"Our Cherokee National Treasures are those Cherokees who have been distinguished by the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee National Historical Society as Master Artisans and Craftspeople ... Since 1988, [these 94 Treasures] have been honored for preserving the traditional art forms of bow making, gig making, pottery, blowgun and darts, basketry, carving, loom weaving, clothing, bow and arrow, flint-knapping, turtle shell shakers, traditional foods, doll making, marble making, stick ball sticks, quilting, mask making, Cherokee language, painting, sculpture, storytelling, and metalsmithing ... [This book] is a compilation of personal narratives as told by each living Cherokee National Treasure, as well as by friends and family of those who have passed on ... The book is organized with the recognition of each category in the order that it was added, while the artists are presented by birthdate to honor the Elders first. Though the artist may not appear in the category for which he or she was recognized, the book follows a logical chronology and evenly distributes the stories"--Introduction.

Includes index.

Treasures : Alex England -- Lyman Vann -- George Fourkiller -- Stella Livers -- Willie Jumper -- Rogers McLemore -- Cecil Dick -- Hester Guess -- Lizzie Whitekiller -- Todum Hair -- Lucille Hair -- Polly Jane Whitekiller -- Mattie Drum -- William Foster -- David Neugin -- Sally Lacy -- Minne Handle Jumper -- John Ketcher -- Mildred Justice-Ketcher -- Jennie Sapp -- Scott Rackliff -- Tom Webber Wildcat -- Betty Scraper Garner -- Clesta Manley -- Sam Lee Still -- Linda Mouse-Hansen -- Mary Foreman -- Anna Sixkiller Mitchell -- Lee Foreman -- Albert Woffard -- [Albert Wofford, p. 270 in Continuations] -- Ella Mae Blackbear -- Kathryn Kelley -- Betty Bean Smith -- Vyrl Keeter -- Maxine Stick -- Wanna Lou Barton -- Lorene Drywater -- Marie Proctor -- Eva Mae Pigeon Smith -- Lena Blackbird -- Eunice O'Field -- Clarence Downing -- Dorothy Dreadfulwater Ice -- Al Herrin -- Nadine Wilbourn -- Bessie Russell -- Richard Rowe -- Ruth England -- Edith Catcher Knight -- Thelma Forrest -- Nancy Smith -- Wendell Cochran -- Thomas Muskrat -- Hastings Shade -- Luther Toby Hughes -- Sue Girty Thompson -- Jess Oosahwee -- Jim Buckhorn -- Wynona "Chicken" Dreadfulwater -- Anna Sixkiller -- Jane Osti -- Durban Feeling -- Eddie Morrison -- Bill Rabbit -- Ed Fields -- Vivian Bush -- Martha Berry -- Margaret Wilson -- William Cabbagehead -- Victoria Mitchell Vazquez -- Donald Vann -- Bill Glass -- Knokovtee Scott -- Dennis Sixkiller -- Richard Shade -- John Ross -- Betty Christie Frogg -- Tonia Hogner-Weavel -- David Scott -- Rosie Chewie -- Vivian Garner-Cottrell -- Richard Fields -- Perry Vanbuskirk -- Lisa Smith -- Kathy Vanbuskirk -- Dan Mink -- Roger Cain -- Robert Lewis -- Shawna Morton Cain -- Noel Timothy Grayson -- Tommy Wildcat -- David Comingdeer -- Demos Glass -- Rachel Dew. Categories : Bow and arrow making -- Gig making -- Pottery and ceramics -- Blowguns -- Basketry -- Carving -- Traditional clothing -- Loom weaving -- Traditional foods -- Turtle shell shackles -- Flint knapping -- Doll making -- Marble making -- Stickball sticks -- Quilting -- Mask making -- Language -- Painting -- Beadwork -- Flutemaking -- Digital design -- Story telling -- Metalsmithing.