Kay Henderson Quotations

You'll hear people season their conversation with it, ... They won't just have a whole conversation in Cherokee - though some of our elders will - but other times, people will just throw in phrases in order to be able to express themselves the way they're thinking.

Kathy is a fluent Cherokee speaker, ... So she makes sure that we're accurate on pronunciation and things like that.

It was a surprise, ... We knew we were going to Washington, D.C., to take part in the First Americans Festival at the opening of the National Museum for the American Indian, with the Smithsonian, but we did not know that we had been invited to sing at the White House until we were already in Washington. So that was pretty exciting.

They bring a letter stating that they're a student in good standing, ... and then they come in and they sing for us. They do not have to sing in Cherokee, they just need to sing.

They were really a shining example, ... We had a great time.

They're always interested in stories, ... and we have basket-making days and cultural days where we make some of the different arts and crafts. We make baskets and we try to give those wherever we go.

They're role models in their communities, ... These kids, I would take 'em anywhere. They've got so much to share.

The primary goal of the choir is to rekindle interest in the language, ... The kids are interested in the Cherokee language and when we go on trips, we use a glossary of words that are in the songs and practice using them while we travel.

I'm not seeing an immediate shortage of teachers or available space, but as we roll this out, we are going to constantly have to be on top of available space and teachers.

They are kids, ... and they like to have a good time. But they take what they do very seriously.