Sophomore Lillian Combs says the celebration shows “that we are still here… we are a people of importance.”
The 74th annual Cherokee National Holiday took place this week in Tahlequah, bringing Cherokee citizens together to celebrate. Sophomore Lillian Combs, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, spoke about what the holiday meant to her and how it connected Cherokee citizens.
What is the Cherokee National Holiday?
“The Cherokee National Holiday is a celebration of our people signing the 1839 Cherokee Nation Constitution. It’s basically a way to memorialize our people, and show that we did not end with the Trail of Tears. We are still here, we still join together, we still are people of importance. I think to a lot of people, [the holiday] is a sign that we do not just exist in the past.
“A lot of people think of Native Americans as people from a history book. That doesn’t account for us now, and our businesses that are thriving, and our healthcare systems that are thriving, and all of our different cultural aspects. We have an immersion school [in Tahlequah] to help rebuild our language. There are so many great, amazing things going on, and I think the Cherokee Holiday is a great moment to recognize all those great things and recognize the people that are helping.
“My favorite part of the event happens on Saturday. Specifically the State of the Nation, where the chief and deputy chief will stand up and tell everybody where we’re at, and all the things that we accomplished throughout the year. It’s a really meaningful moment for me. … Our current chief, Chuck Hoskin Jr., is term limited, so he will be leaving soon. It was an amazing opportunity to see everything he’s doing before his term ends. He is absolutely not stopping. It’s just a great day when everybody gets honored for everything that they do, and it makes me proud to be a Cherokee.”
What do you hope visitors got out of attending?
“I really hope that everyone sees that we, as a people, are so loving and caring, and also funny — our Cherokee humor is genuinely unmatched. No matter where you go throughout the holiday, you’ll meet a smiling face, and they’ll crack a joke.
“I also hope that people got to see the powwow and everyone in [their] cultural dress and regalia. It’s also an amazing opportunity for people in our tribe that feel like they can’t fully connect, maybe because they didn’t grow up on the reservation, to connect with everyone. It’s a great opportunity to see our culture at its finest.”
How are you involved in the Cherokee Nation?
“Obviously I’ve been a tribal member my entire life. I was raised on the reservation in the Bartlesville area. In that area, we have a Washington County Cherokee organization with a lot of our elders in it. And my grandma, one day, came up to me and was like, ‘Hey, we really need some younger Cherokees to join our group.’ And so I joined the group. I helped out a lot with our community organization.
“When I moved [to Bixby], I was a little disconnected from the reservation because of the distance. Every year, there is a big convention. The summer before my senior year, I went to one and the chief was speaking, and I was like, ‘Wow. This guy sounds really smart and he also sounds really kind.’ I already wanted a job that let me help around the Cherokee Nation.
“My grandma and a few of our elders told me to write all my information down on this little card, and then they would bring me up to speak to the chief. I was like, ‘I’m not gonna go up there, and I’m sure as heck not gonna have you guys come with me.’ … But I did go up to him, and he ended up reaching out to me two hours later. I got an internship in Cherokee Nation government relations, and I’ve been helping ever since.”
