Language and Culture of the Cherokee Nation

Shared culture and language tie us together as a people. Sadly, Cherokee elders who are fluent speakers of our language are passing away much too soon. Our plan will build on the success of the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice program designed to develop adult speakers by expanding the program so that more Cherokee adults can participate. Cherokee Nation has many landmarks that are reminders of our past. That is why we will work to acquire, preserve and protect our cultural and historic sites. These sites, like our language, must be honored and respected.

• Launched the $20 million Durbin Feeling Language Center that includes a Speaker Language Housing Village and a new Speaker Services Program
• Created a New Immersion School in Adair County
• Expanded investments in food sovereignty that allowed our Bison herd to grow and established a new meat processing plant in Tahlequah that protects our food sovereignty
• Created new At-Large Community Connections through the online program Cherokee: Wherever We Are
• Signed the Artist Recovery Act and established a new Cherokee Arts Corridor in Tahlequah