We recently began construction on a new pavilion just east
of the Cherokee National Capitol building in Tahlequah. The open-air space will
serve many purposes for the Cherokee Nation in our capital city. In addition to
beautifying the downtown area, the multipurpose space will soon host community
events, live music performances, markets and outdoor cultural classes.
The rectangular structure will be 4,000 square feet and hold
around 1,000 people.
The pavilion’s design is a tribute to our history at Cherokee
Nation. It is based on the large log structure that was built after Removal to
house the reformed Cherokee government. In 1843, the structure housed the
largest intertribal peace gathering in 1843. That intertribal gathering was
called “the most important Indian council ever held on the American continent”
during its era. Chief John Ross saw the need for tribal governments to come
together and stand united on issues that would ensure the survival of Native
people. At the 1843 meeting, it is estimated 10,000 people attended, and the
iconic painting by John Mix Stanley expertly depicts the event. That painting
is owned by the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and a copy hangs in the
Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. A print of the intertribal meeting painting remains
on display as well at the Cherokee National Capitol building.
The grounds of the peace gathering later became home to the
Capitol Square. The pavilion is expected to be complete in the spring of 2018,
just in time for the 175th anniversary of the 1843 peace gathering. We hope to
host a unique intertribal event and invite tribes from around the country to
celebrate that anniversary and the new pavilion.
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