Supporting Cherokee Artists Means Investing in Our Culture

Osiyo,

If you visit the new Ani Art Center in Stilwell, our tribal headquarters in Tahlequah, or any Cherokee Nation health center across the reservation in northeast Oklahoma, you will find the inspirational work of modern Cherokee artists. They are leading a Cherokee cultural renaissance happening right now, and their pieces are proof that our culture is alive and thriving today.

That is why Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I proposed the Artist Resiliency Act, legislation that would make Cherokee Nation's commitment to our artists permanent. I announced this endeavor at the annual State of the Nation address during Cherokee National Holiday, and recently it advanced through the Council of the Cherokee Nation's Culture Committee.

In 2022, the Hoskin-Warner administration worked with the Council to establish the historic Artist Recovery Act as part of our response to the financial hardship caused by the global pandemic. Cherokee artists were hit hard by canceled shows, closed markets and lost income. We knew they needed our support, so we stepped up.

What began as an economic recovery tool became much larger and profound. Through the Artist Recovery Act, Cherokee Nation invested $4 million to fund art instruction, purchased Cherokee artwork, expanded access to commercial markets and competitions, and supported capital projects like the Ani Art Center.

The results speak for themselves. We supported more than 3,800 hours of art instruction and purchased more than 600 pieces from over 100 Cherokee artists. Those works will remain permanently in the tribe's collections and displayed in public spaces for future generations to see.

That temporary law is set to expire, but we must build on progress rather than walk away from it.

The Artist Resiliency Act would establish recurring three-year funding cycles of $3 million, adjusted for inflation in future cycles. It continues our support for art instruction, acquisition and economic opportunity, while adding stronger planning, accountability and public reporting.

It would also create an official Cherokee Nation Artist designation and identification card for citizen artists who wish to be recognized.

This new program, which will be managed by Cherokee Nation Businesses' Cultural Tourism team, will also help us honor the individuals and stories that shaped our tribe. It authorizes new statues of Chief John Ross and Sequoyah in Tahlequah, joining the statues currently underway honoring former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller and the history of Cherokee Freedmen.

Cherokee artists are not simply preserving our culture; they are shaping our future. We are living through a period of tremendous cultural growth across the Cherokee Nation, and it is our responsibility to protect that momentum and provide the support it rightfully deserves.

The Artist Resiliency Act does exactly that. It tells the Cherokee people that supporting creativity and artistry is not just a temporary response due to hard times. It is a permanent investment in our culture and identity, as well as the strength of this Nation for generations to come.

Wado,

Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Principal Chief