Multiple Efforts Underway To Preserve Endangered Cherokee Language

Members of the Cherokee Nation say there are less than 2,000 first-language Cherokee speakers left. They are fighting to keep their language alive.

The Cherokee people believe their language is a gift from God.

"How we see things through the lens of a Cherokee, through the lens of our language, is totally different than what you can imagine in mainstream society," said Cherokee Nation Language Department Executive Director Howard Paden.

A gift they are working to preserve in schools, through children's coloring books, community events, a Cherokee radio station primarily broadcast in Cherokee.

"Last year we had right along 135 speakers who passed. The year before that, we had 110. This year we are past 100 already," said Paden.

Cherokee members say there is a long history of their language and culture being suppressed, which played a part in the decline of first-language Cherokee-speaking people.

Now tribal members are working to change those statistics.

"We know we are making a difference and we know, if we lose this our world is going to be a different place," said Paden.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin has made language preservation a priority. It was top of mind Monday after the White House's new federal memorandum was announced.

Paden says the language is more than a collection of words, it is an entire world he and so many others are fighting to save.

Here is the link if anyone wants to join the CWY: Wherever we Are Cherokee Language Edition at noon on Saturday.