The Burch Seminar in the Cherokee Nation at UNC-Chapel Hill is unique program and a first of its kind in the nation. It provides students with an experiential and interdisciplinary introduction to Cherokee culture, language, history, and literature. The five-week program stretches across the Cherokee experience both spatially—from North Carolina to Oklahoma—and historically—considering the emergence of Cherokee people from Etowah Mound to the three federally-recognized nations that are one of the largest continuously sovereign peoples of this continent.

In addition to the academic coursework, students will be able to witness to the revitalization of the Cherokee Nation through its government, leadership, cultural institutions, artistic movements, and religion. Students can also experience life in a modern Indian town, where they will have ample opportunity to interact with Cherokee students as well as Cherokee residents of the community and to participate in cultural activities such as Cherokee marbles, stickball, and the stomp dance. Students will have an opportunity to visit historic sites and locations of contemporary challenges the Cherokee Nation tribal headquarters and meet with former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller.

The program will be led by Professor Malinda Maynor-Lowery (Department of History): mmaynor@email.unc.edu. You can read about last year’s program at http://college.unc.edu/features/october2009/article.2009-10-01.6848313987
Information about this year's program is available at http://cherokeestudyabroad.wordpress.com.

We are accepting applications for undergraduate and graduate students from universities other than UNC to participate in this unique program. Please email Malinda Maynor Lowery (mmaynor@email.unc.edu) for more information.