Remembering Chickasaw Tribal Elder Jerry Imotichey

Earlier this month Here & Now visited the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma — a center not only for culture and history, but also the preservation and revitalization of the critically endangered Chickasaw language.

Among the 30 or so remaining native speakers we met was Jerry Imotichey. He grew up speaking Chickasaw, and called the language and culture his “soul.”

Imotichey died on Friday, and his wake will be held this evening. Here & Now‘s Robin Young checks in with Joshua Hinson, director of the Department of Chickasaw Language, about Imotichey’s legacy among the Chickasaw.

Guest

Joshua Hinson, director of the Chickasaw Nation’s Department of Language. He tweets @lokosh_saya. The Chickasaw nation tweets @ChickasawNation. The Chickasaw Cultural Center tweets@ChickasawCCC. Chickasaw Language tweets @Chikashshanompa.

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