At a nearly four-hour Nov. 3 Cherokee Language Program work session at the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council House, participants and leadership agreed to address structural issues in adult learning, including understaffing that has led to rampant burnout and long instructional hours that have limited time for language improvement. But the core problems exposed during public comment — trust, accountability, leadership, and method — remained largely unaddressed.
EBCI Human Resources Division Secretary Sarah Teesateskie unveiled a draft adult program reorganization chart that would eliminate three of seven advanced linguist apprentice positions in both the Cherokee Apprenticeship Language Master Learning Program (CLMAP) and Dadiwonisi in Snowbird in exchange for a fourth “floater” adult language educator.