Cherokee Language Class

The Cherokee Nation brought us a historic new Cherokee Language Intensive class, which was a joint venture with the Cherokee Society of the Greater Bay Area. The class included an incredible in-person weekend. We're so grateful for the opportunity to learn from speakers. It is a rich, beautiful language that needs to be preserved as the root of our culture and way of thinking. The instructors, JP Johnson and JP Wofford, did an excellent job making the class fun, engaging, and safe for new learners, while combining cultural lessons with the language.

Learning the language is not easy, but it’s important. The Cherokee language is considered a Class IV language in its degree of difficulty. It’s spoken fluently by an estimated 2,500 people worldwide today, with several thousand more being considered beginner or proficient speakers. A language is lost every two weeks with aging speakers but we won’t let that happen to ours.

If you didn’t get the chance to participate, there WILL be more opportunities! In the meantime, sign up for one of Ed Fields’ free online Cherokee classes (there are Spring, Summer, and Fall courses)! https://learn.cherokee.org/course/index.php?categoryid=2

The CNCV is also starting a Cherokee study group with a Google classroom to help folks learn Cherokee as well as regular meetings. Send an email note to svzangrilli56@gmail.com to receive the invite and class code. It is a work in progress, with resources and community. Everyone is welcome regardless of level of ability. Even if you don’t think you can learn, join us. Let's learn together. Future goals include video chats to use the language and practice, eventually gathering in person for games and language practice. 

Tsalagi idadeloquaa (we are all learning Cherokee)!

— Sabrina McKinney