Event slated for April 20 from 10 a.m. – 4p.m. at the Saline Courthouse Museum
ROSE, Okla. - Join Cherokee Nation for a day celebrating Cherokee culture and environmental awareness at the first-ever Watercress Fest on Saturday, April 20.
The family-friendly event is open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the historic Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose. The spring-fed creek on the grounds is home to an abundant amount of the aquatic plant, watercress – the event namesake.
Throughout the day guests will enjoy a variety of immersive cultural experiences including traditional games, art demonstrations, a pop-up market, Native food trucks, cooking demonstrations and live music by Kalyn Fay, Amber Watson, Agalisiga "Chuj" Mackey and the King Cabbage Brass Band.
As part of Watercress Fest, there will be land and water presentations aimed to increase environmental awareness and educate guests on issues affecting individual Cherokee citizens and the tribe.
“The protection of our natural resources is vital to the preservation of our Cherokee lifeways,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “This event is an opportunity for us to come together in appreciation for what the Earth has given us and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that these resources continue to thrive for the next seven generations.”
Live demonstrations of traditional Cherokee art will take place as well featuring basketry, pottery, flint knapping and more. These demonstrations are hosted by a variety of Cherokee artists and Cherokee National Treasures such as Kathy VanBuskirk, Vryl Keeter and Betty Frogg.
Traditional cultural games including stickball, chunkey and atlatl will be on display from coordinators of the 2024 traditional Native games and Cherokee National Treasure Perry VanBuskirk. Guests will also see firsthand the fierceness and intensity of a traditional stickball game hosted by the Wudeligv stickball team.
Guests can also enjoy panel discussions, film screenings, ethnobotany tours and more.
For more information and a detailed schedule of events, please visit www.VisitCherokeeNation.com.
