Cherokee speakers visit Snowbird N.E.S.T.
Tallulah – Staff and students of the Snowbird N.E.S.T. welcomed Cherokee Language speakers from Oklahoma on April 29, to observe their facilities – and share information and strategies with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and their curriculum instruction.
Students from the N.E.S.T. (Native Education Snowbird Traditions) sang songs and welcomed the visitors with gifts of handmade baskets, travel pillows, local honey and N.E.S.T. mugs. The visitors then traveled to Atoah, where they enjoyed a meal at the home of Lou Jackson.
The staff of Snowbird visited the Oklahoma school in February, to see their facilities and observe their instruction practices. These visits were well received, and the fellowship and information shared will benefit the Cherokee Nation as a whole. The nation recognizes the importance of preserving and celebrating their heritage and the significance of creating new generations of Cherokee speakers that can both speak and teach the language; connecting their people to their ancestors and their identity, while establishing their place in the world.
There are currently around 2,000 first-language speakers, with more considered beginner or proficient through the tribe’s language programs.
The Cherokee language is considered a Class IV language, in terms of difficulty of the spoken form. The Cherokee syllabary is written in the form of the language. It is not an alphabet, but contains 85 distinct characters that represent the sounds used to speak Cherokee.
Keeping the Cherokee language alive is an investment in the past, present and the future of the Cherokee Nation.
“The Snowbird N.E.S.T. is excited to host our fellow Oklahoma Cherokee Speakers to collaborate with our community and our students," said program director Erik Oswalt.
"This partnership serves as a bridge between generations to honor our language and lay the foundation for our students to carry the language forward into the future.
"We are appreciative of the EBCI Tribal Council and the Cherokee Preservation Fund for generously funding our program and helping our students and community have this rich experience.
Graduation for Snowbird's language programs will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, and a 10-week summer program is in the works as well.