Native American Studies Initiative
Cherokee Language Program
Beginning fall 2024, Duke will launch its first American Indian language program with the establishment of a Cherokee Language course series.
This course series will span four semesters for learners who wish to gain greater proficiency and knowledge of the Cherokee language. It will be primarily offered online and include several in-person sessions at Duke University as well as a field trip to Cherokee, NC for more immersive learning opportunities. This series will satisfy Trinity’s Foreign Language (FL) requirement.
These courses will be taught by Gilliam Jackson, citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who resides in Snowbird, North Carolina. A fluent speaker, Mr. Jackson began teaching sixth grade and has since taught at UNC-Asheville and Stanford University. Early in his professional career, he realized the need to preserve the history, language, and culture of his isolated community. He has recorded audio and video of several oral histories of the Snowbird Community near Robbinsville, NC. Listen to his comments here.
