Harry James Oosahwee (ada-wi dv-no-we-la-ni) was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 1949. Oosahwee grew up in the predominately Cherokee-speaking community of Money Bean Hollow, located between Tahlequah and Hulbert, Oklahoma. A first-language Cherokee speaker, he provides a unique perspective as an artist and educator. His introduction to Indian art was at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma. It was also at Bacone where an English professor suggested he conduct a research project on the Cherokee language. These experiences led to a lifelong interest in art and working with the Cherokee language. Honored as a Cherokee National Treasure in 2021, he depicts his traditions and culture through paintings, carvings, and sculptures.