Cherokee Language Certificate

Spring 2025 - Advanced Cherokee Language

Details coming soon!

 

Beginning Cherokee Language

August 20 - December 5, 2024

Tuesdays and Thursdays
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
Hybrid Format: In-person meetings will be held at the Qualla Library in Cherokee, NC

Register Now!

Students will gain exposure and practice in beginning Cherokee Language. They will be introduced to the sounds and rhythm of spoken Cherokee and a variety of topics such as classroom vocabulary, family, emotions, clothing, and more. Introductory grammatical features will also be covered. At the end of the course students should be able to use language at a ‘novice mid’ level and will have a solid foundation for future language learning.

This is course 1 of 2 for the Novice Cherokee Language Certificate.

Instructors

Jack “Tsegi” Cooper
Siyo! My name is Tsegi, I am a recent graduate from Stanford University, and a current first year learner in the Dadiwonisi adult language program in Snowbird. I have been working in the language for roughly 4 years now, studying under Gil Jackson during my freshman year of college, and then working as his Teacher’s Assistant in the years following, and now I am about to complete my first year in the adult language program. I am far from being a fluent speaker, but I have spent a lot of time engaging with the language in a classroom setting and I hope to be able to provide you all with a safe and comfortable space to start your language journeys. Sgi!

Gil Jackson
Gil Jackson is a North Carolina native and member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee with 58 years of teaching experience. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty and lecturer at Duke University. He has previously taught Cherokee language at the University of North Carolina – Asheville and Stanford University. Gil also served as the Executive Director of Snowbird Cherokees Traditions for nearly ten years, where he planned after-school and summer language programs for Cherokee youth. Prior to that he served as the New Kituwah Immersion School Administrator for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians for nine years managing and meeting all Tribal, State and Federal licensing requirements, while supervising and planning staff development and staff evaluations.