Cherokee National Treasure
Introduction


**Cherokee National Treasure** is a distinction created in 1988 by the [Cherokee Nation](/wiki/Cherokee_Nation "Cherokee Nation") to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the preservation of the tribe's art, [language](/wiki/Cherokee_language "Cherokee language"), and culture.

The tribe published a biographical overview of these cultural bearers, *Cherokee National Treasures: In Their Own Words*, co\-edited by Shawna Morton\-Cain and [Pamela Jumper\-Thurman](/wiki/Pamela_Jumper-Thurman "Pamela Jumper-Thurman") in 2017\.


How does the distinction of Cherokee National Treasure impact the community?