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Traditional Land Loss

  • Cherokee Language Program Instructor Tom Belt transcribed and translated this passage.
  • Aya disgwu digwadanta digwehisdaneho yagwadantehla vsgina nusda kali igihe gadoi. Aniyunega nigada unigisohnv. Nigalsdohdi adela dalonige unihwatvhei. Dohiyu agigihlvsgo yagwadanta sgina nusda nindunvnelv. Anitsalagi tsiduniwohihlitanvi. Hale nigatsoyiho, gatsoyihowale hilv iya sgina yagwadantelv.
  • My heart hurts when I think of all the land we had. The kind of land we lived it and how much they took because of gold and it is painful to me what they were forced to do when they were moved. It almost makes me cry, and I do cry when I think of it, sometimes.