Ernie Poindexter is a 73-year-old citizen of the Cherokee Nation. After his retirement, he began studying Cherokee history and combined this with his woodworking hobby to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art that reflect his pride in his Cherokee culture and heritage. All of his pieces are created from reclaimed wood, and many of them are fully carved with hand tools. His greatest joys have been participating in area art shows such as the Trail of Tears Art Show, Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee National Holiday art show, Art Under the Oaks in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as well as the Master Woodworking Artist of the Year competition in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. He has earned numerous honors and awards, with his greatest accomplishments include winning the 50th annual Trail of Tears Award and being named the 2025 Master Woodworking Artist of the Year at the Forest Heritage Museum in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.