Robbinsville – Bear season may be closed for many, but there were several bear sightings in Graham County on Friday.
Students, staff and family members of the Snowbird Cherokee Traditions Summer Language Camp attended the annual graduation at Robbinsville High School Auditorium. A meal of smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, pickled okra and several desserts was served before the graduation.
The ceremony began with the Pledge to the American Flag in the Cherokee Language by the students, before each of the three classes performed for the audience.
Gracie Webster’s class performed the “Bear Dance,” followed by Joel Turner’s class who quoted Bible verses in the native language.
Lou Jackson’s class entertained the audience with a series of skits that represented love. Dressed in bear costumes, students spoke in Cherokee to describe the different types of love.
Classes then took the stage to perform four gospel hymns. The songs included “Amazing Grace,” “At the Cross,” “Building a Bridge” and “Canaan.” These are songs that were once sung regularly in Cherokee churches.
The seven-week language program graduated 29 students, who received certificates, a backpack filled with school supplies and a bag of goodies.
Most importantly, they received a summer filled with memories and a new language. The group took trips to the outdoor drama “Into These Hills;” Oconaluftee Village; learned native crafts and stories; and participated in a service project providing backpacks and needed supplies to the homeless in the community.
This summer, classes took place in a single-wide trailer with three classrooms. Director Erik Oswalt expressed excitement over future improvements coming to the program.
“We are getting a doublewide with five bedrooms,” Oswalt revealed. “We will convert the bedrooms – as well as the living room and dining room – into classrooms and be able to offer seven classrooms.”
Oswalt has worked hard to fulfill the dream his mom Shirley began over 31 years ago. He has been pleased with the improvements. He gave credit to his staff, which included teachers and assistants Gracie Webster and Jarrett Bird, Lou Jackson and Jazlyn McEntire, Joel Turner and Leroy Littlejohn; art teacher Lynsey Adams; and helpers Renee Gonzalez and Kathy Johnson.
The addition of former Graham County Superintendent Angie Knight and Robbinsville High School math instructor Cheri Lynn has been a great asset to the program, which originated in 2013 when Shirley Oswalt began the nonprofit. Knight joined the program as a grant writer and Lynn as the accountant.
It was Shirley’s vision to offer a program to teach the Cherokee Language and preserve the culture of the Cherokee through education. Shirley Oswalt did not want the program to be called a school, so it has been named, the Snowbird Native Education Snowbird Traditions (NEST).
The language enrichment program has been sponsored by grants, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. They have also engaged in fundraising activities.
One of the main goals has been to educate and incorporate the Cherokee Language and culture to a new generation. They have been able to provide that to the students and so much more. It was also important that each child receive a hot meal every day.
The summer course will be followed by an afterschool program, which will be open to students who would like to continue to explore the Cherokee cultures and become more efficient in the language.
Looking to the future, Oswalt has no limit on the possibilities. In addition to the camp, an Adult Language Program has also been established. The program has came full circle with the hiring of Joel Turner as an educator in the children’s program; Turner was in the first group of students taught by Shirley when the program began. McEntire – a former graduate of the summer camp and afterschool program – has accepted a position as instructor in the adult language program.
Oswalt said he would love to start a program in Cherokee County. He has been discussing possibilities and could have a program in Murphy by Christmas. He would also like to establish an online class in the future.
The program also recently received 18 new bicycles to the facility and hope to build a bike trail.
Snowbird Cherokee Traditions will sponsor its annual “Trail of Tears Walk” in October. Be on the lookout for more information about the fundraiser in future issues of The Graham Star.
