Rare Book Monthly

Articles - June - 2010 Issue

Cherokee Nation Puts Its History on Display: <i>Casino Revenue Funds Heritage Acquisitions

Cherokee Nation Historical Themes map.

Cherokee Nation Historical Themes map.


By Susan Halas

Not all special collections are your garden variety university rare book rooms or museum archives.

Gina Olaya is Director of Tribal & Public Relations for Cherokee Nation Entertainment. For the past three years she has procured art and cultural heritage material on behalf of Cherokee Nation and its entities. Much of it goes on display in their casinos and other facilities owned by the sovereign tribe located in Northeastern Oklahoma. "Our purpose is to provide services to our citizens while preserving our history, culture, language and heritage."

"Chief Chad Smith has designated a cultural theme for each area of the Cherokee Nation," she said. "Each 'theme' relates to a specific period in the history of the Cherokee Nation as a people. All of the art/artifacts I purchase reflect this specific time in our history."

"For example, our tribe built a medical clinic in the Muskogee, Oklahoma area. The theme specific to that area is: "The Golden Age: Re-establishing a Republic and Re-uniting as a Nation 1840 – 1860." Therefore, the art and artifacts I purchased for that specific property were related to a time of rebuilding a strong Cherokee Nation. Visual representation includes landmark buildings such as courthouses, male and female seminaries and thriving agriculture, including a few plantation farms."

"Cherokee Nation is currently experiencing a huge growth in the number of clinics being built and the expansion of existing casino properties," she said. Though funds for acquisitions fluctuate, "I currently have a very healthy art procurement budget."

She also pointed out that "Cherokee Nation's Tribal Council passed a law in 2007 that requires any construction or renovation project $500,000 or more set aside 1% of the budget for the procurement of culturally appropriate art." Though contemporary artwork per se can only be procured from Cherokee Nation citizens, other kinds of antiquarian historical and cultural material can be obtained from other sources.

"My procurement process consists of sending out a Call for Art, which includes a written description of the cultural theme of the property, color pallets and a visual representation of all furniture, fixtures and equipment to be placed within the property. I mail this request to each artist I have in my database, as well as posting this 'bid' on www.cherokeebids.org and placing an ad in the Cherokee Phoenix, our tribal newspaper."

Olaya said collectors or dealers interested in selling or donating relevant art or artifacts to a tribal entity should conduct an internet search to secure contact information for a specific tribe. Then, simply call the main number and request to be transferred to the Chief's office. Almost everyone who works in that office should be able to redirect you to the person(s) who procure art or artifacts on behalf of that specific tribe.

AE Monthly writer Susan Halas welcomes your comments and suggestions. Reach her at halas@hawaii.rr.com

Rare Book Monthly

  • DOYLE
    Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
    July 23, 2025
    DOYLE, July 23: WALL, BERNHARDT. Greenwich Village. Types, Tenements & Temples. Estimate $300-500
    DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
    DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
    DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
    DOYLE, July 23: ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000. Estimate $1,200-1,800
  • Freeman’s | Hindman
    Western Manuscripts and Miniatures
    July 8, 2025
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FRANCESCO PETRARCH (b. Arezzo, 20 July 1304; d. Arqua Petrarca, 19 July 1374). $20,000-30,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF THE VITAE IMPERATORUM (active Milan, 1431-1459). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI (GABRIELLO DI VANTE) (active Florence, c. 1452-c. 1520/25). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FOLLOWER OF HERMAN SCHEERE (active London, c. 1405-1425). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. An exceptionally rare, illuminated music leaf from a Mozarabic Antiphonal with sister leaves mostly in museum collections. $11,500-14,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Exceptional leaf from a prestigious Antiphonary by a leading illuminator of the late Duecento. $11,500-14,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF MS REID 33 and SELWERD ABBEY SCRIPTORIUM (AGNES MARTINI?) (active The Netherlands, Groningen, c. 1468-1510). $10,000-15,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Previously unknown illumination from one of the most renowned Gothic Choir Book sets of the Middle Ages. $6,000-8,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!

Article Search

Archived Articles