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Language department outlines teacher training, community classes and tech work; 28 new speaker additions reported
Summary
Wyman Kirk, representing the Cherokee Nation Language Department, reported on June activities including the Teacher Institute of Excellence, summer immersion classes, new community class enrollments (214 initial signups in North Tulsa), digital archives work, and 28 new additions to the speaker roll; he said 286 fluent-speaker surveys are ongoing through September.
Wyman Kirk, speaking for the Cherokee Nation Language Department, detailed June activities and programs aimed at language preservation and teacher training.
Kirk said the Teacher Institute of Excellence functions as a third‑year program for master‑apprentice students and immersive teachers, and that the recent cohort completed an intensive two‑week professional development program. He described a summer immersion program that ran June 1 through the last week of June and said the master‑apprentice group undertook hands‑on activities including gardening, basketry, stickball and field visits to support vocabulary development.
Community language classes expanded in North Tulsa after 214 initial signups, leading the department to create three class sections meeting Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Kirk said the department has begun offering classes tailored to Cherokee Nation departments, including career services, health services and human resources for new employees, and that an at‑large course is planned for Albuquerque and another in Florida.
On technology and archives, Kirk described a digital‑archives collaboration with Cherokee films to preserve unedited recordings, and said the department is working with Google on a read‑along app and with WinHEC on a well‑being model tied to accreditation. He said phase 2 of the accreditation process is complete and the department is preparing to move to phase 3.
Kirk reported 28 new additions to the Cherokee speaker roll and that 286 fluent‑speaker surveys have been conducted; each surveyed speaker received a $250 gift (card or gift) and surveys will continue through the end of September, with data analysis expected by around Nov. 1. He also said speaker services assisted with 13 utility and rental payments and that speaker services currently has 19 active projects, 17 upcoming projects and 32 completed projects.
Councilors asked whether survey data (including living‑condition questions) and speaker‑location mapping would be available; Kirk said the department will integrate new names into a language hub map and make data available after analysis. The committee received the report and asked Kirk to remain available for follow‑up questions.
