SCC to present screenings of Cherokee language documentary

by Mar 11, 2016COMMUNITY sgadugi0 comments

 

Dr. Walt Wolfram, executive producer of First Language: The Race to Save Cherokee, will be at SCC for screenings of the documentary on March 28-29.  (Photo by Daniel Kim)

Dr. Walt Wolfram, executive producer of First Language: The Race to Save Cherokee, will be at SCC for screenings of the documentary on March 28-29. (Photo by Daniel Kim)

SYLVA – The Native American MENtoring Program (NAMP) at Southwestern Community College will present screenings of the award winning documentary “First Language: The Race to Save Cherokee” later this month.

The first of these is set for noon-1:30pm on Monday, March 28 at SCC’s Macon Campus. It will then be shown from 12:30-2pm on Tuesday, March 29, at the college’s Jackson Campus.

The screenings will be hosted by Dr. Walt Wolfram, executive producer of the documentary and The William Friday Distinguished Professor of English Linguistics at N.C. State University.

“The producers of ‘First Language’ developed the documentary to help preserve the Cherokee language and to serve as a cultural legacy. The documentary describes the importance of sustaining the worldview, culture and way of life that the Cherokee language represents,” said Dr. Mark Ellison, director of Student Support Services at SCC. “We are fortunate Dr. Wolfram is hosting the screenings and will provide additional insight on the impact and importance of these efforts.”

The screenings are open to students, faculty, staff, and the public. Lunch will be provided.

Register online at https://bit.ly/1ouvG0Z or email m_ellison@southwesterncc.edu.

“The Native American MENtoring Program is a new resource at Southwestern that provides mentoring for Native American men enrolled at Southwestern with the goal of increasing persistence, graduation and transfer rates of participants,” said Earle Dixon, assistant coordinator and coach of NAMP.  “NAMP also offers mentor shadowing, informal social activities, natural history trips, Cherokee history and educational programs, community service, and hiking and canoeing adventures.”

Info: Dr. Ellison (828) 339-4229

– SCC