For Jacob Chavez, a 23-year-old resident of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Cherokee language was a part of his heritage, yet not a language he actively spoke growing up. Despite his grandmother’s fluency and his father’s understanding, Chavez, like many of his generation, found himself disconnected from this vital aspect of Cherokee identity. Now, he’s part of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reversing this trend: a program that pays individuals to Learn Cherokee and become proficient speakers, ensuring the language not only survives but thrives.
“It’s in my family and I would like to kind of like, build it back and strengthen it back amongst some of our younger generation,” Chavez explains, highlighting a personal motivation deeply intertwined with community aspirations. His passion for reclaiming this linguistic heritage ignited in high school, leading him through classes and ultimately to the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program.
This innovative program represents a significant investment by the Cherokee Nation in language revitalization. The Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program is an immersive experience designed for adult learners, even those starting with no prior knowledge. Participants dedicate 40 hours per week to intensive language study for two years and receive $10 per hour, as explained by Howard Paden, executive director of the Cherokee Nation Language Department.
Paden acknowledges the stipend isn’t wealth-building, but strategically designed to enable dedicated individuals to fully immerse themselves in learning Cherokee. “You have to have that many consecutive hours so they have to have the ability to live and continue to put some groceries on the table and that sort of thing,” Paden states. This financial support allows participants to prioritize language acquisition without the constant pressure of immediate financial burdens.
Launched approximately six years ago, the program’s success and growing need have fueled its expansion from an initial intake of four students annually to sixteen. At full capacity, the two-year program will engage 32 apprentices simultaneously, creating a robust cohort of new Cherokee speakers.
This initiative carries profound importance for the Cherokee Nation, the largest tribe in the United States, encompassing over 380,000 citizens globally. With approximately 2,000 fluent Cherokee speakers remaining and facing the loss of over 100 speakers in the past year alone, the urgency to learn Cherokee and cultivate new speakers is critical.
“Right now, we’re losing roughly five percent of our speakers per year,” Paden emphasizes, underscoring the rapid decline. “But we know that it takes quite a bit of time [to learn the language] and it’s not happening organically in our communities anymore.” This stark reality underscores the necessity of proactive, structured programs like the Master Apprentice Program.
The vulnerability of fluent elders, tragically highlighted by recent losses, prompted the Cherokee Nation to prioritize them in early Covid-19 vaccine distribution. By January 19th, the Nation had administered over 6,500 vaccines, including approximately 900 to Cherokee speakers, demonstrating their commitment to protecting this invaluable linguistic resource.
The pandemic necessitated a shift to online coursework for the Master Apprentice Program. While Chavez, an avowed in-person learner, admits the challenges of virtual learning, his dedication to learn Cherokee remains unwavering. “I’m a very in-person type of learner,” he says. “I can’t really do this technology interface kind of stuff, but I’ve had to adapt and I’m willing to do that. I want to do whatever I’ve got to do to learn and so it’s just kind of a means to an end, really.” His adaptability reflects the broader commitment to overcome obstacles in pursuit of language revitalization.
In developing the Master Apprentice Program, the Cherokee Nation drew inspiration from successful language initiatives within the Sac and Fox Nation, the Euchee (Yuchi) tribe, and even international models like the Māori language revitalization efforts in New Zealand. This global perspective, combined with localized strategies, informs their approach.
The Cherokee Nation’s reservation spans 14 counties in northeastern Oklahoma, presenting both opportunities and logistical considerations for language education. Discussions are underway to potentially introduce Cherokee language classes within Tulsa high schools, although the pandemic’s ongoing impact on in-person learning necessitates flexibility and adaptation.
Chavez articulates a fundamental truth: language and culture are inextricably linked. For him, the drive to learn Cherokee is about more than just acquiring linguistic skills; it’s about safeguarding Cherokee culture itself. “Those two things are just kind of joined, and if you lose our language and you still have culture, it’s kind of just a history, almost, because language is so ingrained inside of a culture,” he reflects. “You know, there’s names for all this stuff like games and ceremonies and things like that. You need the language to use all that.”
He emphasizes the critical role of language in intergenerational connection and cultural continuity. “It’s vital for our nation and other nations that struggle with their languages… we’ve lost that connection between our elders and our youth because mainly they didn’t want to pass on language. [T]he consensus is that we’re losing it, so we’re trying to build it back now. It’s really important for us.” The Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program stands as a powerful testament to this commitment, offering a tangible pathway for individuals like Jacob Chavez and a hopeful future for the Cherokee language.
This story originally appeared in Next City. It is part of the SoJo Exchange from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems
