"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Announces Language Bowl Winners

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Several area schools showed off their knowledge and understanding of the Cherokee language, at the Cherokee Language Bowl held by the tribe recently. Thirty-three teams competed in the annual competition coordinated by Cherokee Nation’s Johnson O’Malley (JOM) program.

“The Cherokee language is important to maintaining our cultural heritage and identity,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Through programs and activities such as the Language Bowl, we are working diligently to teach our future generations our native tongue. The Cherokee language enhances the quality of life of our people.”

The language bowl promotes the study, use and retention of the Cherokee language. The competition is open to schools in the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional area to students in grades K-12 who are eligible to participate in the tribe’s JOM program.

Division I was made up of Kindergarten through second grade. First place winners included: the Cherokee Immersion Beavers and the Belfonte Panthers. Second place was awarded to the Cherokee Immersion Cherokees and the Salina Amohi. Third place went to Vinita Tsiwonisgi and the Collinsville Cardinals.

Grades three through five made up Division II of the competition. First place was awarded to the Cherokee Nation Immersion Wolves, the Gore Red Birds and Salina Amohi. Second place went to the Gore Bob Cats, the Collinsville Cardinals and the Tahlequah Cherokees. Third place teams included the Belfonte Panthers, the Gore Eagles and the Dahlonegah Diniyotli.

In grades six through eight, Division III, first place was awarded to two teams representing the Sequoyah Claremore Eagles and Grove Tawodi. Second place went to the Collinsville Cardinals, the Muldrow Bulldogs and Pryor Cherokees in Action. Third place winners in this division were the Zion Wolf Clan, Gore Wolf and Grove Gotv.

Division IV was made up of grades nine through twelve. First place went to Grove Gigage Unole, Tahlequah Lightening and Sequoyah Sigwaya. Second place teams included the Gore Kool Gang, the Vian Night Hawks and Grove Tsalagi Noquisi. Third place was awarded to the Sequoyah Wind Talkers, the Pryor Lightening Hawks and Warner Aniwohatli.

Cherokee Nation JOM is committed to the mission of encouraging American Indian student achievements and challenges students to excel academically, culturally and creatively.

School districts contract Cherokee Nation JOM services through cooperative efforts between Indian education committees and school administrations. The program provides school items to eligible students, supplemental services for staff, educational materials, cultural resources and equipment.

For more information about the Cherokee Nation JOM program or Language Bowl, please call 918-453-5144.