DEWEY – Cherokee Nation citizens in the Dewey/Bartlesville area have their own community group where they can fellowship and learn more about their culture.
The Cultural Community of Cooweescoowee Northwest in Dewey actively works to preserve Cherokee culture and provide services to Cherokee citizens in the area. It is one of many of the Cherokee Nation’s Community and Cultural Outreach communities.
Lily Drywater with the “Walking in Balance” program assists Odene Kirk with making a pucker toe moccasin during a Cultural Community of Cooweescoowee Northwest in Dewey on Aug. 7.
Meredith Fraser is vice president for CCCCND and has been a member of the community group since its inception about four years ago.
“I’m basically one of the founding members. We wanted to be able to connect Cherokees in this area in a community setting. We were hoping do things with the elders,” she said. “My thing now is I would love to get the youth involved. We have so much room here. We have potential with our backyard with basketball courts and things like that to get more youth in this area involved and to be proud Cherokees.”
She added District 12 Tribal Councilor Dora Patzkowski has been instrumental in getting the community group off the ground and making it a success.
Meredith Fraser is vice president for the Cultural Community of Cooweescoowee Northwest in Dewey group and is one of the group’s founding members.
Fraser said CCCCND has about 120 members, and most of them are older or elderly.
“We have a few young people who are starting to come, and we are going to start offering more things. I’m working right now on getting a beading class here. It’s been suggested we have a canning class. So, we are going to get more activities to get more people to come,” she said. “I’m just proud to be a part of this. It’s a wonderful way to give back to my tribe.”
Patzkowski said the community group has been meeting in their new meeting space since 2023. She lives only six miles away from the group’s meeting site and considers CCCCND her home community group.
“Walking in Balance” coordinator, Abraham Bearpaw, shares information with Dewey Community members on Aug. 7. The programmelds health and wellness with Cherokee culture.
“Initially, there was no organization here in Dewey. I got several phone calls about needing something here. Then Cherokee Nation bought this property in 2022, and we started remodeling,” she said. “We have our meetings here once a month and board meetings. We do rent the facility to the general public.”
Chantel Gray of Dewey recently joined CCCCND to learn more about her Cherokee heritage and culture.
“I live just right here, so I drive past it (community building) all the time. I thought I should really get involved with my heritage. My dad was really into it, but we lived in Colorado, so I never really got into it,” she said. “And so, I just decided that it was time for me to figure out some of my roots and just get more acquainted with who my ancestors were.”
Chantel Gray of Dewey recently joined CCCCND to learn more about her Cherokee heritage and culture.
During a recent gathering in Dewey, Gray enjoyed a meal with the group, took part in a “Walking in Balance” presentation and learned how to make pucker toe moccasins. She explained she joined to learn more about her culture and heritage but to also be of service.
“I want to learn about, like, what it was like in the past and all of that. But what I really want to do is serve. I just want to serve the people of the Cherokee Nation,” she said. “I love the sense of community. They’ll even do something like this tonight where everybody can come together and get to know each other, and in this day and age, when it feels like everybody is so separate. This is bringing people back together again. So, I really like that.”
Cyle Miller from the nearby community of Ramona has served on the CCCCND board for two years.
“I’ve always enjoyed the cultural aspects of the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee culture. We found a really good group of community volunteers that really wanted to help and be there for their community,” he said. “The chief as well as the council have really stepped up to help start the Cherokee community group here in Dewey. They helped us with the building, and just helped in many different ways to help us spread the cultural aspects of the tribe and help people learn. It also gives everyone a place to come to do arts and crafts and cultural things.”
Miller said he believes the community members enjoy the classes and the opportunity to learn more about their Cherokee culture.
“We’ve been doing the ‘Walking in Balance’ with Abraham Bearpaw. This is the third month. Every time we have him it seems the crowd gets a little bigger, and they seem to really enjoy it,” Miller said. “Plus, the group gets to sit around and visit. There’s a lot of camaraderie, and it’s just a good time.”