Hello everyone. I have been trying out a lot of languages. I am very interested in Cherokee, I think the language is beautiful, both spoken and written. I would love to communicate with a native speaker and learn a bit about the language. Thank you everyone

Did anyone else see the Census Bureau map that was in The Washington Post? The Cherokee Nation map looks accurate. I think the 'Cherokee' map highlights the number of frauds out there.

https://preview.redd.it/eehzogdl4iqc1.jpg?width=916&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7653ff65cf399a4cfc6da82aa3f87c75a7c0511b

https://nondoc.com/2024/03/21/2024-tribal-elections-cherokee-osage-peoria-apache/

I found him through internet family records and he is definitely related to me given all the family ties are correct which they seem to be (I can accurately identify almost all family members leading up to him). I can find out who my 6th great grandmother is though, this guy had three wives and so far I have not found out which one is my biological relative. He was born in 1744 and from records it says he should be just a quarter Cherokee but he honestly looks like he has zero European ancestry so I am confused. I know genetics isn't always straight forward but I'm still skeptical. It seems that there is almost zero information on his son but his birth and death (my 5th g-grandpa) and then his son (my 4th g-grandpa) has plenty of information, and also looks like grandpa #6, but his records make zero mention of Cherokee ancestry but notes his military time. I've tried to find more records of him available online but it all says the same thing, but his children and grandchildren make no note of Cherokee ancestry despite every other account with Cherokee ancestry clearly including it. Also, it seems none of his grandchildren are on the Dawes or Baker roll so they either are not actually related to him, he's not real?, or they didn't belong to the Cherokee culture by then. His mother is even more confusing and no record is sure of her real parents except that the father is English and the mother is either full or half Cherokee from Keowee.

I just recently got my citizenship in CNO, and I was wondering if there are any other online groups or communities on discord or similar platforms that I could join. I grew up far away from the Cherokee nation and no where near any place with a significant Cherokee community. my whole life I been starved of that sense of community and i suppose I'm reaching out so I can remedy the situation. thank ya'll in advanced. also feel free to reach out personally if you'd like

Registration is open for Ed Fields’ Cherokee language classes! Classes start March 11.

https://learn.cherokee.org

I contacted Cherokee Nation and I was told I am in Phase 3 now. What does that mean exactly?

TL;DR: I have to produce artwork for a piece of jewelry themed around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It feels blatantly disrespectful to not include Cherokee artwork in my design. It feels equally disrespectful to include it when neither my bosses nor I are Cherokee, and the company would be turning a profit on something that includes Cherokee art styles.

I’m not sure this is the right place to ask, but please understand I am asking for some advice out of pure ignorance. I don’t know how to approach this project.

----------------------------------------------------

I'm a designer for a small business that makes a weird type of jewelry. The short explanation is, instead of gemstones, we use colored clay to make shapes & patterns to make beads and other jewelry. Our jewelry is found across the US mostly in gift shops and local mom-and-pop stores, but our best-selling pieces are souvenir bracelets that are themed for different US States and travel destinations within the US. The other designers and I study different art styles and get inspiration from different techniques both traditional and new. We study the wildlife, the landscape, and cultures and traditions of an area when we make these so that we’re not making just another campy gift-shop trinket. We want to make small, affordable memento jewelry pieces for people to bring home after a vacation.

Recently, we decided to try making jewelry themed around some of the National Parks. I live in North Carolina. I’ve been to the Smokies a lot, I love the park, and because of that, I was appointed to design a bracelet themed around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I want to focus on the wildlife, flora, landscape, and history of the park, but a large part of that history (like every other square inch of the United States) was that it was historically home to someone else. In the case of the Smokies, that’s the Cherokee. My first idea for this project is to incorporate subtle Cherokee patterns and motifs into every piece of the design. The goal behind that idea is to say the Cherokee People, culture, and traditions are inextricably linked and must be acknowledged and respected and that must not be ignored. That's my intention with the design direction. I don’t know first-hand, but I feel like it would be insulting or disrespectful to make a thing about the Smoky Mountains and NOT mention the Cherokee.

However, my conflict is that even if my execution of that design direction is perfect and I nail every part of the artwork of this thing as respectfully as humanly possible, that then also means that I'd be using Cherokee art styles to design a product that generates profit for a non-Cherokee business.

I put a ton of time and research into my work when I make patterns and artwork for our products. I love studying traditional art styles & symbolism, and the historical context & cultural significance of that symbolism. When I do my job, I'm doing everything that I can do artistically to acknowledge and appreciate other cultures' art styles and represent them accurately. I take that as especially important because I know that "small & local gift shops" especially in heavy tourist areas in the South, are generally not the place you go to find well-considered & culturally respectful keepsakes. One of the un-stated functions of the job in this role is often to respectfully acknowledge a culture in a context where that culture is not usually respectfully represented.

I considered reaching out to someone within the EBCI Governance to see if I could talk to someone, but I also don't necessarily assume that any government speaks unilaterally for an entire people. If Reddit tends to think this could be done respectfully, I was going to try to reach out to some artists or cultural educators in the community and see what they think about the idea. But if this smells more like appropriation than appreciation, then I will figure something else out. Maybe I'll just not even acknowledge humans or history at all and just focus 100% on the landscape and wildlife.

Any advice?

This far, my personal favorite is Dr. Durbin Feeling's Dictionary. I find it highly useful for the vocabulary (obviously), its phonetic transcription accurately reflects actual pronunciation instead of merely transcribing syllable-by-syllable, and furthermore its introduction also offers some grammar basics, especially as far as verbs are concerned.

Besides the Dictionary, what other resources/material/courses do you guys recommend? For instance, do you guys know of good Cherokee-language courses that are open to non-Cherokee individuals like myself? (My main purpose in learning the language is in order to lend a helping hand to the language revitalization endeavors)

ᎤᏕᏲᏅ

(What They’ve Been Taught)

Brit Hensel with Keli Gonzales (Cherokee Nation)

https://www.reciprocity.org/films/udeyonv

Filmed on the Qualla Boundary and Cherokee Nation, ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) - pronounced "oo-day-yo-nuh" - explores expressions of reciprocity within Cherokee communities, brought to life through a story told by an elder and first language speaker. ᎤᏕᏲᏅ is a reflection on tradition, language, land, and a commitment to maintaining balance. This film was created in collaboration with independent artists from both Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

​

Siyo nigad!

It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these. I have been quite busy with starting a new job and developing my school’s language program. I am still in the background, fielding approval requests and weird questions.

It seems as though 2-3xs a month, we get requests from people wanting to either use Cherokee people as flavor for their spaghetti westerns, wanting medicinal knowledges, or wanting to conduct research without considering whether or not that research would benefit us as a tribe and/or community. Around midnight this morning, I finally got a request to post about Jeep Cherokees, so I’m feeling pretty good about my role here 😂

I know the process has been long, but it does seem as though more relevant media has been posted in the months since the sub gained new mods, especially after election season died down. I know a lot of our at-large community use this sub as a connection to community, but this sub—all subs—are what you make of it. The more questions you ask, the more media you post, the more you’re going to get out of it. Cherokees, in general, aren’t really known to just offer up thoughts or opinions unprompted. I see it online, in the community, and even in the classroom.

Hope y’all are doing okay and that your holiday season is treating you well. This time of year can be difficult. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself!

I was sent a letter in the mail requesting a long form birth certificate and an affidavit of knowledge of my father being born from his parents. I cannot be the one to claim the knowledge. I have a living uncle in Florida who will sign and have it notorized. That is not the problem. The problem is Arkansas claims that their birth certificates are long form. I spoke at length to a very nice and knowledgeable lady with Vital Records, in Little Rock, on Friday. Does anyone know how to get the proper "long form" certificate from Arkansas?

Does anybody have access to the whole thing? For some reason only the introduction and numbers section are available on the EBCI website. Thanks!

I have been studying the language for about a month now. I am struggling with the translations. I would do better if I had the literal translations instead.

For example it is easier for me to remember Ni-hi-na is You and? instead of And you?

Or To-hi-quu is Well me, instead of I'm well.

Are there any tools out there on the web to help me find the literal translations?

My local library has a lot of books about the Cherokee people. What are some good book titles to start with the learn culture and history?

I've heard the Turtle Island Liars Club is good, but the library does not have it.

I posted this in an FB group so I apologize for those in the group.

My grandfather b. 1914 is not on the Dawe's rolls, but his mother, gm and ggm are. In his school records from the 1920's his mother said he was Cherokee. Is there a way to verify membership after the Dawe's rolls?

Is there any validity to the names of Cherokee ancestors on sites like ancestry.com, etc.?

Siyo!

In the 70s, King Comics published four comic books in English and Cherokee including Popeye, Blondie, and others. I was wondering if anyone has any of these?

Here is a link showing their covers:

https://comicvine.gamespot.com/king-comics-in-cherokee/4050-75497/

I already have Blondie and have scanned it, so if you would like a copy, feel free to message me.

I submitted my documents and the enrollment forms earlier this week. I included my original birth certificate, a photocopy of my driver's license, my father's original death certificate (listing my gf as his father, and my grandfather's original death certificate, which list his mother, whom is on the Dawe's roll. I have a few questions:

Do the forms on the CN include everything needed for federal and tribal requirements?

Does anyone know how long the process takes?

I'm disgusted, Fecelia Olaya didn't find out until social media posts.

I love languages and have been actively practicing German and Spanish for over a year now. I chose Spanish because I live and work in a majority Spanish speaking community. I chose German because it was the language of my grandmother on my mother's side. I have recently discovered a significant portion of my great grandmother's family were Cherokee (sending my paperwork todayt!). I think the best way to learn the Cherokee language is to learn the syllabary first before learning common phrases.

Is knowing the syllabary first a good plan?

​

If so..

For those that know the syllabary what is the best way to master it?

I am thinking flash cards and basic repetition. Is there another way that would be effective?

I bought some beaded earrings at the National holiday last year. I was wearing them at work, and someone told me "I like your regalia". I was taken off guard because I've never thought of earrings as "regalia". I also don't know if this person was also native or not, it was just a passing compliment.

To me, "Regalia" has a very formal implication, like a ribbon skirt to me isn't regalia because you can wear it everywhere.

Am I thinking of this incorrectly?