Countdown to the 2023 Rivercane Gathering:

NaN days, NaN hours, NaN minutes, NaN seconds

About the Event

Join us for the 1st Annual Rivercane Gathering, co-hosted by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma and the US Forest Service. The goal of the Rivercane Gathering is to bring together tribes, native artisans, traditional knowledge holders, scientists, land managers and other stakeholders to share in two-way learning about the current state of knowledge for rivercane in the southern United States.

We are excited to offer the Rivercane Gathering as an in-person meeting this year! If you are experiencing any Covid symptoms such as fever, body aches, coughing, nausea, loss of taste or smell, and/or other symptoms, please refrain from coming to the event. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Rivercane_Draft_Schedule_1.26.23.pdf

Potential Rivercane Gathering Topics Include:

     Rivercane Restoration

     Propagation /Management

     Increasing Access to Rivercane

     Cultural Importance

     Hands on Demonstrations

     Artisan Exchange

     Rivercane Traditional Knowledge

     Field Trips to Managed Canebrakes

     Storytelling

     Rivercane and Fire

     Rivercane Ecology

Registration Details and Pricing

Registration includes all daily activities listed on the final agenda. Registrants will be able to select their agenda.  

Standard RegistrationStudent RegistrationDaily Rate
$50$10$15/day


Meeting Location and Optional Field Trips

Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center

100 N Water Ave., Tahlequah, OK 74464

Most Rivercane Gathering event activities will take place at the Armory Municipal Center. An off-site field trip to visit a cane break is available for registered attendees. Tuesday Field trips will depart from the lobby of the Tru by Hilton hotel. Each attendee must provide their own transportation to field trip locations. Please refer to final agenda for daily event activities.

Field Trip Details
We will be offering a morning field trip and an afternoon field trip- please join us for one or both! We consider the field trips to be an integral part of the Rivercane Gathering, providing opportunities for hands-on learning and knowledge exchange.

*Jeans, sturdy shoes or boots, and a jacket are recommended. Muddy and undergrowth conditions may be present. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions the day of the field trip.  

1. Morning: field trip to two river cane sites within 20 minutes of Tahlequah. One along the Illinois River that demonstrates how river cane has been marginalized in agricultural environments, and another to Barren Fork Creek preserve to observe a UKB restoration project in progress. This trip will involve walking short distances on flat but uneven ground. Departs from Tru by Hilton Lobby. Road side parking is limited, so please sign up only if you fully intend to attend. 

2. Afternoon: Field trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge to observe two ongoing cane restoration studies that demonstrate the difference between starting cane from seed or encouraging an existing cane brake. This trip will involve walking slightly longer distances on flat but uneven ground. Departs from Tru by Hilton Lobby. Parking is limited, so please sign up only if you fully intend to attend.

**Please note that the general agenda and field trip is subject to change.**


Tribal Rivercane Artisan/ Harvester Scholarships

We are able to offer a limited number of registration waivers to tribal rivercane artisans and harvesters.  Artisans and harvesters are an essential part of this gathering. We are interested in supporting attendees who will be active participants in the Rivercane Gathering through:

   demonstrating their crafts 

   participating in interactive discussions and hands-on sessions

   sharing their knowledge and expertise 

   providing input and insights to other participants

Deadline to inquire about a scholarship is Friday March 3, 2023. We will notify you shortly afterwards if we are able to offer you a fee waiver.  Registration waivers are intended to support as wide a diversity of tribal communities and tribal rivercane art forms as possible.  

Click here to fill out the Tribal Rivercane Artisan/Harvester Scholarship Inquiry Form.


For more information, please contact: 

Michelle Baumflek (828) 257-4887 | [email protected]

Roger Cain (918) 871-2826 | [email protected] 


Host Lodging and Other Travel Information

Tru by Hilton Tahlequah

3457 Cherokee Springs Rd., Tahlequah, OK 74464

Book your room online, click here!

Lodging Rates
2 Queen Beds$98, plus tax
1 King Bed$98, plus tax

Lodging Rates under the name "Rivercane Gathering" will be available through March 23 or until room block is filled. Please reserve early to ensure a room.

Rivercane_Gathering_2023_Travel Information.pdf

RegFox Event Registration Software