2023 Awardees
Cherokee National Holiday awardees go above and beyond in selfless ways to serve the public and our tribe. From a place of love, they lead, serve, sacrifice and create. Exemplifying Cherokee values, their legacy is part of our nation’s legacy.
PARADE MARSHAL
The Cherokee National Holiday Parade Marshal honor is given to an individual or individuals for professional, civic or personal accomplishments.
A pastor of Elm Tree Baptist Church for the past 33 years, D.J. McCarter serves and leads his community with great passion. He has been instrumental in sharing the Cherokee language through the hymns he and his wife, Frances, sing at church, and on his radio program with KTLQ. McCarter is a native of the Briggs community in Cherokee County and resides on his family’s allotment. He holds a Master of Education from Northeastern State University and an honorary doctorate from Fellowship Bible Institute (Tulsa, Okla.).
Shawn James Crittenden
The Statesmanship Award means a great deal to Shawn Crittenden, of Stilwell, Okla., who stated, “It is very humbling for me because I tend to focus on where I fall short. It is nice to know someone looked long and hard enough to find the good in what I was trying to do as a public servant.” Crittenden was elected to two terms on the Council of the Cherokee Nation representing District 8 from 2015-2023. He sponsored key legislation to strengthen education and infrastructure, like the Wilma P. Mankiller and Charlie Soap Water Act and an amendment to the Concurrent Enrollment Scholarship Act of 2011. After 15 years working as a teacher, Crittenden recently joined the Cherokee Nation Education Department.
Mary Smith
The Cherokee National Medal of Patriotism Award is given in recognition of those who answered the call of duty, made great sacrifices and risked their lives in service to Cherokee Nation and the United States of America, tirelessly defending and promoting freedom and liberty for Cherokees and all mankind.
Ashley Dawn Clemmer
Cherokee warrior Ashley Dawn Clemmer, of Oologah, Okla., retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Master Sergeant. Clemmer’s highly decorated career saw her recognized for service not only in peacetime, but also during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. Clemmer’s heroes growing up were her grandparents, Wayne and Wahlele Waldrup, whose love for one another was an inspiration. She is delighted by the opportunity to spend more time with her family, including her husband and their four children.
Jeffrey Trussler
An officer of the U.S. Navy for more than 35 years, Vice Admiral Jeffrey Trussler assumed duties as director of Naval Intelligence and deputy chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare in June 2020. Trussler is a graduate of Miami (Okla.) High School, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma. He is most proud of his shipmates during his command of USS Maryland (SSBN 738) (Blue) who attained senior leadership positions in the Chief’s Quarters, as well as the eight officers that went on to their own commands.
The Samuel Worcester Award is given to a non-Cherokee who has made substantial contributions to the preservation of Cherokee heritage, culture, community and sovereignty.
Patti Palmer Ghezzi
A legal career defending the principle of equality before the law, representing indigent people and the sovereignty of Native American tribes, distinguishes the work of Patti Palmer Ghezzi. Ghezzi was counsel of record in Sharp v. Murphy, a Supreme Court decision which affirmed McGirt v. Oklahoma. She currently assists the Attorney General of Cherokee Nation in cases related to the McGirt decision. In accepting this award, she recalls the importance of Samuel Worcester to Cherokees before the forced removal, and the injustice he faced when a state government made it a crime for him to live in Cherokee Territory.
The Cherokee National Treasure Award is given in recognition of Cherokee artisans who have exhibited exceptional skill and knowledge in traditional Cherokee arts and crafts by creating unique Cherokee works through graphic art, contemporary art, music, storytelling and other art forms, as well as perpetuating and preserving the Cherokee language, embodying Cherokee values and bequeathing their knowledge to younger generations.
Diana Smith Cox
Steven Daugherty
A fluent Cherokee speaker who grew up around the Oak Ridge/Bell Communities in Adair, Okla., Steven Daugherty was fascinated by bows and arrows as a kid. In 2010, he began to learn the techniques of making traditional weapons after meeting Cherokee National Treasures Noel Grayson and Danny McCarter while working at the Cherokee Heritage Center. He made his first bow using only stone tools. Over time, he learned to make moccasins, twined bags, knives, and war clubs. He occasionally hosts traditional weapon workshops near Sallisaw, Okla., at Sequoyah’s Cabin Museum.
Community Leadership Individual Award
The Cherokee National Community Leadership Individual Award is given in recognition of Cherokee Nation citizens who tirelessly have given, without hesitation, their time to make their communities more vibrant, livable places. Their example of servant leadership embodies Cherokee values and is held in high esteem by their peers for strengthening the bonds of Cherokee Nation citizens.
Randy Campbell
Roger Dale Fine, Jr.
Christine Neuhoff
Community Leadership Organization Award
Little Cherokee Seeds
Cherokee Freedmen History Project Advisory Committee