We have 12 students per grade come to the Classroom for their lessons and twice a month I go to the local High School to share there
Position:
Cherokee Language Instructor
Needs:
We need at least 12 monitors and keyboards and 12 computers capable of displaying the Cherokee syllabary (unicode)
My Philosophy:
To focus on what we can do, to begin where we are, and to continue until we succeed!
Personal Information:
About Me:
I was born in Nashville, TN. My ancestors are from the Great Lakes region. My wife has a heritage of Cherokee culture and language.
College and Degrees:
BS degree (1987) and several college courses beyond that
Activities:
I play cello and make my own reed flutes that I also play; I have been making pottery (firing in a dug pit) since 2003.
Favorite Books:
Sci Fi
Favorite Quotes:
"A language freights its history, its culture, inside itself. Its structure is the bare-bones blueprint for a mindset. Know one, gain insights into another." C. J. Cherryh // . "No other language sounds exactly like it, and we want to preserve this"Rev. Robert Bushyhead //
Interests:
Varied
Employment History:
SMES 2015-present
Why Do I Teach?:
I share Cherokee language with students who otherwise have little or no access to their ancestral speech. The boarding school attempt to destroy the language very nearly succeeded. We are reviving the language and the self esteem that confidence brings as well as sharing crafts & culture