"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokees Announce Language Bowl Winners

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation recently held the Cherokee Language Bowl, where several area schools had the opportunity to show off their knowledge of the Cherokee language.

“The Cherokee Nation has come a long way in the revitalization of our language,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “The Cherokee Language Bowl proves that our children are not only learning to speak the language but are becoming very proud of it.”

The language bowl is intended to promote the study, the use and the retention of the Cherokee language by JOM students enrolled in schools served by the Cherokee Nation. The competition is open to schools in the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional area. Students in grades K-12 with a tribal citizenship card are eligible to participate.

Division one included grades kindergarten through second grade. The following teams placed first: the Belfonte Panther Cubs, Muldrow and the Grove Red Feather team. The Cherokee Nation Immersion Tigers placed second in division one. Third place winners in this division include the Gore Black Ravens and the Osage Rabbits.

Division two was made up of third through fifth graders. First-place winners include: the Gore A-ni-sa-ho-ni team, the Gore Wa-ya team and the Gore To-tsu-wa team. Second-place winners in division two were the Belfonte Panthers, the Collinsville Cardinals and the Grove No-qui-si team. Division two third-place winners included: the Osage Eagles, the Grove A-ni-to-tsu-wa team and the Osage Wolves.

Grades sixth through eighth made up the third division. First-place winners included: the Grove Gi-ga-ge Ta-wa-di team, Muldrow and the Grove Gi-ga-ge Go-tv team. Second-place winners in division three were the Osage girls, the Collinsville Cardinals and the Dahlonegah Phoenix. Third-place winners included: the Gore A-ni-gi-lo-hi team, the Keys Tsu-li A-ni-yv-wi-ya team and the Keys I team.

Division four was made up of ninth through twelve graders. First-place winners included: the Sequoyah A-gi-yo-si team, the Sequoyah Natives and the Sequoyah Stompers. Second-place was awarded to the Vian Nighthawks, the Jay Snaglicious team and the Gore A-ni-tsa-la-gi team. Third-place teams included: Muldrow, the Warner A-tlv-quo-dv A-ni-gi-du-wa-ga team and the Westville 1 team.

The Cherokee Nation congratulates all of the teams and sponsors that participated.