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The National Museum of the American Indian celebrates Cherokee history during the sixth annual Cherokee Days festival April 12–14, featuring the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes—Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The free three days of festivities include the installation of the original Treaty of New Echota (1835) with the Cherokee Nation, two banner exhibitions “The Cherokee Culture” and “A Story of Cherokee Removal” and a festival full of cultural demonstrations and performances.
The three-day festival showcases the shared history and cultural lifeways of the three Cherokee tribes through various cultural demonstrations such as storytelling, traditional flute music, weaponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pottery demonstrations and dance performances. Hands-on activities in the imagiNations Activity Center will include making silhouette drawings and miniature gourd necklaces. Details about the programs are here: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Treaty of New Echota, on Loan From the National Archives
Treaties—solemn agreements between sovereign nations—lie at the heart of the relationship between Indian Nations and the United States. Sometimes coerced, invariably broken, treaties still define mutual obligations between the United States and Indian Nations. The National Museum of the American Indian will display the Treaty of New Echota (1835) from April 12 through fall 2019 in the exhibition “Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations.”
The Cherokee Days Festival is made possible by the Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
