January 28, 2010

Cherokee recognized for language initiative

Cherokee Nation receives Humanities Council AwardThe Cherokee Nation has been named the 2010 recipient of the Humanities in Education award for its significant contribution to the humanities in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Humanities Council. The Nation was selected for the award in recognition of the tribe’s Cherokee language program and the Cherokee Nation Immersion School, according to a media release.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of outstanding achievement in a comprehensive Cherokee language and culture initiative,” said Dr. Neil Morton, group leader for Cherokee Nation Education Services. “The award brings special honor to the dedicated staff of the language program and to all the Cherokee Nation Group Leaders for their support of the Tribal Language Initiative.”

January 26, 2010

Rosetta Stone releases Chitimacha language

Rosetta Stone releases Chitimacha languageRosetta Stone Inc. today announced the release of the Chitimacha language version of Rosetta Stone® software for exclusive use by the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. The last fluent Chitimach speaker died in 1940 but the tribe is trying to revive its language.

Rosetta Stone helps people learn a language by linking the meaning and structure of a new language directly to real world objects and events without translation. The Chitimacha language version of the software has been created through a Rosetta Stone corporate grant with all distribution rights belonging to the tribe.

January 09, 2010

Cherokee choir sings old favorites

Cherokee National Youth Choir release entertaining, educational

By Gary FifeThe award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir announces the release of its latest music CD, “Learning as We Sing,” a project intended to both entertain and teach language skills. The new CD contains a variety of well-known traditional music intended for singing along, including patriotic American songs, Cherokee cultural songs, and even some Christmas songs.

“We’re extremely excited about this new album,” said Mary Kay Henderson, CNYC’s director.

Henderson said that the CD was designed to make learning Cherokee a little bit easier by using translations of familiar songs.

Listeners can sing along with the choir and learn old favorites such as “The Star Spangled Banner,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman,” all in the Cherokee language.