In this episode of “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” learn about the game of stickball, how “the little brother of war” became a pastime for all to play. Hear from groundbreaker Winnie Guess Perdue, who made waves on the powwow circuit as one of the first female hoop dancers. And visit with Cherokee National Treasure Troy Jackson as he sculpts award-winning contemporary art.
Like many tribes native to the eastern U.S., Cherokees have played stickball for centuries. Cherokee Nation citizen and cultural outreach employee Cole Hogner demonstrates with friends the full-contact sport that inspired lacrosse and also shares how the game evolved from a tool of warfare to a social game open to all.
Known as one of the first female hoop dancers on the powwow circuit, Winnie Guess Perdue didn’t realize until years later she was breaking new ground in Native dance sport. Now in her role as a Cherokee elder, she reflects on her experiences and the people who helped her along the way.
Artist Troy Jackson is a Cherokee National Treasure, honored for his ability to create stunning, award-winning sculptures from clay and metal. Jackson tells OsiyoTV how his Cherokee ancestors and culture influence his contemporary style.
During an era in which the United States government worked to weaken the sovereignty of tribal nations, J.B. Milam was appointed Principal Chief of the Cherokees by two different U.S. presidents in the 1940s. Although he was not in an elected position, Milam used his time in office to serve his people and lay the foundation for the modern Cherokee Nation.
Cherokee elder and speaker Lawrence Panther gets back to basics teaching the Cherokee syllabary with help from Cherokee Immersion Charter School student Reese. In this lesson, they share pronunciation of several Cherokee consonant sounds and words created from them, including “rope” and “corn.”
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