06/14/2026
Last night, a wonderful group of people were honored at the Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach At-Large Conference. I was even more honored to be asked to create artwork that embodied the theme of the conference, "Strengthening Our Communities for the Next Seven Generations," for the official awards this year.
This is the painting I created and it is an offer of continued ᎦᏚᎩ because this is not just an award or art piece- it is a conversation.
Strengthening Our Communities for the Next Seven Generations means understanding how our traditional values are steeped in multigenerational learning, healing, and growing. ᎦᏚᎩ- Gadugi- the coming together in all things- is a central aspect of Cherokee life and this includes our relationship with ᎡᎶᎯ- Elohi- Earth.
ᎡᎶᎯ is embodied by my wife holding our children, who represent the coming generations, where the knowledge we teach them will be passed on to yet a further Seven Generations. It is a cycle and responsibility that relies on ᎦᏚᎩ.
ᎡᎶᎯ nurtures and sustains us, so it is natural to use a mother depicted in this way to honor that incredible responsibility. Holding children, She is also turning over a clay pot that pours healing water upon the world.
This imagery encompasses the process of 'going to water'- a fundamental part of Cherokee heritage that cleanses, heals, protects, and nurtures. Each time we, as Cherokees, go to water, we are making a promise to ᎡᎶᎯ that, in the same way She uses the gentle trickling water or magnificent waves to remind us of Her commitment to us, we will take care of Her so we all will protect the Seven Generations to come.
The tree is a promise of life, a promise of what can be. Surrounding the tree and ᎡᎶᎯ with her child are the Seven Clans of the Cherokee. As with all things, the choices we- as a community- make create the world in which we live. Even the choice to not be involved impacts the outcome.
The roots of the tree have our Ancestors' faces watching us, guiding us, supporting us, while the tree- itself- looks back East at the lands of our Ancestors, a cogent reminder that- no matter where we are- we are all connected.
With that in mind, it is my intention that, for those of you who received this award, I ask that- when we are next together- you bring the painting to me so I can continue your Cherokee Story with me as your Storyteller. You'll notice what look like 'unfinished' spaces in the art. This is because our Story is not over, just like your award is not finished. I would like to add to your own painting my own relationship to you and the work you do for our community so the painting is truly personalized to YOU.
If you know of someone who received the award last night, please make sure they see this post and encourage them to contact me so I can be sure to bring my watercolors to an event we'll both be attending so we can live the meaning of ᎦᏚᎩ by continually creating our own masterpieces of togetherness.
Congratulations to all of the awardees and ᏩᏙ for all the work everyone puts into communities filled with Good Medicine.
