Cherokee 1: Lesson 1

RSU Public TV's Cherokee Language Classes are provided through a partnership with the Cherokee Nation and Rogers State University.

Please note that YouTube comments are not monitored by the class instructor.

[harleyprice]

My grandparents never taught me Cherokee because I am half white. I live in the bottom of the Appalachian mountains in NC. I’ve learned a lot from your videos and now I can communicate fairly well with them. When I first spoke Cherokee to them they still refused to respond to me, they learned I can speak it fairly well and have hence begun speaking to me solely in Cherokee and no longer in English. I’m tearing up just thinking about it.

[OnMePro]

My distant grandmother survived the trail the tears and I’m learning Cherokee in honor of her.

[angelica]

This brought me to tears, my grandfather always spoke Cherokee to me and he is a fire keeper. I never thought of learning my heritages language but here I am

[mariagastelum]

I am Mexican, but my daughters were born in Oklahoma. We have learned to appreciate the Oklahoma culture and we believe learning Cherokee is very important.

[mrsflemingglifee]

I’m Black and Cherokee, I’m very eager to learn the language of my ancestors! I know me finding this wasn’t a mistake!

[scottkendall]

I am a fluent Cherokee speaker. I have been trying to teach myself to examine in Cherokee for about four years now after being a fluent speaker my whole life. I can examine (we use this word instead of "read" in Cherokee) to some extent. However, watching this video has helped me to learn to examine better because there is some one examining the written Cherokee Syllabary for me instead of me trying to examine it on my own. I really need more exposure to hearing some one examine in Cherokee while seeing the Cherokee Syllables myself. I think that this video does a really great job at this. The only suggestion for slight improvement I have is to highlight the Cherokee Syllable as it is examined by the presenter. This would allow for faster association of the sound with the Cherokee Syllable. This would allow syllable length differences to be shown visually, without the need to explain long and short syllable length to a general audience. I have also been teaching myself how to write in Cherokee. This video is pretty good. Some words are strange to me such as how the presenter uses "friend" without any pronominal prefixes. Some of the grammar is not how I would use it, but I am guessing that this comes down to personal differences in preferences for emphasis since Cherokee has pretty much a free word order. ᏩᏙ!

[theburdenofdespairandhope]

Non-Cherokee American here, but the Cherokee Nation may be one of the most creative tribes in American history. Not only beautiful language, but the fact they created their own syllabary, Constitution, newspapers while retaining tribal culture prior to the Trail of Tears, and continued the tradition after the genocide. Just read recently the Cherokee Nation came out firmly to support Ukraine. Aboslutely amazing tribe.

[lindawhitesell]

I am Cherokee and Irish. I am proud to learn the language! I love the sound and accent.

[johnburke]

I’m simply a language enthusiast, and even in your first lesson it’s evident the work and care you put into this. Easy to follow, easy to grasp, thank you 🙏

[jerrimclemore]

I appreciate the insertion of sign language in this. I grew up basically deaf during my formative years in my childhood, and this addition is actually neat. For those who are distracted by the syllabus in these lessons, it might be helpful to go "old school" and print out each character of the Cherokee syllabus on a flash card (an 8 x 5 notecard) readily available on the web, and then print the corresponding phonetic on the other side.Thank you for these lessons. I grew up in OK but now live in NC so the dialect is much different (more fluid and not as "hard"), but still, the point can usually be made.

[TheGunNut]

The fact that by watching this same video over and over intermittently for a few months, the first 10 minutes. I can now listen past 10 minutes and understand bits and pieces. Like how I understand Spanish after 2 years of a high school class. This is awesome!

[rachelneckar]

My mom came from Oklahoma. She is a mix of Cherokee and Irish with some German thrown in. This part of our heritage has been lost because it was not taught. It caused me to not have a culture and I’m trying to regain my heritage of culture. There are documents that have names in Cherokee that I wish I could pronounce them and reconnect with my great grandpa and my ancestors on that side of the family. Rediscovering this is the best thing anyone could give me! I’m speechless especially since it’s such a beautiful language! ❤ it also speaks to my heart very deeply too! It’s calling me to remember who I am!❤

[Marebearsthere]

I'm just having fun teaching my kids. The last elder that spoke cherokee passed It's been 6 yrs since I could speak to anyone in cherokee. That hurt not even hearing a single word in cherokee. I love all the old cherokee gospel songs God they're good. Now I'm the elder?? Oh weee my family is screwed I have my 1st grandgirl she's learning cherokee so fast I'm so proud. She's my beastie* thanks for doing these Wade and Goodluck everyone. You are officially something extra else!! Now u guys are so for real VIPs

[pmorgaine]

Thank you for this! I am a visual and auditory learner, so this is a blessing.

[sonyaharris]

Being Lumbee and Cherokee im truly appreciative of these lesson opportunities. My family never spoke it but being a christian, God has blessed me with the spiritual tongue of cherokee language. It has amazed my mother, children and church family, as my identity has come full circle.

[DeepSouthHomestead]

Thank you. I just found Donnetta and now you teaching. Dialects from different parts of the country always say a word with A different twist. I bet our ancestors here in Mississippi didn't have the southern drawl we have. I am looking for words to use here at our Homestead where the Houma lived. Part of the Cherokee Nation

[preliator]

Since I was a child I have wanted to learn to speak several languages, to include Cherokee. Indeed I have learned a few, but no language on earth has ever consumed my dreams as Cherokee has. Thank you for making these videos. I am looking forward to the rest of my lessons.

[remedyisrael]

My grandma is Creole and Cherokee and my grandad is Cherokee and I know that my great grandma is full blooded Native American Indian I saw the pictures and it blew my mind !!! I have 2 brothers that have a different father and they are Cherokee as well as I am it’s

[dakotaworkman]

I'm gonna make it through all of the language courses you have. My dad was Mowa and my mom is Cherokee. My dad didn't tell us he knew the language until he left us. I want to learn. For him, my mom, and for my kids. I strive to keep the fire burning and to pass the torch to the future bloodlines.

[TomasAlbuquerqueLemos]

Hey all, I’m starting to learn Cherokee probably for the weirdest reason. I’m from Portugal but I play World of Warcraft for over 17 years and I’ve always played a race called the Taurens which are based of native Americans.

I got so into the whole history of this beautiful people that I’m learning yet another language. Even tho Portugal has an astonishing history.

Cheers all ❤