Cherokee Nation Route 66 Episode Premieres July 25th
For generations of Americans, Route 66 represents freedom and the open road. But long before the "Mother Road" was ever paved, the land it runs through was Cherokee land, and the communities along it were Cherokee communities.
In July, the Cherokee Nation is premiering a new Route 66-themed episode of their monthly streaming program "ᏣᎳᎩ: Wherever We Are" – well-timed as Season 6, Episode 6. A special virtual event has been created for the premiere on YouTube on Saturday, July 25, at noon CT.
“As the United States celebrates the Route 66 Centennial, this conversation offers the perspective that too often gets left out — the Cherokee story of a road that was built through our homeland, without our input, during one of the most difficult chapters in our history,” the Cherokee Nation said in a press release. “And the story of how, like so many times before, our people adapted, endured, and made it their own.”
This episode features Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, historian and Cultural Tourism Exhibits Manager Karen Shade-Lanier, former Tribal Councilor Keith Austin, and former Oklahoma State Representative, Mayor of Vinita, and Tribal Councilor Chuck Hoskin. Together, they'll explore the Cherokee communities that existed along Route 66 long before the highway arrived — places like Vinita, Claremore, Chelsea, Catoosa, and Adair — what the road's designation meant during the allotment era, and how Cherokee heritage continues to shape the experience of Route 66 today.
“Whether you're a Cherokee citizen, a traveler on the Mother Road, or someone who believes the full story of this landmark deserves to be told, this conversation offers history, perspective, and pride in the resilience of the Cherokee people, wherever we are.”
You can RSVP today to receive the premiere link on the morning of the event at the following link:
If anyone has questions or needs help signing up, you can email them directly at info@cherokeesatlarge.org. Dozens of previously produced episodes are available on their YouTube channel here.
