Annual Meeting and Chief’s Picnic 2024
On Sunday, April 21st, the Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach hosted our Annual Meeting and Chief’s Picnic at Rush Ranch in Suisan City. California has the largest population of Cherokee Nation citizens outside of Oklahoma: over 28,000! This was another record-breaking year, with at least 937 attendees and 263 guests registered for their Cherokee Nation ID cards coming from throughout Northern California. We owe a debt of gratitude to our incredible volunteers from our community, Cherokees of Northern Central Valley, and neighboring Cherokee Society of the Greater Bay Area. These volunteers worked hard throughout the day to serve our community in the spirit of our core value ᎦᏚᎩ gadugi (coming together as one and working to help one another).
We visited with our Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and First Lady January Hoskin, Secretary of State Shella Bowlin, Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, Tribal Councilors Johnny Jack Kidwell and Dr. Julia Coates, Cherokee Language Program Executive Director Howard Paden, Gadugi Corps Director Shawn Crittenden, Registrar Derrick Vann and registration staff, CN Departments of Health Services, Gadugi Portal, Education, and Public Health, and CCO staff including Savannah Smith, Seli Stewart, and Pam Bakke. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. spoke about the tribe’s work to improve health care access, support education, preserve and grow our culture and language, and increase jobs, infrastructure, and outreach. Our Principal Chief honored our recently departed Rob Wood and Ben Ridge Goss. Hoskin also bestowed a new Cherokee Honored Elder award to our local community member, Kay (Paden) Griffin.
We enjoyed flute music by National Treasure Tommy Wildcat, storytelling by National Treasure Robert Lewis, traditional crafts like gigs and chunkey stones with National Treasure Larry Shade, fingerweaving and clay medallion crafts by Pam Bakke, a prayer with Dawni Squirrel, and a stickball game with Stan Paden. A local high school student ran non-profit, Bricks for All, came to spread their mission of empowering indigenous students through LEGO-based STEM education. Many community members enjoyed collecting new books, t-shirts, hats, and other items. There were so many resources and great information shared on language, culture, health care, education, and more!
The day was filled with love, joy, and so much laughter. We loved visiting with family and friends, and of course making new Cherokee friends and finding new family. On this day, and every day, we are so proud to be Cherokee! Our tribe and at-large organization are thriving thanks to its wonderful citizens who focus on family, community, and service to each other.
ᏩᏙ wado (thank you) to all and we hope to see everyone again next year!
— Sabrina McKinney
