Update - Kituwah Cultural Class For Children

On Monday, 4 June 2012 our local library sponsored a class for children about Native culture.  Our good friends George Stopp and his son Kindle graciously accepted an invitation to speak to the class.  About 75 people attended the event (not bad considering we live in a very rural community) .

George is Chief of the Long Valley Kituwah Town in Chewey, Oklahoma.  George is also a Cherokee language teacher at Tulsa Community College and from time to time teaches language classes for the United Kituwah Band and Cherokee Nation. 

They started the class with a Cherokee introduction and translation into English.  The children were asked what animals they see the most.  It was no surprise when they responded with cow, horse etc.  They really enjoyed it when George's response was "Wa ga and So gui li (Cherokee words for cow and horse).  As you can imagine this got the children going and soon George was filling their minds with Cherokee words for numerous animals. 

One of the children asked about the word for cat and George said "we sa."  So far they had learned several Cherokee words that were simple.  That is when George decided to ask if they knew what a monkey was.  Their eyes went wide and mouths opened when they heard a da li s gi yi s gi.  What happened to the short version.

Next George and Kindle showed the class several items such as the dresses that women wear, shells for shaking, rattles for songs and  a drum.  This was followed by a couple of songs and a few stories.  

The demonstration was well received.  Many of the parents came forward and thanked George and Kindle for the teaching.  One woman even asked if she could attend a ceremony at the grounds in Chewey, Oklahoma.  George gave her the directions and times of the month that the ceremonies are held.

We would like to thank George and Kindle again for their committment to the old Kituwah ways.  As well as thank them for coming over and helping others to understand a little more about Cherokee culture.

Yona

Note:  If anyone would like to know more about the monthly ceremonies at Long Valley Kituwah Town please email the project at info@medicineabgproject.com.