Osiyo (“Hello”),
The Cherokee Nation is the federally recognized government of the Cherokee people and has inherent sovereign status that is recognized by treaty and law. The seat of tribal government is the W.W. Keeler Complex near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, capital of the Cherokee Nation.
With more than 285,000 citizens, nearly 8,000 employees and a variety of tribal enterprises that range from aerospace and defense contracts to entertainment venues, Cherokee Nation’s economic impact in Oklahoma and surrounding areas is more than $1 billion annually. It is one of the largest employers in northeastern Oklahoma and is the second largest tribal nation in the United States.
The Cherokee Nation government, like the United States government, consists of three branches, the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial. The three branches are separate and distinct, providing a checks and balances system that prevents one branch from exercising the powers of another branch. The framework for the Cherokee Nation government is its Constitution.
As the governing body of the Cherokee people, the Cherokee Nation has the right to structure its own government and Constitution, make its own laws, enforce its laws, and regulate business, land, environment, wildlife, and levy taxes within the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdiction.
Our government serves as a guardian of our culture, our land and our people. It is a safe haven for our citizens, while at the same time looking after and protecting the rights of those citizens.
We invite you to visit the great Cherokee Nation and to experience our rich history, language, culture and traditions during the 57th annual Cherokee National Holiday.
Also, please visit Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism for information about other exciting cultural and historic places to see while you are our guest during the Holiday. This year we are offering unique bus tours of the area that include a traditional Cherokee meal. Tours begin at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on September 3-4 at the Murrel Home historic site. To purchase tickets for the bus tour, go to http://www.cherokeetourismok.com/CulturalTours/SpecialEventTours/CherokeeNationalHoliday/tabid/134/Default.aspx
On September 5-6, Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism is also offering free walking tours that begin every half hour starting at 9 a.m. from the Cherokee Nation courthouse square downtown. Each tour will last about 30 minutes and will visit significan historic sites in and around the square.
You may also want to visit the Cherokee Heritage Center at Park Hill for even more arts and crafts and Cherokee cultural events during the Holiday.