Cherokee Nation Hosts Event Aimed To Preserve Indigenous Languages

Indigenous language warriors from around the world say their language is their identity and their identity is their everything.

The Cherokee Nation says there was once 350 Indigenous languages spoken in what would become the United States. Now there are only 115 languages.  

"It's the chain that links us to our past, it's what binds us together today, and if that chain is unbroken, it's what links us to the future," said Chief Hoskin Jr.

Chief Hoskin said the world isn't whole without celebrating all its peoples.

Today through Friday is all about fostering meaningful discussions to grow speakers of Native languages.

Chief Hoskin said if this project is successful in its efforts the impact will be significant. 

"If we are successful over the course of the next decade, we will bring healing in a very meaningful way to a world that is sorely in need of it," said Chief Hoskin Jr. 

Cherokee Nation Language director Howard Paden said his goal is the same, to see a significant jump in the number of fluent speakers.

"Over the next decade, that we quadruple the mouth of Indigenous people that are actually building speakers," said Paden.  

He said the way to reach this goal is through events like this, to speak with other native people and to learn new methods. 

"Instead of us using, you know, forty-fifty years of trial and error to try to figure out how to save a language…we may borrow some information," said Paden.