TAHLEQUAH, Okla. —The Cherokee Nation is kicking off the month of April with a free public concert featuring Red Dirt circuit musician Stoney LaRue in Tahlequah to culminate its annual Employee Appreciation Day. This special day is to honor employees’ hard work over the past year. Several Wings-sponsored 5K runs, small business workshops and more are part of April’s calendar of events. They are as follows:
April 1
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Cherokee Nation’s Indian Child Welfare is holding a children’s book drive throughout the month of April to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. A donation box will be placed at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah. Donations can also be made at ICW offices in Sallisaw, Catoosa, Stilwell and Pryor. For more information, call 918-458-6900.
April 2
5:30 p.m. – Cherokee Nation hosts a free concert with headliner Stoney LaRue and the Pumpkin Hollow Band opening. The concert is outdoors just west of the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah. Ice chests, alcohol and tobacco are not permitted. Shuttle buses to and from the concert are available at the tribe’s powwow grounds and Sequoyah High School. For more information, call 918-453-5000.
April 5
8 a.m. – Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Wings Program sponsors the Grand Dam Run, a 5K and 1K run beginning at 220 W. Cherokee Ave., Langley. Registration is free for Wings members, $25 and $20 before race day, and $30 and $25 on race day. For more information, call Amy Devore at 918-915-0464.
April 6
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Tribal registration help with citizenship applications in Jay. Sam Hider Health Center, 1015 Washbourne St. Call 918-253-4271.
April 7
2 p.m. – Ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Spider Gallery shop, where Cherokee art items like home décor signs in the Cherokee syllabary, jewelry, coffee mugs and more are now on sale from $10 to $100. The shop is located next to the Spider Gallery and Kawi Café, 215 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah. For more information, call 918-453-5000 ext. 5992.
6 to 8 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Commerce hosts Core Four Business Planning Course at Rogers State University’s Innovation Center, 2000 University Dr., Claremore. Registration is $15 and includes a textbook. To register call Brenda Alley at 918-207-3954.
6 to 8 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance Center hosts a free workshop on “Understanding Search Engine Optimization” at the Indian Capital Technology Center, 2403 N. 41st St. East, Muskogee. For more information, call 918-453-5000 ext. 5994.
April 10
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Tribal registration help with citizenship applications in Sallisaw sub-office, 110 N. Elm. Call 918-775-6226 for more information.
April 11
8 a.m. – Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Wings Program sponsors the 7th Annual Will Rogers Memorial Race at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore. Registration costs $20 for 5K and $15 for fun run before race day, and $25 and $15 on race day. For more information, call Misty Crittenden at 918-575-6062.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – The Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 S. Keeler Dr., in Park Hill, offers classes on the history and basics of Cherokee pottery. For more information, call 918-456-6007.
April 13
6 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Tribal Council meeting at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, Tribal Council Chambers, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave. in Tahlequah. For the agenda, visit http://legislative.cherokee.org/.
10 a.m. – Cherokee Nation free online Cherokee language classes begin. The 10-week classes consist of beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and have specific times for each class. To see a schedule of classes and register, visit https://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/Language.aspx and click on “Online Language Classes.”
April 17
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs hosts Cherokee Nation Environmental Festival at the Talking Leaves Job Corps campus, 5700 Bald Hill Road, Tahlequah. Activities include games, hands-on demonstrations, door prizes and an Arbor Day tree giveaway. For more information, call 918-453-5000 ext. 5110 or ext. 5109.
5 p.m. – Deadline to apply for the Cherokee Nation Summer Youth Employment Program and Youth Leadership Intern Program. Applications are available at any of the 11 Career Services offices. For more information, call 918-453-5555.
April 18
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance Center hosts “Small Business Internet Marketing Boot Camp” in the Osiyo Training Room located behind the Restaurant of the Cherokees in Tahlequah. The free workshop is valued at up to $100 per person. For more information, call 918-453-5000 ext. 5994.
8 a.m. – Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Wings Program sponsors the Bulldog Classic starting at the J.B. Earp Stadium, 299 N. 6th St., in Jay. Registration for the 5K race is $15 before race day and $20 on race day. The 1K fun run costs $10 before and $15 on race day. For more information, call 918-525-2776 or 918-253-1763.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – The Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 S. Keeler Dr., in Park Hill, opens the “44th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show & Sale” through May 23.
April 21
6 to 8 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance Center hosts a free workshop on “Photographing artwork that will help it sell” at the Cherokee Arts Center, 212 S. Water Ave., Tahlequah. For more information, call 918-453-5000 ext. 5994.
April 22
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Tribal registration help with citizenship applications in Claremore. Cherokee Nation Career Services office, 23205 S. Route 66. Call 918-342-7450 for more information.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Will Rogers Health Center hosts a blood drive at 1020 Lenape Dr., Nowata. For more information, call 918-822-2920 or 918-273-7500 ext. 8015.
5 p.m. – Deadline to apply for a Cherokee Nation Career Services welding apprenticeship. Applications can be completed at the Career Services Pryor office, 2945 State Highway 69A, Pryor. For more information, call 918-570-9260.
April 23
6 to 7:30 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Cancer Programs host a cancer survivor group meeting for survivors and family members at W.W. Hastings Hospital, 100 S. Bliss Ave., Tahlequah. For more information, call 918-453-5440 or 918-453-5759.
April 25
8 a.m. – Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Wings Program sponsors the “Tons off Tahlequah 5K” at Norris Park, 400 N. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah. Registration costs $15 for 5K and $10 for fun run before race day, and $20 and $15 on race day. For more information, call Jordan Purcell at 918-453-5496.
April 30
6 to 8 p.m. – Cherokee Nation Commerce hosts a free business financials workshop in the Osiyo Training Room behind the Restaurant of the Cherokees in Tahlequah. For more information, call Brenda Alley at 918-207-3954.