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The fishing world knows Jason Christie as a pro angler at the top of the sport who’s won 10 Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) tournaments, including two this year alone. But when he joined us in the studio, he assured us that he’s just a Cherokee boy from the rez.

Tune in and get hooked as we talk with Jason about his career, how he got started, how he stays inspired, and how he stays so humble.

Jason is in New York right now, preparing for two Bassmaster tournaments this month. Let’s all wish him luck as he prepares for a potential historic 11th win!

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A new episode of our Siyo from the Rez podcast featuring Cherokee National Treasure Noel Grayson! 🏹

Noel joined us in the studio to talk about Cherokee bowmaking and flintknapping and why he’s devoted his life to preserving and passing on these traditional skills.

He also shares a lot of knowledge — like why bowmakers gather their wood during specific moon phases — and reflects on the enduring tradition of gadugi and the matrilineal heart of our Cherokee society.

Tune in — and share this episode with anyone who loves Cherokee culture! It’s a good one. Enjoy!

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What does it take to create a thriving Cherokee-owned business? This month, we sit down with Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan and Cherokee entrepreneur Dillin Springwater, who went from push-mowing yards as a teenager to now running multiple businesses filled with Native employees. 

Together, they talk about the many ways Cherokee Nation lifts up small-business owners: from TERO vendor preference to $84 million in SSBCI funding, workforce pipeline programs, and our Opportunity Zones program for small-business owners on the reservation and at-large. 

Whether you're on the reservation or an at-large citizen with a dream, this episode's for you.

This is Cherokee Nation's official podcast.

This episode was hosted by KenLea Keys and Colton Branstetter.

Producer: Bryan Dugan

Executive Producers: Julie Hubbard and Jason McCarty

Editor: Samantha Robinson

Graphic Designer: Justyne Eden

Visual Effects: Ray Carey

Soundtrack by Chuj Mackey

This episode was filmed at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah on the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

💌 Email us at [email protected]!

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.)

Siyo from the Rez is back for Season 2! In our premiere episode, we sit down with Oscar Hokeah, who drew from his Cherokee and Kiowa upbringing and Mexican heritage to write his celebrated debut novel, “Calling for a Blanket Dance.”

Oscar reflects on moments from his life and family history that influenced his novel and why writing what you know can lead to work that feels both personal and universal.

This is Cherokee Nation's official podcast.

This episode was hosted by KenLea Keys and Colton Branstetter.

Producer: Bryan Dugan

Executive Producers: Julie Hubbard and Jason McCarty

Editor: Samantha Robinson

Graphic Designer: Justyne Eden

Visual Effects: Ray Carey

Soundtrack by Chuj Mackey

This episode was filmed at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah on the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

💌 Email us at [email protected]!

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.)

We’re closing out the first season of Siyo from the Rez with an extra special guest: Cherokee National Treasure and host of “Cherokee Voices, Cherokee Sounds” Dennis Sixkiller! 📻❤️

Dennis joins us to talk about hosting his #CherokeeLanguage radio show for 20+ years, his traditional upbringing in Jay, his passion for Cherokee marbles, and why he’s dedicated to keeping our language alive for future generations. Tune in for a laugh, a language lesson, and help us celebrate our season finale of Siyo From the Rez! 🎙

💌 Email us at [email protected]!

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.)

Keli Gonzales makes audacious art. It's bold. It's modern. It's rooted in Cherokee culture, but it doesn't shy away from her pop culture influences like The Simpsons. Keli wants her art to pop, using Cherokee syllabary and design motifs in unique ways and swapping the earth tones that people expect in Native art for daring colors like bright pink.

Beyond the bright colors, Keli reveals the deeper purpose behind her art, from the importance of depicting strong Cherokee women to showing the humor in our culture that's been underrepresented in media.

In this episode, Keli also discusses her day job at our Cherokee Immersion School, her passion for inspiring little Cherokees to be excited about showing their creativity, and her art that’s currently on display at the Cherokee Cultural Pathway in downtown Tahlequah.

💌 Email us at [email protected]!

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.)

Baseball holds a special place in our communities, but how much do you know about the Native players who helped shape the game? In our first episode of the new year, we sit down with Rob Daugherty, a Cherokee Nation citizen and first-language Cherokee Speaker, who is a dedicated baseball historian.

Rob joins us to celebrate the release of his new book, "Native American Major Leaguers." He shares the untold stories of 28 Native athletes — six who were Cherokee — who played baseball professionally between 1897 and 1947, long before history often gives them credit. Rob talks about his journey to verify these legacies, his passion for collecting memorabilia, and the deep connection our people have with the sport. Tune in to hear how Rob is helping preserve this vital part of our history for future generations.

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In this new episode of Siyo from the Rez, meet Ethan Winn and Hondo Kirk, two friends who grew up together, graduated from our Cherokee Immersion School and are now the voices of Snotlout and Hiccup in the Cherokee version of “How to Train Your Dragon”!

Ethan and Hondo talk about their incredible full-circle journey — from learning the Cherokee language as students to working at our Durbin Feeling Language Center and voicing these iconic animated characters.

Discover the story behind this amazing opportunity to work with DreamWorks Animation, the unique challenges of translating the world of dragons into tsalagi, and what this project will mean to the next generation of Cherokee language learners.

💌 Email us at [email protected]!

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.)

As we all gather with friends, family and our community this week, we wanted to share the story of our Cherokee Nation Seed Bank and the Cherokee woman in charge of it all: Feather Smith.

In this episode of Siyo from the Rez, we sit down with Feather, Cherokee Nation’s ethnobiology manager and former Miss Cherokee, to learn about the incredible history of our heirloom seeds, the massive undertaking of caring for our Heirloom Garden and Native Plant Site, and how these seeds are helping reconnect Cherokees everywhere to our culture and traditions.

💌 Email us at [email protected]!

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.)

Gather ‘round the fire for a special spooky edition of Siyo from the Rez! Just in time for Halloween, we’re joined by celebrated Cherokee storyteller Candice Byrd Boney and former Miss Cherokee Ella Mounce for an episode filled with chills and cultural teachings.

Listen as they share haunting tales passed down through generations, from eerie personal encounters at Beaver Gap to the rich lore behind mysterious beings like the Deer Lady and shapeshifters. This episode explores our tribe's spooky side, unpacking the stories that have been whispered in our communities for years.

Whether you're a fan of scary stories or curious about Cherokee legends, you won’t want to miss these captivating accounts. Tune in to connect with our culture in a whole new way, and maybe leave the lights on afterward! 😬

Subscribe and share this episode with friends and family who love a good spooky story. Wado!

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