Tallulah – Monday’s rain could not dampen the Open House at the new Snowbird NEST (Native Education Snowbird Traditions) learning facility.
Teachers, students, tribe members, council members and community leaders were present as Erik Oswalt, Leslie Oswalt McEntire and Jazlyn McEntire cut the ribbon on-site, after students of the NEST prayed and sang in the Cherokee Language.
Shirley Oswalt – the mother of Erik and Leslie – founded the language-learning program in 2013. After the loss of their mom, the siblings continued to carry out their mother’s dream.
“It’s a blessing beyond words that it has come this far,” said Erik, who is director of the NEST. “We are thankful for the families, tribe members, staff, and kids coming to learn the Cherokee Language. It’s an honor and something I know Mom would have never imagined.”
“She (Shirley) lives on through her children,” added Lou Jackson, a teacher at the NEST.
Shirley taught the Cherokee language for 35 years. Her first student was Joel Turner. Today, Turner is a teacher at the NEST.
She wanted the facility she created to be considered more of a home than a school.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Council Member Adam Wachacha also addressed the staff and visitors.
“On behalf of the tribe, congratulations to everyone,” Wachacha said. “I was on the 2009 board to create this program. All the pieces are getting close to completion. Hopefully, within the next five years, we will expand the language to the daycare. We are planning to offer many things the children can look forward to.”
One of the highlights of the Open House was seeing mother Callie Bush and her sons Xavier Bush and Diego Contreras, who have accomplished the goal of speaking the language to one another at home. This is what the Snowbird NEST is all about: passing the language to future generations.
“Last summer, we had 13 kids. This summer, we had 45 kids,” Erik added. “Last year, we had five staff members. Today, we have 12 staff members. None of this would have been possible without mom’s heart.”
The NEST has three classrooms with six teachers: Joel Turner and Leroy Littlejohn; Gracie Webster and Jarrett Bird; and Lou Jackson and Jazlyn McEntire. In their new facility, they have three large classrooms, a large kitchen, two restrooms, office space and a craft room.
The NEST is a place where students begin to learn the Cherokee language, sing, craft and participate in many cultural activities, learning the history and traditions that will continue to live on thanks to the woman who had a dream to preserve her heritage.