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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Forty residents of Tahlequah and surrounding communities have completed the first Cherokee Nation History Course, which concluded on December 20. Initially designed as a thirteen-week course, the sessions were extended to fifteen at the request of the participants. As part of the Cherokee Nation’s new initiatives to rejuvenate knowledge of Cherokee history, language and culture, the course provides an overview of the history of the Cherokee people and nation from the earliest stories of migration through the present day.

Course participants Dave and Ann Perrin, who had recently returned to Oklahoma, took the class to learn more about the history of Cherokee County and the area. The Perrins, managers of Camp Egan, stated that they were especially fascinated "by the pre-European life of the Cherokee family, culture, and society; the organizational and constitutional changes before the Trail of Tears; the economic and educational Cherokee ‘Golden Age’ before the Civil War; and the ‘Dark Ages’ during the early 1900s."

Both Principal Chief Chad Smith and Deputy Chief Hastings Shade made repeated visits to the course as guest speakers to share their perspectives and respond to questions.

A variety of community people participated in the course, including a home school student, an NSU staff member, a retired professor, and employees of the Tahlequah Public Schools. The course was open to both Cherokee and non-Cherokee community members, and participants came from as far away as Henryetta and Ft. Smith to attend. Nellie Hunt, a member of the United Keetoowah Band, participated along with her daughter and granddaughter.

"Three generations of us really enjoyed it," Hunt said. "I understood a lot more about what I’d been reading. It was great; it really made a difference. I think everyone should take it."

Participant Evie Wolf Wyatt, who also attended with family members, felt that the course "answered questions my family has had for many years." Wyatt concurred with the goals of the course, as well, stating, "Our children deserve their true history and this heritage must be available to all generations to come. The sense of pride and fulfillment these classes give to us is priceless!"

Each participant also received a certificate of completion from the Cherokee Nation.

Two new sessions of the Cherokee Nation History Course will begin in mid-January. The first Muskogee community course will meet on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 PM, beginning January 16 and continuing through April 10. Julia Coates, Staff Development Officer for the Cherokee Nation, who also taught the Tahlequah course, will teach this session. In addition, a repeat of the course will be offered in Tahlequah on Thursday evenings from 6-9 PM, beginning January 18 and continuing through April 12, taught by Diane Hammons, Director of Justice for the Cherokee Nation. All community members are invited to participate in these free courses.

For more information, or to register for either course, call Julia Coates, phone: 918-0456-0671 (ext.2389). But you may have to get in line behind the Perrins, who stated, "We would like to take the course again so we could understand more about what is happening today and what might happen in the future!"