Hastings Shade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hastings Shade
|
|
|---|---|
Shade speaking at Cherokee National Holiday, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 2001
|
|
| Cherokee Nation leader | |
| Preceded by | Garland Eagle |
| Succeeded by | Joe Grayson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 20, 1941 Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | February 9, 2010 (aged 68) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Resting place | Keener Cemetery, Lost City, Oklahoma |
| Spouse | Loretta Shade |
| Relations | Sequoyah |
| Children | Larry, Thomas, and Ronald |
| Parents | Tom and Leanna (Stopp) Shade |
| Known for | Traditional knowledge |
Hastings Shade (born May 20, 1941 – died February 9, 2010) was an important leader of the Cherokee Nation. He was known for his traditional Cherokee ways, his art, and for speaking the Cherokee language perfectly.
Contents
Early Life and Roots
Hastings Shade was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on May 20, 1941. His parents were Tom and Leanna Stopp Shade.
A Cherokee National Treasure
Hastings Shade was named a Cherokee National Treasure in 1991. This honor recognized his deep knowledge of Cherokee traditions. He was especially known for making Cherokee marbles by hand.
He was the only person known to make these special marbles, called gadayosdi. He carefully shaped them from limestone. Each marble was about the size of a billiards ball. He also made fishing and frog gigs, which are tools for catching fish or frogs. Collectors often looked for his handmade gigs.
Serving as Deputy Chief
Shade served as the deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1999 to 2003. He worked alongside Principal Chief Chad Smith. During his time in office, he played a key role in developing programs for the Cherokee language. He especially helped create language immersion programs for school children. These programs helped young people learn to speak Cherokee fluently.
Personal Life and Legacy
Hastings Shade was considered a full-blood Cherokee. He was also a sixth-generation descendant of Sequoyah. Sequoyah was famous for inventing the Cherokee syllabary, which is a writing system for the Cherokee language.
Hastings was married to Loretta Shade. She was also a master speaker of the Cherokee language. They lived together in Lost City, Oklahoma, near Hulbert, Oklahoma. Hastings Shade passed away on February 9, 2010, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Chad Smith, the Principal Chief, said that Hastings was a true gentleman and a teacher. He was deeply connected to Cherokee language and thought.
Published Works
- Shade, Hastings. Myths, Legends, and Old Sayings. Self-published, 1994.
- Cowan, Agnes; Loretta Shade; Hastings Shade; Agnes Louise Clark; and Jane B. Noble. Cherokee–English Language Reference Book. Welling: Cross-Cultural Education Center Inc., 1995.
