Cherokee Community

05/22/2026

A Saskatchewan mother’s Facebook post is resonating across Turtle Island after she shared photos of her son Ryland building his own grass dance regalia out of cardboard because he wanted to dance.

“My son really wants an outfit. He wants one so bad he started making his own out of cardboard,” Darcellyn Sapp-Baptiste shared.

Community response quickly followed.

Powwow dancers, artists, families, and community members began offering bells, moccasins, beadwork supplies, mentorship — and even full outfits — to help Ryland step into the circle.

Others also honored the cardboard regalia itself, with one commenter calling it “the kind of ingenuity our ancestors would have praised.”

Days later, Darcellyn shared that enough support had come in to help outfit Ryland, including a synthetic roach, aprons, beadwork supplies, a concho belt, and a donated grass dance outfit.

As for the cardboard regalia — Ryland says he’s keeping it.

“He said, ‘I’m gonna show my future kids my masterpiece,’” Darcellyn wrote.

05/22/2026

In a historic move, California has officially returned more than 17,000 acres of ancestral land to the Tule River Tribe, marking a major milestone in restoration efforts that numerous Indigenous leaders and conservation advocates are welcoming. The 17,030-acre property, situated in California's Sierra Nevada foothills and Central Valley region near the Tule River Indian Reservation, encompasses diverse wildlife habitats, native plant ecosystems, and migration areas for tule elk and other species. State officials and tribal representatives emphasize that the transfer is intended to support long-term Indigenous stewardship, habitat restoration, conservation, and protection of land holding cultural significance. The relationship Indigenous nations have with land is multifaceted, tied to ancestry, ceremony, food systems, language, and the responsibility to protect future generations, rather than viewing land as a commodity. This relationship has been the foundation of Indigenous environmental knowledge systems for millennia. Indigenous-led conservation initiatives have been increasingly acknowledged across North America for their pivotal role in restoring ecosystems, mitigating wildfires, safeguarding watersheds, and preserving biodiversity. The Tule River land return underscores a growing acknowledgment of the crucial role Native nations play in environmental stewardship and conservation. Such initiatives represent the potential for reconnection, restored stewardship, and a model for aligning conservation with Indigenous sovereignty. Do you think Indigenous-led stewardship should have a more substantial role in future environmental policy and conservation efforts? Sources: California Natural Resources Agency, Tule River Tribe public statements, California conservation and land restoration announcements.

05/22/2026

Celebrating 2 Years, 2 Months Sober Today. AHO🤎🦅

05/20/2026

David Bald Eagle traversed almost a century of Indigenous history, carrying stories, traditions, and family connections that linked him to pivotal moments in Lakota history. His passing at 97 represented the loss of an actor and a revered cultural elder. Best known for *Dances with Wolves*, Bald Eagle enhanced Indigenous representation with authenticity and depth. His performances showcased quiet strength, wisdom, and experience, challenging stereotypes. His family history was remarkable: as Chief White Bull's grandson, who fought alongside Sitting Bull at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, David Bald Eagle held a direct connection to Lakota resistance. With over 40 credits, he portrayed Indigenous people with dignity and respect. His impact extends beyond film, preserving cultural heritage. David Bald Eagle's life highlights the significance of Indigenous history as a living tradition. His legacy endures through the stories and culture he helped preserve.

05/18/2026

05/17/2026

BLACK HILLS DRILLING PERMIT WITHDRAWN: TRIBAL OCCUPATION WINS! ✊🏔️
Pete Lien & Sons has formally requested its permit to drill near a sacred site in the Black Hills be withdrawn following a weeklong Indigenous occupation at the site (Navajo Times) .
Tribal resistance WORKS. Indigenous occupation WINS. Sacred sites PROTECTED.
One week of tribal occupation. That's all it took.
Indigenous peoples stood on their sacred land. They refused to move. They demanded justice. And the drilling company BACKED DOWN.
This is what happens when tribes stand firm. This is what sovereignty looks like in action. This is Indigenous power changing outcomes in real time.
Sacred Black Hills protected. Corporate drilling stopped. Tribal victory achieved.
Stand with tribes. Support Indigenous resistance. Celebrate sacred site protection.

05/16/2026

NATIVE WOMEN WARRIORS HONORED TODAY AT SMITHSONIAN: MAKING A STATEMENT 🪡✨
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., is displaying two dresses, made 100 years apart, to honor active-duty and retired Native American service women, their Indigenous heritage and their role in the military. The special installation "Making a Statement" opens to the public TODAY — May 15 — as part of events commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary (GlobeNewswire) .
Native women served this country. Now their stories are being told.
These dresses carry powerful stories by Native women about identity, cultural continuity, and the roles they serve within their communities (GlobeNewswire) .
Two dresses. 100 years apart. One powerful message: Native women have ALWAYS served. Native women have ALWAYS led.
This is cultural pride. This is Indigenous excellence. This is history being honored TODAY.
Visit the National Museum of the American Indian. Share this story. Honor Native women warriors.

05/13/2026

My new little Cherokee grandson was born 4 weeks ago🥰

05/05/2026

In the early 1990s, actor Graham Greene walked into a casting session and was told to “sound more Native.” His response was simple: “Which tribe?” The room went quiet and the role disappeared.

That moment reflects much of Greene’s career. Not loud protest, but steady resistance to an industry that often chose stereotypes over real representation.

Coming off an Academy Award nomination for Dances with Wolves, he had opportunities. But many roles offered to him followed the same pattern: the wise elder, the spiritual guide, the background figure who supports someone else’s story. Greene pushed back. He questioned scripts, accents, and how Native characters were portrayed. When it didn’t feel right, he walked away.

Instead, he chose roles that challenged expectations. In films like Clearcut and Thunderheart, he took on characters that were complex, direct, and rooted in real issues rather than comfortable narratives.

That path didn’t lead to mainstream Hollywood stardom, but it gave him something else. A career built on integrity, consistency, and control over his identity on screen.

Over decades, he’s remained committed to one thing: portraying Native people with accuracy, depth, and dignity, even when it came at a cost.

05/01/2026

CHACO CANYON: 70,000+ VOICES DEMANDING PROTECTION 🏜️
Over 70,000 public comments filed in ONE WEEK. The message is clear: Hands OFF sacred Chaco Canyon.
The Trump administration is planning to withdraw protections from oil and gas development around Chaco, prompting massive community response (Native American Rights Fund) .
But tribal nations and allies won't stay silent.
What's at stake:
⚡ Sacred burial grounds
⚡ Ancient Ancestral Puebloan sites
⚡ Tribal sovereignty
⚡ Environmental devastation
Tribal leaders and New Mexico officials are united: We will oppose this.
Your voice matters too. Keep the pressure on. Share. Comment. Demand protection for sacred lands.

04/30/2026

Billy Walkabout (March 31, 1949 – March 7, 2007) is thought to be the most decorated Native American soldier of the Vietnam War. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, five Silver Stars (one upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross), ten Bronze Star Medal, five with Valor device, one Army Commendation Medals (including one valor device and two oak leaf clusters), and six Purple Hearts.
Walkabout served as an Army Ranger in Vietnam, in the Company F, 58th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Walkabout (then Specialist Four) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1968 during a long range reconnaissance patrol southwest of Hue.
After successfully ambushing an enemy squad on a jungle trail, the friendly patrol radioed for immediate helicopter extraction. When the extraction helicopters arrived and the lead man began moving toward the pick-up zone, he was seriously wounded by hostile automatic weapons fire. Sergeant Walkabout quickly rose to his feet and delivered steady suppressive fire on the attackers while other team members pulled the wounded man back to their ranks. Sergeant Walkabout then administered first aid to the soldier in preparation for medical evacuation. As the man was being loaded onto the evacuation helicopter, enemy elements again attacked the team.
Maneuvering under heavy fire, Sergeant Walkabout positioned himself where the enemy were concentrating their assault and placed continuous rifle fire on the adversary. A command-detonated mine ripped through the friendly team, instantly killing three men and wounding all the others. Although stunned and wounded by the blast, Sergeant Walkabout rushed from man to man administering first aid, bandaging one soldier’s severe chest wound and reviving another soldier by heart massage. He then coordinated gunship and tactical air strikes on the enemy’s positions. When evacuation helicopters arrived again, he worked single-handedly under fire to board his disabled comrades. Only when the casualties had been evacuated and friendly reinforcements had arrived, did he allow himself to be extracted. He retired as a second lieutenant.
He suffered from complications arising from exposure to the Agent Orange defoliant used in Vietnam. He was waiting for a kidney transplant and took dialysis three times a week. He died of pneumonia and renal failure in a hospital in Norwich, Connecticut, survived by his wife and several children from earlier marriages.