“The Night of Gadugi” highlights the cultural summer school
By SCOTT MCKIE BP
One-feather staff
Cherokee culture and language were showcased at “Night of Gadugi” at Cherokee Central Schools on the evening of Monday, June 13. The event included art exhibits and performances by students who have completed the Cherokee Cultural Summer School program.
Kylexandra Pheasant, a third-grade student at Cherokee Elementary School, poses next to some of the Cherokee pottery pieces he made during Cultural Summer School. It is featured at the “Night of Gadugi” event held at Cherokee Central Schools on the evening of Monday, June 13. (SCOTT MCKIE BP/One Feather photos)
“The goal of the program is to integrate language and traditional craftsmanship, craftsmanship and to put our children, members of our community with elders who are master craftspeople and also educators,” said Catcuce Tiger , Cherokee language teacher at Cherokee Central Schools. “It’s a great way to raise awareness and come full circle – with the language, the culture, the foods, with anything that shows the vibrant culture of the Cherokee.”
Tiger noted that the program is for students in grades 1 through 12.e to note. A total of 140 students were accepted into this year’s program which lasted just over two weeks. Students selected their favorite topics from a list of 12 courses to take during the program.
“It’s a lot of work every year, but it’s good,” Tiger said. “When you see all of that in there, all of those people, the community, coming together, the kids laughing and smiling and showing off the things they’ve done, it’s worth it. That’s why we’re doing it.
Cultural Summer School students perform the Cherokee Bear Dance during the ‘Night of Gadugi’ event.
Butch Goings, an elder from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, taught soapstone carving during the program. Speaking about how he approaches teaching students, he noted, “I told them, have in your mind what you think it looks like. I think they are doing very well being so young.
Laura Pinnix, Director of Cherokee Language at Cherokee Central Schools, commented, “If I were to speak for myself, I would say keeping Cherokee crafts and arts alive; that’s what I want to do. We incorporate a lot of the Cherokee language into how we do it. That’s really our goal.
She added: ‘Primarily to maintain the arts and the language – that’s really the point… that these crafts and the language don’t die.’
The following people served as staff for the event:
Illustrated by: Shawnee Bark, Kaitlyn Parker, Carrah Swimmer, Sherry Wachacha
Basketry: Louise Goings, Sheri Cornelius, Nellie Jones, Diane Driver
Beadwork: Gail Panther, Kasey Crowe, Mary Maney, Martha Ledford
Dolls: Jessica Robertson, Jessica Santos, Rebecca Swayney
Food: Mr. Galloway, Crissy Lambert, Nakoa Chiltoskie-Warrington, Shakyra Bottchenbaugh
Bottles: Chelsea Ingram, Jilinda Hill, Pam Bryson, Kitty Taylor
Indigenous Literature: Virginia Hill, Trina Thomason, Melissa Williams, Jaime Lossiah
Native plants: Isaiah Ganilla, Natalie Grant, Scott Lambert, Blanca Forester
Taytem Saunooke Basketry Display
Pottery: Dean Reed, Lynn Swearengin, Dorine George, Rachel Slee
Puckertoe Loafers: Bernice Bottchenbaugh, Lori Reed, Trent Winchester, Richie Bottchenbaugh
Soapstone sculpture: Butch Goings, Jacqueline Rattler, John Tooni, Hayley Keever
Traditional clothing: Tamara Kelly, Raeline McMillan, Brittany Moore, Taleika Hill