Cherokee Language Course to Be Offered On Campus as Part of Indigenous Studies Program

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Lawrence Panther

Lawrence Panther will be teaching the Cherokee language at the U of A this fall.

Cherokee I, offered through the Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures (WLLC 398V-002), will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:05 to 6:20 p.m. in room 210 of Kimpel Hall.

Seats are still available, and the course can be taken to fulfill a requirement for the Indigenous Studies minor.

"This is a historic moment for the Indigenous Studies Program and the U of A, reminding all of the Cherokee and Indigenous presence in Arkansas," said Sean Teuton, a Cherokee Nation citizen and scholar, and the director of the Indigenous Studies Program.

"We're very grateful and excited as the Indigenous Studies Program continues to grow! Wado, wado, (Thank you), Mr. Panther!"

Panther, who also teaches the Cherokee language at Stilwell High School in Oklahoma, will be teaching university students how to read, write and speak Cherokee, and he said that he is looking forward to being on campus.

"I am certainly excited to teach Cherokee at the U of A, ulihelisda (grateful)!" Panther said.

Cherokee II will also be offered in spring of 2022. Reading fluency will be one of the goals for those students completing the course's second semester.

Hopefully, Panther will also be able to offer Cherokee III on campus by fall of 2022.

For more information about the Indigenous Studies Program, e-mail steuton@uark.edu.