The Cherokee Word for Water – Based on a True Story about Wilma Mankiller

Location
Rose State College, Tannenbaum Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center
(TACC Building)
1720 Hudiburg Drive, Midwest City, OK 73110

Rose State College Map

Bring your own Brown Bag Lunch (Food will not be provided)

This docudrama is about a journey that transformed the Cherokee Nation and a great leader of our people who re-introduced the concepts of self-determination to the Cherokee People. 

 The Cherokee Word for Water is a feature-length motion picture that tells the story of the work that led Wilma Mankiller to become the first modern woman Chief of the Cherokee Nation.  The movie is based on the true story of the Bell Waterline Project.  Set in the early 1980s in the homes of a rural Oklahoma Cherokee community where many houses lack running water and other are little more than shacks.  After centuries of being dehumanized and disposed of their land and identity, the people no longer feel they have power or control over their lives or future.

 Led by Wilma Mankiller (played by Kimberly Guerrero) and Cherokee organizer Charlie Soap (played by Mo Brings Plenty) using the traditional concept of “Gadugi” – working together to solve a problem, they inspired the community to trust each other, and reawaken universal indigenous values.

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CHEROKEE ALLIANCE
Tuesdays, April 2 – April 30
6:00pm – 8:00pm
First Americans Museum 
659 First Americans Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Instructor: Catherine Foreman Gray
Max: 50 Students
Register at https://visitcherokeenation.com/history-classes

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CHEROKEE ALLIANCE
Tuesdays, April 2 – April 30
6:00pm – 8:00pm
First Americans Museum 
659 First Americans Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Instructor: Catherine Foreman Gray
Max: 50 Students
Register at https://visitcherokeenation.com/history-classes

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CHEROKEE ALLIANCE
Tuesdays, April 2 – April 30
6:00pm – 8:00pm
First Americans Museum 
659 First Americans Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Instructor: Catherine Foreman Gray
Max: 50 Students
Register at https://visitcherokeenation.com/history-classes

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CHEROKEE ALLIANCE
Tuesdays, April 2 – April 30
6:00pm – 8:00pm
First Americans Museum 
659 First Americans Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Instructor: Catherine Foreman Gray
Max: 50 Students
Register at https://visitcherokeenation.com/history-classes

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CHEROKEE ALLIANCE
Tuesdays, April 2 – April 30
6:00pm – 8:00pm
First Americans Museum 
659 First Americans Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Instructor: Catherine Foreman Gray
Max: 50 Students
Register at https://visitcherokeenation.com/history-classes

Join us at BancFirst, located at 10th and Lincoln in Oklahoma City, on February 15th from 6 to 8pm for a compelling presentation by Jack Baker on the Trail of Tears.

In this engaging presentation, Baker will be speaking on the Tail of Tears and will be quoting extensively from contemporary accounts.

The event will take place at BancFirst, located on 10th and Lincoln in Oklahoma City.

Cherokee Nation Health Services has implemented a new office called Patient Experience Team. The office's purpose is to help all Cherokee citizens access health care either through the CN health care centers or to become aware of other local tribal health resources that may have reciprocal agreements with CNHS. On November 9, 2023, Jessica Lewandowski, Patient Experience Manager will speak to COCA about how her office can help avail our tribal town to the services her office offers.

The Central Oklahoma Cherokee Alliance (COCA), a tribal community of Cherokee Citizens living in the greater Oklahoma City area will host a candidate forum for those seeking one of two At-Large seats in the Cherokee Nation’s Tribal Council.  The forum will be live-streamed on the COCA Facebook page at Central Oklahoma Cherokee Alliance-COCA. The moderated forum is set for Thursday, April 20 and will begin streaming Facebook at 6:30 p.m.  (Find us on Face book at:  Central Oklahoma Cherokee Alliance – COCA).  Those who wish to attend the event in person are welcome to attend at Rose State College Jeanie Webb Student Union in the FNB Community Bank Ballroom B on the second floor of the Student Union. Doors will open there at 6pm.

We have set Thursday, February 16th at 6PM for our next tribal community meeting.   

This will be a BYOBB (Bring your own brown bag) meal.  This will be a combined “in-person” and Zoom meeting. The in-person portion will be held in the BancFirst Community Room at 1111 North Lincoln in Oklahoma City (enter at the west door and look for signage). For those looking to attend via Zoom:

Topic: COCA Meeting February
Time: Feb 16, 2023 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://rose-edu.zoom.us/j/94915779143?pwd=NkhQcW1YZUQvUlllWEZKZ2wwSldKQT09

Meeting ID: 949 1577 9143
Passcode: 952754
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,94915779143# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,94915779143# US (Houston)

The program will feature Feather Smith, Director of the Cherokee Nation’s Seed Bank. She will outline the mission of the seed bank and share how you can apply for an allocation of heirloom seeds to start your own Cherokee Garden this spring. While many of the seeds in our Nation’s bank are for food purposes, there are also those for medicine (both physical and spiritual). When one of our community members grew a bounty of gourds, we thought it would be of interest to learn more about the use of gourds in our culture. Thus, we have invited Roger Cain to speak at our meeting. Roger is an acclaimed carver of Booger Masks. In addition, if that phrase is foreign to you, this program will provide insights into Cherokee traditions in the fight against evil. We always invite our At-Large Tribal Counselors and we will ask them to address items of note from the Council House. Join us at 6PM (in person or via Zoom) on 2/16/23.

We have set Thursday, December 15th at 6PM for our next tribal community meeting.  We will meet at 100 North Broadway in Oklahoma City in the lobby of the BancFirst Tower. 

This will be a BYOBB (Bring your own brown bag) meal.  The program for the evening will be provided by Red Earth.  We will hear about their organization, events, and good work over the past decades in promoting Native Arts and Culture.  Their gallery will be open to us to see the Red Earth TreeFest, a tradition of tribally decorated Christmas Trees.  COCA has been a part of this tradition over the past years with a tree that is decorated with Cherokee ornaments.  The Red Earth Shop will also be open for the evening.

Enter the BancFirst Tower from any entry and find your way to the north lobby area we were will assemble. Parking is found at street level and downtown garages. We hope to see you there!

Dlayvga (Jay) Hannah, Acting Convener
Central Oklahoma Cherokee Alliance, a Cherokee Tribal Community serving the OKC Metro Area

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. —On June 6, a limited number of the 2022 Wilma Mankiller Quarters will be released to the public in Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation.

 The Cherokee Nation, BancFirst, U.S. Mint and Wilma Mankiller Trust are partnering to host the “Wilma Mankiller Quarter Release and Celebration” event.

 The event honoring the life and work of the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation starts at 10 a.m. at the Cherokee National Capital Museum lawn and allows the public to purchase Wilma Mankiller Quarters following the event inside the museum.

Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director Trait Thompson will overview the museum’s collection of Cherokee related artifacts and tribal resources (Zoom Only).

Agenda
Call to order and Introductory Remarks - Jay Hannah, Acting Convener
We will hear from our At-Large Councilors and our guest speaker will be Trait Thompson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The meeting will be conducted over Zoom.

Send an email to info@centralokcherokeealliance.org to receive the Zoom invitation.

Members of The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of The United Methodist will gather at the Thlopthlocco United Methodist Church, Thursday, September 30, 2021 to join others across the country for a day of remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools. This day of remembrance aligns with the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation that is honored in Canada for residential school survivors.

Bishop Jimmy Nunn of the Oklahoma area and Rev. David Wilson, Asst. to the Bishop will lead the service. Tribal music will be provided by the Cherokee Adult Choir from D.D. Etchieson UMC at Tahlequah and Muscogee singers from area churches.

“It is important for us to gather in prayer as we remember the impact that Indian boarding schools had upon tribal peoples across the conference,” said Rev. Wilson. 

Oklahoma has more than 83 former and current boarding school sites, more than any in the nation, according to the National Boarding School Coalition.

The service will begin at 10 a.m. in the open tabernacle located at the church. The Thlopthlocco Church is located at 377187 E 1170 Rd, seven miles south of Okemah.