An Act
Legislative Act #10-91
Title
ACT RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRIBAL POLICY FCR THE PROMOTION AND PRESERVATICN OF CHEROKEE LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND CULTURE
Body
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION: Section I. Application and Purpose.
The purpose of this Act is to provide for promotion and preservation of Cherokee language, history and culture. It will be commonly referred to as the Cherokee Nation Language and Cultural Preservation Act. This Act is in recognition that the survival of a people is dependent upon their capacity to preserve and protect their culture and language. This Act further promotes the acculturation of tribal youth through education about their history, language and culture and establishes tribal policy for the promotion and preservation of the Cherokee language and culture.
Section II. Establishment of the Official Language.
The Cherokee Nation does hereby officially establish both Cherokee and English as official languages for the tribe. The encouraged use of these languages is as follows:
A. Tribal Government. Any tribal member may speak in Cherokee or
English in communicating with tribal government with regard to any programs or services provided. Any tribal member may use either Cherokee or English languages to communicate with the tribal council in any officially called meeting of the council on any occasion on which said person may be recognized to speak.
B. Translation Services. In any situation in which translation into
English is deemed necessary or appropriate for persons using Cherokee language as defined in "A" above, translation services may be provided.
Section III. Language Maintenance.
It shall be the policy of Cherokee Nation to take the leadership to maintain and preserve the Cherokee language as a living language. Such efforts shall include but not be limited to:
A. Efforts to involve tribal members to the greatest extent possible
in instruction in Cherokee language.
B. Establishment of a permanent Cherokee L...
Click here for full text