1990 September 11, 1920 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Thomas Muskrat 1990 Carving[5]
Jennie Sapp 1990 February 21, 1923 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Maxine Stick 1990 Basketry[5]
Hastings Shade 1991 May 20, 1941 February 9, 2010 Carving/Gig making, one-term deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation[6]
Wendell Cochran 1991 Traditional clothing[5]
Alan Herrin 1991 Bow making[5]
Dorothy Ice 1991 Weaving[5]
Eunice O'Field 1991 Basketry/Weaving[5]
Scott Rackliff 1991 May 29, 1923 1994 Flintknapping/Carving[5]
Anna Sixkiller-Huckaby 1991 Basketry[4][5]
Nancy Smith 1991 Turtleshell Shackles[5]
Eva Smith 1991 Turtleshell Shackles[5]
Betty Jo Smith 1991 March 26, 1931 Traditional Cooking[5]
Edith Catcher Knight 1992 2016 Traditional clothing[5][12]
Minnie Handle Jumper 1992 July 25, 1922 Before 2017[nb 2] Doll making[5]
John Ketcher 1992 June 5, 1922 October 17, 2011[13] Weaving[5]
George Fourkiller 1992 December 8, 1907 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Thelma Forrest 1992 Basketry[5]
Betty Scraper Garner 1993 February 23, 1924 June 1997 Basketry[5]
Vivian Bush 1993 Turtle shell shackles[5]
Jess Oosahwee 1993 Blowgun/Darts[5]
David Neugin 1994 August 26, 1920 Bow making[5]
Luther "Toby" Hughes 1994 Carving
Tom Webber Wildcat 1995 August 11, 1922 2008 Turtleshell Shackles[5][14]
Vivian Garner Cottrell 1995 Basketry[5][15]
Lena Blackbird 1996 Basketry[5]
Richard Rowe 1996 Carving[5]
William Foster 1997 August 13, 1920 Bow making[5]
Nadine Wilbourn 1997 Basketry[5]
Noel Timothy Grayson 1998 Bow making/Flintknapping[5]
Lee Foreman 1999 October 19, 1928 Marble making[5]
Mildred Justice Ketcher 1999 November 26, 1922 Basketry[5]
Bessie Russell 1999 Basketry[5]
Albert Wofford 1999 July 2, 1929 Gig making/Carving[5]
Wyona Dreadfulwater 2000 Loomweaving[5]
Marie A. Proctor 2000 Basketry[5]
Pollie Whitekiller 2001 September 18, 1917 Before 2017[nb 2] Quilting[5]
Willie Jumper Sr. 2001 (posthumously) March 31, 1911 August 1977 Stickball Sticks[5]
Margaret Wilson 2001 Quilting[5]
Wanna Lou Barton 2002 2010 Turtle shell shackles[6]
Jim Buckhorn 2002 September 13, 1943 September 28, 2020 Bow making[16]
Linda Lou Mouse Hansen 2002 March 25, 1925 Before 2017[nb 2] Basketry[5]
Sam Lee Still 2002 January 28, 1925 Before 2017[nb 2] Wood Carving[5]
Lizzie Jane Whitekiller 2002 Hand Sewn Quilting[5]
Kathryn Kelley 2003 June 12, 1930[17] or December 6, 1930[1] June 20, 2021 Traditional basketry[18]
Rosie Chewie 2003 Basketry[5][18]
Kathy Mae VanBuskirk 2004 Basketry[5][19]
Perry Lynn VanBuskirk 2004 Bowmaking[5][19]
Jane Osti 2005 Pottery[5]
Shawna Morton Cain 2006 Basketry[5][20]
Rachel Michelle Dew 2006 Basketry[5][20]
Roger Cain 2007 Masks[5]
David Scott 2008 Languages[5]
Bill Glass Jr. 2009 Sculpture[5]
Wilma Mankiller 2010 (posthumously) November 18, 1945 April 6, 2010 First woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation[6]
Ed Fields 2010 Language[4]
Betty Christie Frogg 2010 Basketry[4]
Edna Sue Thompson 2010 Language[4]
Lisa Smith 2011 Turtle Shells[4]
Bill Rabbit 2011 December 3, 1946 April 9, 2012 Artistry and preserving Cherokee culture[21]
Durbin Feeling 2011 April 2, 1946 August 19, 2020 Advancing the Cherokee Language, Published first Cherokee-English dictionary[22]
Victoria Vazquez 2012 Pottery[23]
Cecil Dick 2012 (posthumously) September 16,1915 April 25, 1992 Arts[4][23]
Tonia Weavel 2012 Traditional clothing[23]
Martha Berry 2013 Beading[24]
Donald Vann 2013 Painting[24]
Tommy Wildcat 2013 Blowgun and flute making[24]
David Comingdeer 2014 Stickball sticks[25]
Clesta Manley 2014 November 23, 1924 Painting[25]
Eddie Morrison 2014 Sculpture[25]
John Ross 2014 Language[25]
Robert Lewis 2015 Storytelling[4]
Dan Mink 2015 Graphic Design[4]
Dennis Sixkiller 2015 Language[4]
Richard Fields 2016 Bow making[26]
Demos Glasss 2016 Metalsmithing[26]
Vyrl Keeter 2016 October 28, 1931 Flintknapping[26]
Jesse Hummingbird 2017 February 12, 1952 June 17, 2021 Unique paintings and graphics[17]
Mike Dart 2017 Basketry[27]
Troy Jackson 2018 Sculpture[28]
Lisa Rutherford 2018 Pottery[28]
Loretta Shade 2018 Language[28]
Annie Wildcat 2018 1945 2018 Clay Beads[28][14]
Candessa Tehee 2019 Weaving[29]
Choogie Kingfisher 2019 Storyteller[29]
Lula Elk 2019 Shell Shaker[29]
David Crawler 2020 Language[30]
Crosslin Smith 2020 Language[30]
Traci Rabbit 2020 Painter[30]
Dorothy Sullivan 2020 Painter[30]
Danny McCarter 2021 Blowguns[31]
Cathy Abercrombie 2021 Weaving[31]
Harry Oosahwee 2021 Artist and Stonecarver[31]
Barbara Adair 2022 Basketry[32]
Weynema Smith 2022 Cherokee language preservation[32]
Lena Stick 2022 Basketry[32]
Diana Smith Cox 2023 Turtle shell shackles[33]
Steven Daugherty 2023 Traditional weapons[33]

Notes
  1. Birthdays for all Cherokee National Treasures up to 2017 are from the "Cherokee National Treasures" book.
  2. While specific death dates are unavailable, the book "Cherokee National Treasures" confirms their death.

References
  1. Morton-Cain, Shawna; Jumper Thurman, Pamela, eds. (2017). Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words. Cherokee Nation. ISBN 978-1-934397-18-3.
  2. ""Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words" receives international recognition". Native News Online.
  3. ""Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words" wins award". Muskogee Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2018-05-12.
  4. "Cherokee National Treasures". issuu.com. Anadisgoi. 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. "The Lost Arts Project-1988" (PDF). cherokeeheritage.org. Cherokee Heritage Center. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. Archives, Phoenix (17 September 2010). "Cherokee National Treasure more than a title". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. "Cherokee National Treasure Knokovtee Scott dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. "OBITUARY Margaret Lucille Hair". dignitymemorial.com. Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. "Cherokee National Treasure Lorene Drywater dies at 89". Cherokee Phoenix. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  10. Chavez, Will (22 February 2012). "National Treasure teaches class to save weaving". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. "Cherokee National Treasure Bessie Russell "Weaving a Tradition" at Saline Courthouse Museum". Anadisgoi. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. "Cherokee National Treasures Art Show opens Oct. 1". Cherokee Phoenix. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. "BREAKING: Former Deputy Chief John Ketcher dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  14. Wildcat, Tommy (29 July 2021). "Osiyo, my Late Father, Cherokee National Treasure Tom Webber Wildcat, a Mono-Fluent Cherokee Speaker R.I.P 1922-2008 & my Late Mom Cherokee National Treasure Annie Wildcat, a Mono-Fluent Cherokee Speaker, R.I.P 1945-2018. Both were my greatest Cherokee teachers on my Life's Path". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. "Cottrell to virtually demonstrate basket making March 16". Cherokee Phoenix. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  16. "Cherokee National Treasure, bow maker Buckhorn dies at 77". Cherokee Phoenix. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  17. "CN loses two Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. Chavez, Will (10 October 2003). "Kelley, Chewie named Master Craftspeople". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  19. Chavez, Will (30 September 2004). "Cherokee National Living Treasures Named". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  20. Chavez, Will (1 September 2006). "2006 Cherokee National Living Treasure artists announced". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  21. "Cherokee National Treasure Bill Rabbit dies". Cherokee Phoenix. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. "Cherokee Nation mourns passing of Cherokee National Treasure Durbin Feeling, single-largest contributor to Cherokee language since Sequoyah". Anadisgoi. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  23. Chavez, Will (5 September 2012). "3 named 2012 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  24. Chavez, Will (13 September 2013). "3 named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  25. "4 named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  26. "3 named 2016 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  27. "Hummingbird, Dart named Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  28. "4 named as 2018 Cherokee National Treasure honorees". Cherokee Phoenix. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  29. "CN announces 2019 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  30. "Cherokee Nation announces 2020 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  31. "Cherokee Nation announces 2021 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  32. "Cherokee Nation announces 2022 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. September 2, 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  33. "Cherokee Nation announces 2023 Cherokee National Treasures". Cherokee Phoenix. September 3, 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

Further reading


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