Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – The name of Mary “Meli” Rae may seem familiar to all those who have taken Cherokee online language courses with Ed Fields in recent years.
Rae, who attends each class of Cherokee 1 to 3, helps the fields and learners of the language by providing resource ties, translating and helping questions during lessons.
“You have a wonderful teacher, but there is also a student who lived it on the English side,” said Rae de Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, said. “You know what it looks like from an English point of view. You know what they think. It's just great to be part of the encouragement. Students are the best.”
Rae, who was 73, started studying Cherokee in the early 1960s. After graduating in Spanish from the University of Boston and studied Russian, Rae wanted to learn Cherokee.
“Cherokee was so different. It was just different from any other class of language or any class of any kind. Ed was so nice and so welcoming for everyone,” she said. “With Ed, you are somehow inside the language because it teaches from the point of view of the Cherokee speaker, rather than from a linguistic point of view. It is therefore a very great opportunity.”
Like the other students, Rae started in the Cherokee 1 class in Fields. From there, she continued at Cherokee 2 then 3. The fields then encouraged Rae to repeat the lessons and continue to learn.
As she continued her trip, Fields suggested that she pass a Cherokee language test for Cherokee Nation employees, then the certified Cherokee language instructor test. Rae succeeded in the two tests.
“I thought that if Ed believes in me, then I may be able to pass,” she said. “I'm very proud of it.”
While immersing themselves in the language, Rae and Fields wrote “Voying Into Cherokee: Help and encouragement to learn the Cherokee language”.
“He asked me to write this. I never dreamed of doing something like that with him,” she said. “It was to encourage students, give useful advice and help people overcome the type of mental dams they have.”
Rae also worked in the creation of learning modules for digital archives of the persistence of indigenous languages, which was created by Ellen Cushman. Cushman is a former Fields student and professor at the Northeastern University in Boston.
“It is a digital collection of writings, letters, social documents by Cherokee … and now they have audio recordings,” she said. “It's really exciting for me … and I hope to help other learners and be good listening opportunities for everyone.”
As for new learners, Rae suggests finding ways to incorporate the Cherkee language into their lives by connecting the language to their interests.
“If they like to go fishing, find the vocabulary of fishing … and you can make part of your life,” she said.
While the Cherokee nation estimates that there are 2,000 speakers of first -language Cherkee, Rae said that it was important “for everyone to do what they can”.
“It is very important for everyone to do what they can. In all honesty, not too long, Cherokee speakers will be learners in the second language, “she said. “So, take advantage of everything you have now and be able to learn with someone like Ed, who is a Cherokee speaker, is a privilege. And I like to contribute in any way possible.”
If learners need help, Rae encourages people to contact her on Facebook.
“I will answer questions, share resources. I just want to encourage everyone because it's just a beautiful beautiful language, “she said.
Publisher's note: Rae is not a citizen of Cherokee Nation but has devoted about 10 years to learn the Cherokee language and help learners from the Cherokee language.
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