😭😭
There are only around 1,500 native Cherokee speakers left, and most of them are elders
Little Cherokee Seeds is a program where mothers and babies spend all day with first language Cherokee speakers, speaking nothing but Cherokee, so that the babies become a new generation of native speakers. They’re also teaching traditional skills and mothering practices to the mothers to pass on.
This is so so important for the survival of the language. These babies are on track to being fluent first language speakers, and they will be able to keep the language going for another lifetime.
I recommend checking out the little cherokee seeds facebook page!!
Okay not to dox myself but I live on Cherokee territory (#landback) and there are a few universities I know of that are working to restore the language among younger Natives. I’m not an expert, but I recommend checking out Dr Sara Snyder Hopkins and the incredible work she’s doing to translate old Cherokee writings so we never lose them and Dr Ben Fray who is Cherokee and fluent and teaches it to students as a revitalization effort.