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Tahlequah, OK - On April 17, 18, and 19 the Cherokee Heritage Center will host the Pan-American Indian Humanities Center Conference. The Pan-American Indian Humanities Center (PAIHC) was established last year in Chickasha, Oklahoma at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. It serves as a center for Native Americans who have or are starting different native college level courses. For instance, the Cherokee Heritage Center hosts the Cherokee Clemente Course where students learn about Cherokee history, culture, and language and also receive credit for college.

In Alaska, Yupiks have a course covering Yupik culture, history and language. There are Mayan humanities classes in Mexico where students learn Mayan dialects, philosophy and culture. Native American educators and leaders established the Pan-American Indian Humanities Center to provide a system of communication and information for each other as well as for others who may want to start up more indigenous humanity classes.

This year the council members of the PAIHC will hold their conference at the Cherokee Heritage Center on April 17, 18, and 19. They will have their meetings in the Council House in the Tsa-La-Gi Ancient Village during the day. There will also be two events open and free to the public. Writer Simon Ortiz will have a poetry reading and book signing at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at the Iguana Café. On Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Complex O-Si-Yo Classroom PAIHC Council members, including Mayan scholar Alejandra Garcia, will engage the public in a discussion over native relationships with the land.

If you have any further questions please contact Anne Woodward, PAIHC Conference Coordinator, at the Cherokee Heritage Center, phone: 918-456-6007 or call toll free, 888-999-6007. For online information send email to: info@cherokeeheritage.org and visit the Cherokee Heritage site.