Topic – Traditional Cherokee Leadership
Ꭷ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ wahde galisgewi or Ryan Mackey is a Cherokee Citizen and graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Native American Studies Program. His emphasis was in Law, Policy and Education. Ryan has worked for the Cherokee Nation for thirteen years. He was a Cultural and Community Specialist for Cherokee Nation’s Cultural Resource Center and in that capacity, he taught Community and Employee Language Classes, as well as doing cultural presentations for local and At Large Cherokee Communities. He was a teacher in the Cherokee Nation’s Language Immersion Charter School and did Cultural Outreach for Cherokee Nation’s Community and Cultural Outreach program across the US as a History and Cultural specialist. His family and community are strong guiding factors in his life. Ryan’s son attended the Cherokee Nation’s Language Immersion Charter School. His driving passion is the perpetuation of the Cherokee Language and Life ways and will complete his Master’s degree in TESOL Curriculum and Instruction focusing on second language acquisition from KU this spring. He serves as a Spiritual or Ceremonial Leader in his traditional community, in that language and cultural identity are his foundation. ᎣᏏᏳ