Link to the 26th Conference Page (see this page for the latest information)
When: October 16-18, 2023
Where: Cherokee Casino & Hotel in West Siloam Springs, OK
Conference Room Rate: $109.24 (includes tax) per night Room Block Code: #1510TOTATR
Reservations: phone 918-422-6301 (reservations online not available for this room block)
Tentative Schedule:
- Monday Morning, Oct. 16th
- Fall Board of Directors Meeting
- Monday Afternoon Conference Opening at 1:30 pm by Jack D. Baker, TOTA President
- Welcome Address—-Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.
- Greetings from Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill
- Keynote Address: Cherokee Orator Dennis Jay Hannah, of Mosely’s Prairie and lately of Norman, Exec. VP: Financial Services- Banc First
- Tuesday, Oct. 17th Field Trip
- 9:00 am TOTA Membership Meeting
- Report-Aaron Mahr, Supt. National Trails
- 10:30 am – Depart via bus in Tahlequah
- Stop at Baptist Mission
- Arrive Cherokee National Peace Pavilion just off the square behind the new Cherokee National History Museum and across the street from the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum
- Lunch at the Peace Pavillion (events will be at the Armory in case of inclement weather)
- Tuesday Afternoon – Guided Tours of:
- Cherokee History Museum
- Cherokee Supreme Court Museum
- Hunter’s Home at Park Hill – (A Cherokee owned mansion which is Oklahoma’s only surviving ante-bellum home)
- A Cherokee Cultural Pathway lined with art which leads from the Cherokee Supreme Court Museum to Cherokee Prison Museum, Cherokee Arts Center, Kawi Café, and the Spider Gallery.
- 5:00 pm Cherokee Hog Fry
- 5:30 pm Welcome to the Capitol of the Cherokee Nation – Chief Hoskin
- 5:45 pm Cherokee Youth Choir Performance under direction of former Miss Cherokee, Mary Kay Henderson
- Wednesday, Oct 18th Presentations, workshops, performances
- Confirmed Speakers:
- Professor Lindsay Robertson, Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law, OK Univ. College of Law– “1830’s Sup.Ct. Cases concerning Cherokee Removal”
- Ryan Spring and Cecilia C. Young, discussing the “Moving Fires” exhibit in the Choctaw Cultural Center.
- Chickasaw performances by Storyteller Donna Courtney and Singer/Dance Leader Jason Burwell, and a presentation on Chickasaw
Cultural Identity by LaDonna Brown, Dir. of Research & Cultural Interpretation for the Chickasaw Nation. - A joint session with the Choctaw Nation Trail of Tears Bike Riders and the Cherokee Nation RTR Bike Riders