TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation leaders and Cherokee language speakers joined representatives of Kiwa Digital Ltd. to unveil the new Cherokee Language Dictionary app during a celebration at Durbin Feeling Language Center in Tahlequah on Tuesday.
“Every Cherokee family, no matter where they live, can now carry this resource in their pocket,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “This app represents our sovereignty, our knowledge, and our commitment to keeping the Cherokee language strong for generations to come.”
The late Cherokee speaker Durbin Feeling finished the first Cherokee Language Dictionary 50 years ago, making revitalization of the language possible and learning more accessible. In 2025, the Cherokee Nation partnered with Kiwa Digital Ltd. to digitize the Durbin Feeling dictionary into a new mobile app, accessible to anyone for download.
Team members from Kiwa Digital Ltd. travelled internationally to attend the launch party and celebrate with the tribe this week. Kiwa Digital Ltd. specializes in language and dictionary app creation, with a focus on preserving Indigenous languages that are at risk. Chief Hoskin first announced the partnership and new app during his State of the Nation Address at this year’s Cherokee National Holiday.
“Chief Hoskin and I have always said that it is critical we not only protect and save the Cherokee language, but that we perpetuate the language so that it continues to grow within our Cherokee families and communities,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “We can harness the power of technology to help us teach others how to speak Cherokee, and the Cherokee language dictionary app is a great resource.”
Available on iPhone in the App Store and Android in the Google Play Store, the Cherokee Language Dictionary App currently includes translations of over 6,000 Cherokee words, along with audio recordings, grammar notes, phonetics and syllabary, as well as biographical information on Cherokee first-language speakers. Cherokee Nation’s language translators are working with Kiwa’s team to add new words and phrases continuously to the app.
“In just a few months, Kiwa Digital took what we have documented of our language and made it accessible to our citizens. Their efforts will prevent the erosion of our language from continuing and empower us to revitalize and normalize this language in our communities. Our goal is to get at least 25,000 to 50,000 words on the app in order to have a more comprehensive overview of the language,” said Howard Paden, Executive Director of the Cherokee Language Department.
Other features of the app including advanced search, pronunciation tools, and a private AI learning assistant. All data is housed on a secure AWS platform, ensuring the resource is both sovereignty-protected and infinitely expandable.
During Tuesday’s celebration, the tribe invited those who use the app to contribute feedback and help shape the app’s continued evolution. Feedback can be provided through the app itself.
“As an Indigenous-owned company from Aotearoa New Zealand, we are honored to support the Cherokee Nation in developing this groundbreaking digital resource. We look forward to Cherokee community feedback to help this treasured resource grow in impact and value,” said Jill Tattersall, Executive Director of Kiwa Digital.
In October 2025, the Cherokee Nation held its Seventh Annual First-Language Cherokee Speakers Gathering to honor Cherokee language speakers and celebrate the tribe’s recent advances in sustaining the Cherokee language. During the gathering, Chief Hoskin directed $2.3 million from the tribe’s Public Health and Wellness Fund Act to support the Language Department’s Peer Recovery Program, a new home care program for fluent speaking elders in vulnerable health status, more funds for Speaker Services home repair program and continued support of Little Cherokee Seeds, a partner program operated by the American Indian Resource Center.
Under the historic Durbin Feeling Act of 2019, created by Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner with support of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, the tribe has made the largest language investment in Cherokee history – his year providing a budget of nearly $25 million for the department’s language efforts. The Durbin Feeling Act now provides more than $20 million annually for Cherokee Nation’s language program and has meant over $68 million in language capital projects so far.
New policies within the Cherokee Nation workforce are also encouraging employees to pursue Cherokee language proficiency. Under the new initiative, the tribe is encouraging employees to learn the Cherokee language, with entry level second-language learners receiving a 50-cent-per-hour increase and a $200 bonus when qualifying under the program’s guidelines. Additional levels will be available for more advanced language learners, and the tribe will reward its fluent Cherokee speakers with a $2.50-per-hour increase along with a $1,000 bonus.