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.
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
Green Tree Ceremony
Join us for a full day of community, culture, and Cherokee tradition — beginning with a huge homemade breakfast at 9:00 AM. A council meeting will follow, opening with the morning song. Then the sacred fire will be lit, followed by history lessons taught by tribal members covering Cherokee heritage and traditions. Hands-on classes will include how to make dance shawls, a beading class, and a demonstration of how food was canned and preserved before food dehydrators. Chief Jim Davis will have out the drums and be singing throughout the day. All are welcome — family, friends, prospective members, and neighbors alike. We may even be joined by three of our fine state representatives. Many Cherokee people reside throughout Newton, Johnson, Yell, Searcy, and Pope Counties — we look forward to seeing you there. — Chief Jim Davis
8
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.
5
Bounding Bush Ceremony
The final ceremony of the year — a winter gathering of reflection, storytelling, and preparation for the new cycle. We honor our elders, remember our ancestors, and strengthen our bonds as a people.
ᎠᏂᎦᏚᎵᏍᏗ · Our Sacred Place
Chickamauga Cherokee
Ceremonial Grounds
Located on Buck Mountain Road in Dover, Arkansas — a place of heritage, tradition, and community. Honoring our ancestors, inspiring our future.
Chickamauga Cherokee Ceremonial Grounds · 5735 Buck Mountain Road · Dover, Arkansas
Address
5735 Buck Mountain Road
Dover, Arkansas
Access
3 miles off Buck Mountain Road
Facilities
Lodge · Dance Grounds · Parking · Walking Paths
Officiated by Chief Jim Davis
Weddings & Funerals
Chief Jim Davis is honored to officiate weddings and funerals for tribal members and the broader community, bringing the dignity, tradition, and spirit of the Chickamauga Cherokee people to life's most sacred moments.
Cherokee Wedding Ceremony
Two Experiences Available
Modified Cherokee Wedding
A beautiful, condensed Cherokee wedding ceremony that weaves traditional Chickamauga customs, sacred words, and symbolic elements into a meaningful celebration — ideal for couples who want to honor Cherokee heritage in a single ceremony.
Full 4-Day Cherokee Wedding
The complete traditional Chickamauga Cherokee wedding experience spanning four days — a deeply immersive journey through ancient ceremony, ritual, community gathering, feasting, and the sacred joining of two families in the old way. A once-in-a-lifetime experience rooted in centuries of Cherokee tradition.
Cherokee Funeral Service
Honoring Those Who Have Passed
Chief Jim Davis officiates funeral services with the reverence and care that every life deserves. Drawing on Cherokee traditions of honoring the departed — their journey, their legacy, and their place among the ancestors — he brings comfort, dignity, and spiritual grounding to families in their time of grief.
Services are available to tribal members and the broader community. Chief Davis will work with your family to create a ceremony that honors your loved one in a way that is meaningful, personal, and rooted in the Cherokee way.
Contact Chief DavisTo inquire about a wedding or funeral service, contact Chief Jim Davis directly at [email protected] or call (479) 747-7406.
Come Join Us
Whether you are Cherokee, a neighbor, a friend, or simply curious — our doors are open. Come eat with us. Dance with us. Learn with us. The fire is burning and there is always room at the circle.