Cherokee National Treasure Troy Jackson is a Native Oklahoman and an award-winning Cherokee artist. Jackson earned an associate degree from Bacone College; a bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University; and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arkansas. He has taught art at each of these schools. As a volunteer, Jackson has served the Tahlequah Art Guild, the Cherokee Artists Association, the Southeastern Indian Artists Association and the advisory board of the Cherokee Art Center in Tahlequah.

Jackson is renowned for his clay, steel and bronze sculptures. Museums often showcase his works in their collections of contemporary Southeastern Native American art. In the course of his career, he has won 18 Grand Awards, a Best of Classification and a Best of Division at the Santa Fe Indian Market. In 2022, Jackson won the Anna Mitchell Excellence in Southeastern Pottery Award for "Third Day," as well as Best of Class and Best of Show for "Ancestral Duplication: Battle for Our Language" during the 17th annual Cherokee Art Market.