Citizen Portal
Sign In

Committee approves minutes, creates cultural-retreat work group; tourism and outreach reports highlight exhibits and programs

Cherokee Nation Council (Cultural Committee) · February 9, 2026

Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts

Subscribe
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Cherokee Nation cultural committee approved last meeting minutes, formed an eight-member cultural-retreat work group, and received reports noting more than 357 participating Cherokee artists and over 14,000 cultural-site visitors in the first quarter; staff will share additional design submissions by email.

The Cherokee Nation cultural committee approved minutes from its prior meeting, agreed to form a cultural-retreat work group and heard updates on tourism, treasures and outreach programs.

Chair called for and obtained a motion to approve prior minutes; the chair stated, "Motion passes." The committee then discussed a proposed cultural-retreat work group intended to foster fellowship and strengthen cultural and language ties. The chair said the work group would include up to eight members; several councilors volunteered and the chair confirmed the members and moved forward.

Molly Jarvis presented the tourism report, saying, "We have more than 357 Cherokee artists that we have participating in our programs," and that "our cultural sites welcomed more than 14,000 guests" in the October–December quarter. Jarvis listed upcoming and ongoing initiatives including Anna Mitchell site programming, continuing work on Will Rogers' Birthplace Ranch in Oolaga (expected to be complete later this summer) and a Cherokee Heritage Center planning effort with an anticipated groundbreaking in late 2026. She also noted a Trail of Tears art show with a reception on April 10 and an exhibit on Cherokee declarations of sovereignty planned for April at the Cherokee National History Museum.

Jarvis also reported that the mentor program for the Cherokee National Treasure Advisory Committee is open for fiscal year 26 and that Jane Oste is featured in an exhibit at Crystal Bridges. Brooke stood in for Howard Payton of the language department and offered to take questions back to him. Savannah Smith presented community and cultural outreach highlights and received praise for recent events held in Lakeland.

Chair announced the next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 11 a.m. and adjourned the session.