Cherokee Nation To Release Wilma Mankiller Commemorative Pins

TAHLEQUAH, Okla., --- Cherokee Nation announced the introduction of the all-new, limited edition commemorative pins that honor prominent Cherokee leaders, statesmen and citizens. Will Rogers is the first to be featured in the series. The next will be former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller followed by other notable individuals that have made a difference in the Cherokee Nation.

The commemorative pins are currently on sale for $9.95 each at all Cherokee Nation Gift Shops including Tahlequah, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum and the Cherokee Heritage Center.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Will Rogers commemorative pins will benefit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Okla. The One Fire Development, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Native American communities through economic development, will be the recipient of the charitable contributions from the Wilma Mankiller commemorative pins. Subsequent commemorative pin releases will include a philanthropic element tied to the image and legacy of the individual or organization.

“The commemorative pins are a unique way to honor the achievements of our great Cherokee leaders and ancestors who, through their guidance, vision and dedication, helped shape the Cherokee Nation as we know it today,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which oversees the Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Group. “The generosity of the Cherokee people is part of the Cherokee heritage and evident in the many foundations and organizations that will benefit from the commemorative pin program.”

The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Group also operates four historically authentic tours that include lunch and feature an interpretative guide on the Cherokee History Tour, Cherokee Old Settler Tour, Civil War History Tour, and Will Rogers History Tour.

For information on the Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism program, call (877) 779-6977 or visit http://www.CherokeeTourismOK.com.

About Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Group
The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Group is managed by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and was created in 2007 to promote the story of the Cherokee people. Efforts by the Cherokee Nation include developing guided community and educational tours, creating tourism partnerships and programs throughout northeastern Oklahoma, and launching a new Cherokee tourism-specific web site. For more information, please visit http://www.cherokeetourismok.com.

About Cherokee Nation Entertainment
Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming, hospitality, retail and tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Entertainment owns and operates the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, five Cherokee Casinos, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, three hotels, two golf courses and many other retail operations in northeastern Oklahoma. For more information, please visit http://www.cherokeestarrewards.com.

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 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 dollars. To learn more, please visit http://www.cherokee.org.