Hastings Shade

Hastings Shade (May 20, 1941 – February 9, 2010[1]) was a former deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation.[2] He was a traditionalist, artist, and master level fluent speaker of the Cherokee language.[3]

Hastings Shade
Shade speaking at Cherokee National Holiday, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 2001
Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation
In office
1999–2003
Preceded byGarland Eagle
Succeeded byJoe Grayson
Personal details
Born(1941-05-20)May 20, 1941
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedFebruary 9, 2010(2010-02-09) (aged 68)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Resting placeKeener Cemetery, Lost City, Oklahoma
SpouseLoretta Shade
RelationsSequoyah
ChildrenLarry, Thomas, and Ronald
Parent(s)Tom and Leanna (Stopp) Shade

Background

Hastings Shade was born on May 20, 1941, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.[4] His parents were Tom and Leanna Stopp Shade.[1]

Traditional artist

Hastings Shade was declared a Cherokee National Treasure in 1991 for his extensive traditional knowledge, particularly his ability to make Cherokee marbles by hand.[5] He was the only known maker of Cherokee marbles (gadayosdi). He painstakingly fashioned the balls from limestone and they are about the size of a billiards ball.[6]

He also made fishing and frog gigs that are sought after by collectors.[5]

Deputy Chief

Shade served one term as deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation, from 1999 to 2003, with Chad Smith.[7] In an unusual political move, Shade ran independently for deputy chief in 2003 but did not win the election. During his time in office, he helped develop the Cherokee Nation's language programs, specially the Cherokee language immersion programs for school children.[8]

Personal

Shade was considered a fullblood Cherokee. However, since he was a sixth-generation descendant of Sequoyah, the inventor of the Cherokee syllabary, he no doubt had a degree of European ancestry, as Sequoyah himself was not a full blood Cherokee. Hastings was married to Loretta Shade, also a master level fluent speaker of the Cherokee language. Together they lived in Lost City, outside of Hulbert, Oklahoma.[7] Shade died on February 9, 2010, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[4] "He foremost was a gentleman and a traditionalist who was fluent in Cherokee language and conversant in Cherokee thought. He was a teacher," said Chad Smith.[1]

Published works
  • Shade, Hastings. Myths, Legends, and Old Sayings. Self-published, 1994. ASIN B0006RH39I
  • 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. ASIN B00182V8YQ.

References
  1. "Former Deputy Principal Hastings Shade Passes." Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine Cherokee Nation. (retrieved 10 Feb 2010)
  2. Tamar Alexia Fleishman. "Hastings Shade: Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation". Bankrate.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09.
  3. Mary Pierpoint (March 2001). "Hastings Shade keeps the Cherokee culture alive: Learning and sharing was his way of life". Indian Country Today (Lakota Times).
  4. "Hastings Shade 1941-2010." Muskogee Phoenix. 11 Feb 2010 (retrieved 13 Feb 2010)
  5. Nation Treasures. Archived 2009-11-15 at the Wayback Machine Cherokee Arts and Humanities Council. (retrieved 13 July 2009)
  6. Fauntleroy, Gussie. Tradition! Arts and Crafts Revived. Native Peoples Magazine. 1 Dec 2005 (retrieved 13 July 2009)
  7. Conley, Robert J. A Cherokee encyclopedia. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2007: 214-215. ISBN 978-0-8263-3951-5. (retrieved through Google Books, 13 July 2009)
  8. Fields, J.A.F. Assessing the Impact of Total Immersion on Cherokee Language: A Culturally Responsive, Participatory Approach. Page 8 (retrieved 13 July 2009
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