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Dr. Julia Coates, CN History course instructor, teaching in a recent session.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation history course has been selected as one of sixteen finalists for the American Indian Tribal Governance Awards presented by Harvard University.

The Cherokee Nation history course is presented to Cherokee Nation employees and community members to teach them about Cherokee history, culture, and government. This forty-hour course teaches through lectures, discussion, videos, case exercises, and role-playing.

"We believe that the teaching of Cherokee history to the Cherokee people can achieve the same results as the teaching of American history to the American public - enhanced sense of nationality and patriotism, and a strong sense of pride and identity", said Julia Coates, Cherokee Nation history course instructor.

The Cherokee Nation history course, taught from a curriculum originally developed by Principal Chief Chad Smith, competed against eighty other applications that were submitted for the American Indian Tribal Governance Awards.

The award is administered by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The award spotlights innovative initiatives by tribes to help tribal members and their communities. The award honors, identifies, celebrates and shares information about exemplary tribal government programs among the more than 550 Indian nations in the United States. Since the program's inception three years ago, the Harvard Project has recognized 32 tribal government programs and initiatives.

"More than ever, it is critical to draw attention to success stories in tribal governance", said Oren Lyons, chief of the Onondaga Indian Nation and chairman of the Honoring Nations advisory board. "In the face of a full frontal attack on Indian sovereignty in the courts, these exemplary programs provide compelling evidence that Indian nations can and do use their powers of self-government to make a positive difference for their own citizens and for all Americans."

This is the first time the Cherokee Nation has submitted an entry to the award program at Harvard University.

All sixteen finalists will make presentations to the public and the Honoring Nations advisory board On June 18, in Bismarck, North Dakota. The finalist will be judged on effectiveness, significance, transferability, creativity, and sustainability of the project. Judges will then select eight programs to receive "high honors" and $10,000 to share their success story with others.