Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe of Arkansas
Ceremonies 2026
Our ceremonies are the heartbeat of our people. They have continued without interruption since 1808 — and they are open to all who come with respect and an open heart.
All Are Welcome — Come Learn, Eat, See Our Crafts & Experience Our Culture
ᏣᎳᎩ · Tsalagi · Chickamauga · Arkansas
What to Expect
Our ceremonies are living gatherings — full of food, music, art, and the warmth of a people who have kept their traditions alive for over two centuries.
Traditional Foods
Taste authentic Cherokee dishes prepared from ancestral recipes passed down through generations.
Arts & Crafts
Browse ribbon shirts, old style quilts, baby quilts, caps, animal shirts, dreamcatchers, beadwork, and jewelry.
Stomp Dance & Song
Experience the sacred stomp dance and traditional Cherokee songs performed in the old way.
Community & Culture
Meet our people, hear our stories, and learn about the living culture of the Chickamauga Cherokee.
ᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᎩᏙᏗ
Cherokee Chickamauga
Festival 2026
Date & Time
Friday, October 16, 2026
All Day
Location
Veterans Riverfront Memorial Park
Dardanelle, Arkansas
Admission
FREE
All Are Welcome
What to Expect at the Festival
Veterans Riverfront Memorial Park · 115 South Front Street (Behind City Hall) · Dardanelle, Arkansas
Ceremony Calendar
2026 Sacred Gatherings
14
Completed
Green Grass Ceremony
ᎢᏯᏅᏓ ᎠᏂᏍᎦᏯThe Green Grass Ceremony marks the return of spring — a time of renewal, cleansing, and gratitude for the earth awakening. We gather to honor the land that has sustained our people since time immemorial.
16
Completed
Women's Day Ceremony
ᎠᏂᎨᏒ ᎠᏂᏍᎦᏯA sacred day honoring the strength, wisdom, and spirit of Cherokee women — the backbone of our nation. Women are celebrated as life-givers, knowledge-keepers, and leaders of our community.
13
Completed
Green Corn Ceremony
ᏗᏓᎴᏂᏍᏗOne of the most sacred ceremonies of the Cherokee people. The Green Corn Ceremony is a time of thanksgiving, forgiveness, and renewal — celebrating the first corn of the season and the continuation of life.
11
Completed
Green Tree Ceremony
A full day of community, culture, and Cherokee tradition — beginning with a huge homemade breakfast at 9:00 AM. Council meeting, morning song, sacred fire lighting, history lessons, dance shawl making, beading class, and traditional food preservation demonstrations. Chief Jim Davis on the drums throughout the day.
8
Completed
Ripe Corn Ceremony
ᏗᏓᎴᏂᏍᏗ ᎤᎵᏍᏗThe Ripe Corn Ceremony celebrates the full harvest — a time of abundance, community feasting, and deep gratitude for the Creator's provision. Traditional foods, dances, and songs fill the day.
10
Sedimentation Ceremony
An autumn ceremony honoring the settling of the earth and the waters — giving thanks for the rivers and soil of our Arkansas homeland that have nourished our people for generations.
16
Cherokee Chickamauga Festival
ᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᎩᏙᏗOur annual public festival — a full day of stomp dance, traditional foods, arts and crafts, live performers, cultural demonstrations, and community gathering. FREE admission. All are welcome.
Find Us
Chickamauga Cherokee Ceremonial Grounds
Our ceremonial grounds are located in the Arkansas River Valley — the homeland our people have called home since long before statehood. The grounds include our Tribes Lodge, Sweat Lodge, Sacred Fire Pit, and ample parking.
Ceremonial Grounds — Hwy 27 & Buck Mtn. Rd., Dover, Arkansas
Physical Address
5531 Buck Mountain Road Dover, AR 72837
Access
Off Hwy 27 at Buck Mountain Road — follow signs to the Tribes Lodge
Facilities
Tribes Lodge · Sweat Lodge · Sacred Fire Pit · Parking
Sacred Rites
Weddings & Funerals
Chief Jim Davis performs traditional Cherokee wedding ceremonies and funeral rites for tribal members and the broader community.
Marriage Ceremony
Cherokee Wedding Ceremonies
Modified Cherokee Wedding
A shorter ceremony incorporating Cherokee traditions, blessings, and the sacred fire — adapted for couples who want to honor the culture while keeping the ceremony brief.
Full Traditional Cherokee Wedding
A complete traditional ceremony performed in the old way — including the blanket ceremony, sacred fire, Cherokee language blessings, and the full rites as practiced by our people for generations.
Funeral Rites
Cherokee Funeral Ceremonies
Chief Jim Davis performs traditional Cherokee funeral rites — honoring the departed with sacred songs, prayers, and the ancient ceremonies that guide our people on their final journey.
These rites are available to tribal members and to families who wish to honor a loved one with Cherokee tradition. We approach each service with deep reverence and care.
Inquire About Funeral RitesTo inquire about a ceremony, contact Chief Jim Davis at cherokeehornet@gmail.com or call (479) 747-7406.
Come Be Part of Something Living
Our ceremonies have never stopped. For over two centuries, the Chickamauga Cherokee have gathered, danced, sung, and kept the fire burning. Come be part of that story.