Cherokee National Holiday needs overhaul

Will Chavez

By Will Chavez
Staff Writer

Debate and constructive criticism are many times vital to changing things for the better. So, I hope I am being constructive as I criticize the Cherokee National Holiday. To be clear, I’m not being critical of what the holiday stands for and why it is held. I’ve just wondered for years why nearly all of the celebration’s main events are held on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

From the standpoint of a person who covers the holiday each year, it is difficult to cover events when they occur concurrently. I may be covering and taking photos of Cherokee marbles at the Cherokee Heritage Center knowing I’m missing the annual parade in downtown Tahlequah three miles away. Sure there are more people on the Cherokee Phoenix staff, but still it’s a chore to cover all the holiday events properly when they are all held on one day.

For the sake of the staff and the volunteers who work to make the holiday successful, spread the events over three days – possibly Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sure smaller events are scheduled for Friday and Sunday right now, but to create a more relaxed holiday, why not schedule bigger events on all three days.

Revamping the holiday may not be easy or even feasible, but if it is, Cherokee Nation employees should be given Friday off in the spirit of the holiday that celebrates the signing of our constitution in 1839. Maybe more employees could take part in events if they were held on multiple days and they had an extra day off.

Change comes slowly sometimes. Maybe a lot of people like the holiday the way it is or agree it could be better.

After being critical I should share what I think is good about the Cherokee National Holiday. For me it is seeing old friends again and traditions continue. I enjoy watching the cornstalk shoot, the blowgun competition and seeing familiar faces at the marble tournament. Those events don’t seem like competitions because the men and women participating have such a good time swapping stories and visiting. Despite all the visiting and laughing, someone inevitably wins the competitions because eventually enough arrows and blowgun darts hit the targets and enough marbles roll into holes carved into the dirt.

Being at the town square before the annual parade begins is one my favorite times of the holiday. Standing in the shadow of our old courthouse and under those big maple trees just makes me feel good. This is one of the best places during the holiday where you can see friends and family. There is also excitement in the air as people mill through the crowds in search of good spots to watch the parade or cold drinks and possibly free fans to brush the heat away from their faces.

The parade is always interesting and colorful. A mixture of marching bands, floats depicting the holiday theme, veterans, holiday ambassadors, emergency vehicles and politicians always make for an interesting procession down Muskogee Avenue. Although during election years, which are nearly every year it seems, the large number of politicians riding in the parade and their staffs working the crowd can almost overwhelm a parade, but that’s another subject.

Another favorite event is the powwow. Parking in the cow pasture west of the powwow grounds is always an adventure especially after dark because cow patties usually come with cow pastures. You have to step lightly after you get out of your car. The powwow is also a place to see people you may have lost track of over the years. I believe the main reason some people come to the powwow is to see old friends and family. The dancing competition is secondary for them. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially when the giveaways last a long time or the emcee gets a little windy telling stories and jokes. I should say some of the best jokes I’ve ever heard were told by powwow emcees.

Overall, the holiday is a good event and something I really look forward to attending. I should also say I am not being critical of our official holiday organizers. There are not many of them, but they work hard and can only work within the budget they are given. I may be exhausted by Saturday night trying to cover events and competitions, but I can honestly say I always have fun doing it.