Cherokee Nation telling Stories of the Cherokee People, Bringing History and Culture to Life in the Nation’s Capital
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) April 07, 2015 -- The Cherokee Nation brings its groundbreaking new television and online documentary-style program, “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” to Washington, D.C., for the first-ever live screening outside Oklahoma. “Osiyo” [Oh-see-oh] is the Cherokee word for hello.
A special “Smithsonian edition” screening will be held Friday, April 10, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The free event includes a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a screening of the special edition show and Q&A with show creators. Families are welcome.
“Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” tells compelling stories of the people, places, history and culture of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation, based in northeast Oklahoma, is the largest Native American tribe in the United States with about 320,000 citizens. The tribe’s historical lands primarily cover Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. The Cherokees were forcibly relocated by the federal government to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, in the 1830s.
“The Cherokee Nation’s story is rich, complex and powerful. We’re a people who’ve encountered seemingly insurmountable odds, only to survive, persevere and excel,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. “It’s a story of strength, compassion for our fellow Cherokee, and the will to overcome anything. It’s a story that many of us know well, but others may not. The Cherokee story is unique, colorful and, above all, inspiring to us and others. And it’s a story that is finally being told to the world in a remarkable way.”
Some of the topics explored by the show include the story of Cherokee Ned Christie, a Cherokee man in the 1880s who was wrongly accused of murder and pursued for years by U.S. marshals. When U.S. marshals finally caught up to Christie, what unfolded was one of the most famous skirmishes in the history of Indian Territory.
“Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” also highlights Cherokees in a modern light, featuring a professional bass angler competing for a Bassmaster world title, a 25-year-old Cherokee who’s been on professional bull riding’s PBR circuit since the age of 17, and a tribal citizen who creates unique contemporary Cherokee art in the form of graphic novels, pop culture figures and other innovative ways.
The show airs in local television markets in Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas as well as FNX, an all-Native programming network in 20 national markets. The show is formatted for multiple platforms, including http://www.Osiyo.tv, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter and more.
Show host and executive producer Jennifer Loren is a Cherokee Nation citizen and Emmy-winning journalist with more than a decade of experience. She is joined by renowned Native filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and decorated visual artist and producer Jeremy Charles in creating powerful, thought-provoking stories about the traditions, triumphs and accomplishments of the Cherokee people.
"This show is the first of its kind, bringing stories of the Cherokee people to life through compelling mini-documentaries. Our team is honored to produce these stories, not only for the Cherokee Nation, but for the world to experience,” Loren said. “Sharing ‘Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People’ on the big screen at the Smithsonian will be an incredible moment for the Cherokee Nation, and I’m so proud to be part of it."
The April 10 screening is part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian’s Cherokee Days celebration, which brings the only three federally recognized Cherokee tribes together in our nation’s capital for a weekend of artistic demonstrations, storytelling, performances and more. To RSVP for the Friday night screening, please email contact(at)osiyo(dot)tv or register at http://www.nmai.si.edu/calendar/.
Additional screenings of the first three episodes of “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” will be held at the museum on Saturday, April 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information about Cherokee Days, visit http://www.americanindian.si.edu.
For more information on “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” visit http://www.Osiyo.tv or one of many social media platforms.
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About Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the federally recognized government of the Cherokee people and has inherent sovereign status recognized by treaty and law. The seat of tribal government is the W.W. Keeler Complex near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capital of the Cherokee Nation. With more than 300,000 citizens, 9,000 employees and a variety of tribal enterprises ranging from aerospace and defense contracts to entertainment venues, Cherokee Nation is one of the largest employers in northeastern Oklahoma and the largest tribal nation in the United States.
To learn more, please visit http://www.cherokee.org.
Editor's note: Find all the latest Cherokee Nation news at http://www.anadisgoi.com.
Amanda Clinton, Cherokee Nation, +1 918-384-6944, [email protected]
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