Snowbird Language Program Assists Second Language Learners

Cassidy Galaviz, who lives in Snowbird and has learned Cherokee by participating in his community's language program, recited "Trees," the famous poem by Joyce Kilmer, at the 75th Anniversary of the Joyce Kilmer National Memorial Forest in Graham County. First you will hear the author's granddaughter, Miriam Kilmer, recite a line from the poem in English, followed by Cassidy Galaviz repeating the line in Cherokee.

Shirley Oswalt grew up in the Snowbird community with Cherokee as her first language. She now shares her knowledge of the language with local adults and children in one of the Cherokee language revitalization efforts developed within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Language learning in Snowbird comes in two forms.  There are beginning and intermediate level evening classes for adults, and there is a summer language camp where children and youth ages seven to 15 speak Cherokee while playing traditional games and making Cherokee crafts. Cherokee Preservation Foundation has supported these community-based programs in partnership with the Museum of the Cherokee Indian for several years as a way to help achieve the goal of saving the mother tongue from extinction as elders pass away. While there is growing interest in “second language learning,” offerings are limited because there are few fluent speakers able to teach the highly complex communication form based on an 85-character syllabary, each of which has a different sound.

Oswalt sees significant progress in the proficiency of local language learners, evidenced in part by the growth of conversational Cherokee as well as a new, widespread sense of pride in using the language. “It’s not just teaching them Cherokee language,” Oswalt said. “It’s teaching them who they are.”

One of her students is Cassidy Galaviz.  He quarterbacks the Robbinsville High School football team, runs track, and says he is as comfortable reading Cherokee now as he is reading English.  At the recent 75th Anniversary of the Joyce Kilmer National Memorial Forest, Galaviz was invited to recite in Cherokee the famous poem “Trees,” written by Joyce Kilmer a century ago.   Listen to the audio file on this page, and first you will hear Miriam Kilmer, the poet’s granddaughter, recite a line in English, followed by Galaviz, who says the line in Cherokee.

Oswalt is proud of her students and thrilled when they tell her they are coming back to take her jobs after they finish their educations. Oswalt said, laughing. “That’s my goal in life,” said Oswalt.  “I want to have them come back and teach the Cherokee language so it will live on.”