Cherokee culture has grand celebration in June weekend

[Sequoia]

CHEROKEE — Tens of thousands of visitors are expected in Cherokee next month for what is being billed as the largest tourism weekend on the Qualla Boundary since the opening of the casino.

Three days of events during the first weekend in June offer a look at the past of the Cherokee people through photography, theater, literature, dancing and art.

The first re-enactment of the Trail of Tears is planned and the second rewrite of the outdoor drama “Unto These Hills … a Retelling” will debut.

The second annual Southeastern Tribes Cultural Arts Celebration will bring five tribes to Cherokee. And, for the first time, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will walk the streets in traditional clothes offering visitors cultural information and answering questions.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770516118

If you've never visited this area and were wondering where to go on vacation here it is! Beautiful are where I grew up. Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, the many, many waterfalls.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Been there. It's beautiful

I live closer to Talequah, however. Hope those close to you can go--well worth it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. My grandfather was born near Tahlequah

May the Great Spirit rest his soul. When I was just a young pup, my grandparents took us to Cherokee on a long, rambling road-trip vacation. It was an awesome place. It was his first time there and you could just sense his reverence for the ground we were walking on.

My Great-Grandfather Toolie Catron and Great-Grandmother Hester Flute were both on the Dawes rolls. Somewhere in Cherokee County is a cemetary called Toolie Catron Cemetery.

Gosh that brings up powerful memories. I can remember one camping trip as a child to a place on the Illinois River that I think is called Horseshoe Bend. My grandfather took us to a pile of wood that used to be a house (more like shack) at the end of an overgrown two-track dirt road. He told us it was where he was born. I don't know what the boundaries of the reservation were in 1917, but he sure was emotional when he showed us the graves on the property. I was about 10 then.

I always marvel that my G'pa married a white woman (who would one day become The Best Grandma in the World) in 1946 after returning from the war. Talk about your interracial marriage! I often wonder how they were treated. I know one thing though, it wasn't long after they were married that they came to California.

Such memories! I even found a link to some of my geneology. My G'pa is the last person listed, and I met his sister and brother. His sister lived ON the reservation when I met her as a child.

I'm going to have to dig up my CDIB (13/64ths) and see what else I can find.

Catron

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I was there 2 years ago

It is absolutely beautiful.

[CountAllVotes]

3. In the meantime

They scratch the Freedmen right off the rolls with nowhere to go. Nice. Real nice. :grr:

:kick:

[Benhurst]

4. For those of you not from around here, Cherokee is in Western North Carolina.

Most may know where this is; but as a general rule I wish all such posts would specify the state of the event or happening.

Unless a post is about New York, Chicago, Atlanta, or some other large city; it is often confusing to name a town without saying which state it is in.

[bamacrat]

5. Sounds awesome, I have a bit of Cherokee in me.

Cherokee and Creek, only an eight though. THe rest is white as hell.

[wildhorses]

6. last of the mohicans was filmed in this area.

the fort scene was filmed at lake james

[Sequoia]

7. That's right. I saw a scene in the movie where we used to have picnics.

The very spot! Wow! I watch the movie just to see my happy partying grounds. Now I'm really getting homesick!

[wildhorses]

9. that summer we watched as they built the fort

it was sad to see it burnt down for the war scene. those were exciting times. lake james is beautiful.

:hug:

[Sequoia]

10. Lucky.

So, I was in Venice, CA when Oliver Stone was filming "The Doors" and I even got to preview before it hit the theatres. However, I'd much rather have seen that. Dirty Dancing (?) was filmed over there at Lake Lure too.

[wildhorses]

11. yes, dirty dancing was filmed at lake lure

I know some dancers who were used as extras:bounce:

and, yes. i am jealous about the doors:P

[dogday]

8. I would like to make it up there

My Grandmother was full blood Cherokee... She spent some time on this reservation...

[nonconformist]

12. We went to Lake Lure last year for the 4th of July

Absolutely beautiful. Quite a drive to get back in there though, woah!

I often seek out opportunities to expose my children (and myself) to our Cherokee heritage (I'm 1/4).