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Show by MARGARET DORNAUS New Beginnings Trails End When Cherokee Indians were tion of higher learning for women west of forced to leave their Southern homelands on their relocation westward along the Toil oflean" in 1839, what they didnt leave behind was their history, their culture, their faith in the future, and a remarkable written language. All these are alive and well today in the new center of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Okla., where bilingual street signs-- in both English and Cherokee tell a visitor that this is unlike any ocher plaoe in America. The signs pay tribute to one of the tribe's most famous sons, Sequoyah, who developed an alphabet that enabled the Cherokee to become one of the 19th centurys most literate people. They arrived in Indian Territory almost 70 years before Oklahoma was granted statehood, and more the Mississippi. And die towns tribally funded 1844 Supreme Court Building the first public building in Indian Territory is now undergoing restoration. East of the center; the grand Murrell House; built by George and Minerva Ross . Muncll in 1843, also speaks to the Cherokee glory days. The two-stoframe house ry contains many original furnishings, including the 1831 piano Minerva (Cherokee Chief John Ross niece) played to entertain the territorys most influential d visitors. Now a museum, Murrell House provides insight into life for Tahlequah s dire. Actors portray thoir ChtrokN i way of life. Other revelations unfold inside the Cherokee Heritage Center's National Museum, Holiday; featuring traditional American Indian games where a million-dolla- r bilingual exhibit funded by and an intertribal powwow. Renewed vigor is also evident in the revival this a National Park Service grant traces the Cherolcees . journey to Indian Territory through a series of interyear of a drama, Trail efTmtn, once held annually active video and audio presentations. in the heritage center's 1 ,800-se- at (literCharlie Soap (husband of former Chief Wilma ally, Cherokee people) Amphitheater. The story has ' Manlriller) was among tribal members who posed played to audiences since 1969, and was the No. - rtW' J j. 1 tourist attraction in the state of Oklahoma durfix the exhibitions life-si-ze statues. He also stars as , exhibit's in and the a grandfather storyteller opening ing die 70s and 80s," notes Patrick Whelan, the j,. video. They had to coax me into it," Soap admit, show's producer and promotions manager But the but I'm pleased with the outcome. The (center) staff show shut down in 1995, due, in part, to a tired is working hard to preserve our culture and tefl the and overused script, he says. lvl!: Now, Trail tf Ttan is back, running June 27 history of our people." in Outside the Ancient the actors museum, Village V through Labor Dtty Oklahoma native Joe Seus (who t also demonstrate their ancestors way of life, while the and started in the hit, Gmkr Adams Comer Rural Village rexBBtes a typical Tumi) penned the new script, incorporating dements Cherokee Nation settlement. Meanwhile, that reflect the Cherokee Golden Age. AbMnguriwNbitu new projects develop: An artists' collective sells tradiThe drama, die museum, and die centers other member tribe led by tional pottery; the Qrmente Course, a comparative than a third of the programs, says Chief Smith, teach leanlhs dot not only Chief John Ross had died on the trek, but die Cheroarts program, studies Cherokee rituals; and a doculook kee soon ushered in their Golden Age, bating until festival illusfilm will soon be All unveiled. mentary die Civil War (The tribe sided with die Confederacy trate the center's commitment to its community Marpmt Dornaas is a Jnqutat aatrib&ar t$ American Chief Chad Smith says that commitment is to Profile. at one point, and so lost more land and rights in Old homa after the war ) help dispel the myths and stereotypes" the Cherokee and other American Indian tribes have lived Vestiges of that eta shade Tdilequahs landscape about the Cherokee To learn more wi th powerful images. At die Cherokee Heritage Cen- -. with for generations. 999-60caN or visit Center, Heritage On labor Day, the roam of 14,458, crlrhrares its ter; for eaampfe, three stately cohimns memorialize the American Indian heritage with Cherokee National , www.CberofceeHeritage.ofg: 1831 Cherokee Female Seminary die first insritu-state-operate- Tsa-La-- te 19th-centu- ry then-17,0- 00 rite T',pbu, . 07 Page I American Profile - |