Events Archive

The Association's annual gathering brought together descendants from across the country for two days of genealogy workshops, oral history sharing, and Cherokee cultural programming. A special panel on the Dawes Roll enrollment process drew a standing-room crowd.

Held outdoors for the first time in several years, the 2022 reunion featured expanded genealogy research stations and a well-attended presentation on the Illinois River Cherokees. The Association also unveiled a new digital archive of historical photographs.

On the 147th anniversary of the April 15, 1872 tragedy, Association members gathered at the approximate site of the original Goingsnake Courthouse for a solemn ceremony. A historical marker proposal was formally presented to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Descendants of the Proctor, Sixkiller, and Beck families attended.

Hosted at the Cherokee National Capitol complex with the cooperation of the Cherokee Nation, the 2018 reunion included a guided tour of the National Archives reading room and a special presentation on DNA testing for Cherokee genealogy research.

Eighteen Association volunteers spent a full day clearing brush, documenting markers, and photographing the Bell Family Cemetery near the old Beck's Mill site. Twenty-one additional burial markers were identified and photographed. The project produced the first comprehensive burial record for this historically significant site.

The 2016 reunion featured a day-long symposium on Cherokee sovereignty and the Goingsnake District's unique legal history. Cherokee Nation Attorney General Todd Hembree delivered the keynote address. A new collection of oral histories was formally donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The landmark 25th anniversary reunion drew the largest attendance in the Association's history. A retrospective exhibit showcased 25 years of genealogical research, recovered photographs, and district history. Founding members were honored with a special recognition ceremony.

The Association hosted a public reception to launch its second major publication: 'The Courthouse at Goingsnake: Law & Sovereignty in the Cherokee Nation.' Author presentations were followed by a book signing and open research session. Copies were distributed to tribal libraries across Oklahoma.

The 2013 reunion centered on the theme 'Trails of Removal, Roots of Resilience,' exploring the Trail of Tears migration routes that brought Goingsnake District families to Indian Territory. A genealogy clinic helped 34 researchers make new documented connections.

Held in partnership with the University of Oklahoma's Native American Studies program, this one-day forum examined the Goingsnake District's role in the broader history of Cherokee sovereign self-governance. Three academic papers were presented and published in the proceedings.

The Association formally launched its multi-year Cemetery Mapping Project, deploying GPS equipment and standardized photography protocols to document every known burial ground in the original Goingsnake District boundaries. Volunteer teams were organized by sub-district area.

A milestone reunion marking the centennial of Oklahoma statehood planning. The program focused on how allotment and the dissolution of the Cherokee Nation reshaped Goingsnake District families in the years leading up to 1907. Guest speaker Dr. Duane Champagne presented on tribal sovereignty movements.

The 1999 reunion featured the debut of the Association's comprehensive Dawes Roll cross-reference index, representing nearly a decade of volunteer research effort. The index connected over 2,400 Goingsnake District enrollees to their enrollment cards, jacket numbers, and land allotments.

A two-day event marking the 125th anniversary of the April 15, 1872 massacre. Descendants of all major families involved gathered for the first time for a shared historical presentation. Oral histories were recorded on video for the first time, capturing accounts passed down from eyewitnesses.

The 1994 reunion introduced the first formal genealogy research library — a lending collection of microfilm, books, and document copies available to members. The Goingsnake Messenger printed its 25th issue at this event.

The founding gathering of the Goingsnake District Heritage Association. Charter members representing district families formalized the Association's mission: to preserve, document, and share the history and genealogical records of the Goingsnake District. The first issue of the Goingsnake Messenger newsletter was distributed at this event.