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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation has entered into a partnership with IBM to use IBM’s translation software to increase literacy in the Cherokee language. As part of the agreement, IBM will provide the Cherokee Nation with computers and software that will help translate both historical and contemporary documents.

Before this important alliance, three language instructors at the Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center translated documents by hand, a long process that didn’t allow the translators to complete all the work that needed to be done.

"Under this new system, we can preserve translated documents, translate Cherokee on a daily basis and define and catalogue Cherokee words", said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

"We’ve got to teach the computer Cherokee first", said Hastings Shade, noted Cherokee linguist and Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "The computer is only as smart as we teach it to be."

IBM Corporation approved a Cherokee Nation Education Corporation (CNEC) proposal made on behalf of the Cherokee Nation and granted the Nation $5,577.00 in equipment.

This equipment includes two desktop computers with software called Translation Manager and Translexis. Translation Manager will translate both historical and contemporary Cherokee documents, and Translexis will help create a Cherokee database for an electronic Cherokee Dictionary. Cherokee language instructors will take a laptop computer with Translation Manager to Cherokee communities for data collection.

"It's proven that students with two languages understand both languages better, they are more creative, can better solve complex problems, and they score higher on standardized tests", Smith said. "Adults with more than one language make more money, can communicate better, and keep stronger cultural interests than those with only one language."

The Cherokee language has existed for thousands of years and it has continued because of its ability to adapt. Just as Cherokee was the first written American Indian language, it is only fitting that Cherokee become the first language to have computer translation.