Siyo from the Rez

17: Cherokee Nation’s Opportunity Zones Program and How It Supports Entrepreneurs

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.) [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2454338/fan_mail/new] 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 podcast@cherokee.org!

16: Oscar Hokeah: Bringing Authentic Native Stories to the Page

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.) [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2454338/fan_mail/new] 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 podcast@cherokee.org!

15: Dennis Sixkiller | Broadcasting the Cherokee Language Across the Airwaves

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.) [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2454338/fan_mail/new] 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 podcast@cherokee.org!

14: Keli Gonzales | Redefining Cherokee Art with Modern Culture, Color, Creativity

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.) [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2454338/fan_mail/new] 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 podcast@cherokee.org!

13: Rob Daugherty | The Untold Native History of Major League Baseball

💬 Siyo! We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text! (Make sure you include your name and contact information.) [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2454338/fan_mail/new] 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. 💌 Email us at podcast@cherokee.org!