Since Tahlequah, Oklahoma is only 30 miles from the Arkansas border, we relate mostly to U.S. Southern culture. Why do I mention my hometown? It’s not only the place where I live, work, and raise my family. It’s also home to two Cherokee tribal governments: Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. I personally work for Cherokee Nation in the Indian Child Welfare Department. Additionally, the third Cherokee government is the Eastern Band of Cherokees in North Carolina. All this to say, Cherokees are the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States and our governments are historically situated in the South. So why don’t we exist in the canon of Southern literature?
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Debut Novel 14 Years of Ups and Downs: How CALLING FOR A BLANKET DANCE Survived, Endured, and Finally Came to Being
I’m always drawn to these stories. Of the writer who wrote for decades to finally find her way onto a bookshelf. I’m drawn to them because I feel for what the writer has endured and the level of gratitude that comes along with it. It’s rough out there. We’re all tough. You can’t endure the writing process without thickening your hide with a multitude of scars. There are many talented writers. When it all comes together, when your hard work finally meets opportunity, you can’t help but find yourself in a gracious meditation on the trials and tribulations of creating your work of art.
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Oscar Hokeah 