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E.U.C.H.E.E. Language Preservation |
 Euchee children surrounding elder Maggie Marsey during class activity.
Organization: E.U.C.H.E.E.
Year: 1996-Present
Tribe: Euchee
Location: Sapulpa, OK
The Euchee (also, known as Yuchi) are a small band originally from the southeast in Georgia. When they were forcibly removed to Sapulpa, OK, the US Government placed them under the Muskogee Creek Nation.
The Euchee language is unique. It is considered to be an isolated language by experts, meaning it did not derive from any other language or cultural group.
Beginning with approximately ten fluent speakers, a number that has now dwindled to five, local Euchee tribal members formed the Euchees United Cultural, Historical and Educational Effort (E.U.C.H.E.E.) by organizing children's language classes, cultural lessons, and CD-ROM recordings of elders speaking the language.
Running Strong supports EUCHEE’s efforts to teach the Euchee culture to the younger community members through grants that provide general support for their efforts.
REMEMBERING EUCHEE ELDER MAGGIE MARSEY (June 2008)
Running Strong would like to remember and honor Euchee elder Maggie Cumsey Marsey who passed on May 15, 2008.
Maggie's many achievements during her long lifetime included:
• being a gifted speaker of the Euchee language and one of the last women to speak in the old way
• promoting the language in many different ways including teaching classes, doing translations, and allowing herself to be recorded for posterity
• contributing to an ongoing effort to create a Euchee language dictionary
In 1997, Maggie Marsey was recognized by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights for her language work.
She [Maggie Marsey] was always helpful and an inspiration to all of us. She will be deeply missed. Although Maggie has gone on to a better place, she will always be with us in our hearts and memories that each of us share with her. Maggie, zA n@ feg@ nÔ ya, we will not forget you.
-Euchee Language Project June Newsletter
Read the Full Memorial for Maggie Marsey.
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