The Cherokee Language card highlights the critical importance of preserving and revitalizing the Cherokee language. Cherokee, a polysynthetic language spoken by the Cherokee Nation, has faced significant challenges over the years due to the devastating effects of colonization, forced assimilation, and the legacy of boarding schools that punished Indigenous children for speaking their native language. The language has teetered on the brink of extinction, with only a small number of fluent speakers remaining, most of whom are elders. However, there are renewed efforts to ensure that Cherokee is not only preserved but also passed down to future generations.

The Significance of Cherokee Language Revitalization

The Cherokee language is a profound part of the cultural identity of the Cherokee people. It encapsulates their worldview, traditions, and history in a way that English or other languages cannot. As with many Indigenous languages, Cherokee carries within it a deep connection to the land, community values, and spiritual practices. Language loss represents a loss of cultural knowledge, and for the Cherokee people, revitalizing their language is a means of reclaiming their heritage and strengthening their identity.

The Cherokee language also holds historical significance as one of the few Indigenous languages with its own written syllabary, developed by Sequoyah in the early 19th century. The written form has been instrumental in literacy and the preservation of knowledge for generations. Today, the Cherokee Nation and other language advocates are working tirelessly to revitalize the language through education programs, immersion schools, and modern media.

How to Engage and Support Cherokee Language Revitalization

There are many ways for people to engage in the efforts to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language:

Learn the Cherokee Language:

• Cherokee Nation Language Programs: The Cherokee Nation offers free online language classes and immersion programs designed to help new learners become proficient in the language. These programs are open to both Cherokee citizens and the public, providing a vital resource for those interested in contributing to the language's survival.

• Appalachian State University Cherokee Language Program: This university offers courses in the Cherokee language, allowing students to explore the language academically. Their program provides a valuable resource for people wanting to engage with the language in an academic setting.

Support Cherokee Language Immersion Schools:

• Cherokee Language Immersion School: Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, this school teaches students exclusively in Cherokee, ensuring that children grow up fluent in the language. By supporting schools like this, either through donations or advocacy, you can help secure the future of the Cherokee language.

• New Kituwah Academy: Located in North Carolina, this immersion school serves the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and provides a similar focus on language preservation by teaching children in Cherokee.

Watch “We Will Speak”:

• We Will Speak: This documentary film by Schon Duncan, Michael McDermit, Keli Gonzales, and Jacob Koestler captures the profound effort to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language. It tells the story of community members, educators, and activists who are working against the odds to save their language for future generations. Watching this film is an excellent way to engage with the issue and learn from those at the forefront of language preservation efforts.