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BY PATRICIA ANN JORDAN PART OF AMERICA’S FIRST NATIVE PEOPLES Greetings, faithful readers. I trust this writing finds you having bright days and cherishing fresh 2011 experiences. I want to share some exciting news. In December Cherokee Nation officials broke ground on the JohnRossMuseum, for- merly Rural 51 located in Park Hill, Oklahoma. Originally completed in 1913, Rural School 51 served Cherokee and non-Cherokee students. The school facility remained open through the 1950s. The ground breaking ceremony was led by Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chad Smith, tribal and commu- nity leaders, elected offi- cials, and other honored guests. John Ross served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation for more than 38 years and led the tribe through forced removal known as the Trail of Tears, a very sad period for our native brothers and sisters. The John Ross Museum will highlight his extraordinary life and accomplishments. Additional exhibits will center on local interests and history of the Park Hill community. The Rural School 51 restoration project will focus on tak- ing the exterior structure back to its original state and era. The interior restoration will preserve as much historic fabric as possible, while preparing the structure for an interpretive center that will hostThe John RossMuseum. After opening, The John Ross Museum will be the third Cherokee Nation wholly owned and operated museum fol- lowing the recent dedication of the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum and upcoming opening of the Cherokee National PrisonMuseum in summer 2011. An extension of the recently completed Ross Cemetery project, The John Ross Museum and restored Rural School 51 will act as a gateway to Ross Cemetery and serve as a his- torical site showcasing materials on the former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, John Ross, and history sur- rounding the Park Hill community. I feel somewhat endeared to the Cherokee People as my 10 mother who was born in Asheville, North Carolina has Cherokee in her ancestry. We are proud of this heritage and see a link to the strong survival nature of NativeAmericans andAfrican-Americans. The new museum will be a welcome addition to the Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism’s wide array of special events and four historically authentic cultural tours. For information on the CherokeeNationCultural Tourism group, call (877) 779-6977. About Cherokee Nation The Cherokee Nation is the sovereign operating government of the Cherokee people. It is a federally recognized tribe of more than 280,000 Cherokee citizens,with its capitol IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHEROKEES, located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Employing more than 6,500 people, Cherokee Nation’s annual economic impact in Oklahoma and surrounding areas is more than $1 billion.To learn more, please visit http://www.chero- kee.org. About Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Group The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Group is man- aged by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and was created in 2007 to promote the story of theCherokee people.Efforts by the Cherokee Nation include developing guided community and educational tours, creating tourism partnerships and programs throughout northeastern Oklahoma, and launch- ing a new Cherokee tourism-specific web site. For more information, please visit http://www.cherokeetourismok- .com. About Cherokee Nation Entertainment CherokeeNationEntertainment is the gaming,hospitality, retail and tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, five Cherokee Casinos,Cherokee CasinoWillRogers Downs, three hotels, two golf courses and many other retail operations in northeasternOklahoma.Formore information, please visit http://www.cherokeestarrewards.com. Black Meetings & Tourism January/February 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com