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Photo credit: Samantha L. Quigley/American Forces Press ServiceThe Cherokee National Youth Choir awaits the arrival of President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush before singing in the East Room of the White House.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.—The White House resounded with the voices of Cherokees making “beautiful music,” in the words of the person they sang for—President Bush.
After the performance Sept. 23, Bush acknowledged the Cherokee National Youth Choir in his remarks honoring the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian.
“I want to thank the Cherokee choir for filling the East Room with such beautiful music,” Bush said.
RELATED LINKS
Text of President Bush’s remarks honoring the National Museum of the American Indian
Listen to tracks from the Cherokee National Youth Choir’s CD, “Building One Fire”
Listen to tracks from the Cherokee National Youth Choir’s CD, “Voices of the Creator’s Children”
Listen to tracks from the Cherokee National Youth Choir’s CD, “Jesus Is Born Today”
This was not the first time that Cherokee choir members represented their tribe in Washington. However,it was the choir’s first performance for the president of the United States.
"The group was invited to come back (to Washington) from their first visit two years ago," said Kathy Sierra, tribal liaison for the choir. "We didn't know until a year ago that they were going to perform for the president."
The choir traveled by bus to the nation's capital to take part in the ceremonies surrounding the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian on Sept. 21. It performed for the president at the White House two days later.
The choir has been performing since 2000, and it was one of the first things that Principal Chief Chad Smith instituted at the beginning of his first term. The choir has 35 members, all of whom reside in the 14-county jurisdiction of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
The choir is partially funded by the Cherokee Nation, but choir members also participate in fund-raisers to help with the expenses. Auditions for the choir are held annually for tribal members in grades seven through 12.
Sierra said the choir gives the Cherokee Nation the opportunity to spread—and keep alive—tribal culture and heritage.
Sierra’s son Ryan, 17, of Hulbert, Okla., was one of the 29 members who made the trip to Washington.
"We were approved to sing only two songs for the president," Ryan Sierra said. "We sang ‘America the Beautiful’ and ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ " He said the choir had asked to sing more songs but was only granted permission to perform those two.
"We didn't let that stop us," Sierra said. “We sang more anyway." When the program was over, he said the choir sang another song.
Choir member Jake Whitener, 15, also from Hulbert, has been in the choir for two years. He said what was most memorable to him was taking part in the museum opening ceremonies.
Photo credit: Amanda StoneJake Whitener, left, and Ryan Sierra are Cherokee choir members who performed at the White House."We got to walk in the procession that took place when the museum opened," said Whitener. "It was pretty cool. There were a lot of Indians there that day."
Whitener said he is grateful to be in the choir and to share a small part of his culture with others.
"It allows us to let everybody know that the Cherokee culture is not dead," Whitener said.
Both Whitener and Ryan Sierra said the trip involved a great deal of work, but it was a great experience to be able to represent their people.
Some of the places where the choir has performed include North Carolina, Tennessee, New York and numerous locations around Oklahoma.
The choir has released three CD’s, entitled “Voices of the Creator’s Children,” “Building One Fire” and “Jesus is Born Today." The latter is a compilation of popular and traditional songs sung in Cherokee.
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