Indianz.Com > News > Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation welcomes investments in Native languages
New federal laws will enhance and advance language revitalization
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Cherokee Nation
I am extremely proud that one of the first bills that President Joe Biden signed into law in 2023 was the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act [S.1402]. This law, named after my friend and Cherokee National Treasure Durbin Feeling, will support Native language programs in Cherokee Nation and across the United States. It will boost our momentum to revitalize the Cherokee language that is central to our identity as a tribal nation.
After the U.S. did so much to try and destroy our language and culture, this bipartisan legislation holds the federal government accountable for undoing that damage. It gives the president greater ability to make sure all federal agencies are meeting requirements and coordinating with each other to support Native languages. The act authorizes a federal survey of Native language use and language revitalization programs’ unmet needs every five years. These surveys will allow tribes, like Cherokee Nation, to advise Congress on ways to improve the delivery of federal resources.
Durbin Feeling was the largest contributor to the Cherokee language since Sequoyah, and his unwavering commitment to Cherokee language perpetuation is the foundation upon which Cherokee Nation teaches future generations to honor and carry on Cherokee traditions. He developed hundreds of Cherokee language teaching materials that remain in use by speakers today. Durbin was committed, heart and soul, to these preservation efforts, and his name being attached to this legislation is a fitting honor because it speaks to everything he stood for. It will, no doubt, build upon his legacy to advance the Cherokee language.
Chuck Hoskin Jr.
is the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian
tribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the
Cherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from
1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe’s
Secretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the
Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years.
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