05/28/2026
To my Cherokee community and leadership, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
I come with respect, not anger.
I see many changes happening across our Nation. New buildings, new programs, new ways of teaching and sharing. I know much of it is meant for growth, and I am proud to see our people investing into our future. But I also believe growth should still carry the heartbeat of our ancestors. Sometimes I worry we are moving too fast. Our elders, workers, and speakers carry so much already. When I walk into certain places now, I can feel the heaviness on people. The warmth and smiles that once made our Nation feel comforting seem harder to find. That spirit matters just as much as construction and expansion.
My biggest concern is our language.
Cherokee is sacred. It is not only words. It has rhythm, breath, patience, and feeling behind it. Even those of us who are still learning can feel safety and connection when we hear it spoken with intention. Lately, I have noticed many teachings online feel rushed or forced, almost like we are trying to keep up with social media instead of allowing the language to breathe naturally. I worry younger generations may learn pronunciation without learning the spirit and connection behind it.
I am not saying we should stop teaching publicly. Sharing knowledge is important. But I hope we remember that some things require patience, slowness, listening, and deep care. Our ancestors understood something this modern world forgets. Even Creator made slow beings with purpose. The turtle carries its home and wisdom carefully, never rushing where it does not need to go. It survives storms by staying grounded. The sloth survives not through speed, but through patience, observation, and balance with the world around it. Not everything sacred is meant to move fast.
Sometimes I wonder if our people are being pushed to move quicker than our spirits were meant to. Buildings rise faster, teachings spread faster, conversations shorten, and even our language begins to sound hurried. But Cherokee was never meant to feel rushed. It has a heartbeat to it. A steady rhythm. A feeling. Maybe we need to slow down and listen to our storytellers again. Stories were never “just stories.” They carried teachings, warnings, humor, survival, and remembrance. There is wisdom sitting beside us that many no longer pause long enough to hear.
Our ancestors survived with very little while carrying enormous wisdom. I believe there is value in slowing down enough to hear that wisdom again. Maybe slowing down is not falling behind. Maybe slowing down is remembering. I say this with love for our people, our elders, our speakers, and future generations.
Wado. Hollie DeBord