When Marcus Briggs-Cloud began his journey to revitalize the Muskogee language, he realized that a large portion of the lexicon he wanted to revive was no longer viable because the colonial world had evolved so far from his ancestral ways of living. In this conversation, we discover what it takes to return to traditional ways of living, wherein his ancestral language remains relevant. You will hear Maskoke language spoken by members of the Ekvn-Yefolecv, Maskoke Eco-Village, about the incredible efforts they are undertaking to restore not only the Muskogee language but also 2,000 acres of their ancestral lands through regenerative practices.

Learn more about Ekvn-Yefolecv here: https://www.ekvn-yefolecv.org/vlahoke

This project was made possible with funding from the Georgia Humanities Council and Patagonia.

Coosa River Basin Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization in Rome, GA with a mission to protect, preserve, and restore the upper Coosa River basin. To learn more about our work or become a supporter, visit our website at coosa.org or follow us on Facebook @coosariverbasinintiative or Instagram @coosariverbasin

If you have thoughts or questions about the show, send us a message to ⁠downstream@coosa.org⁠. We’d love to hear from you.

This podcast is produced by Brand Red Studios. All episodes were recorded at Darkroot Studios in Rome, GA. Music, Engineering, and Editing by Austen Earp

Special Thanks to:

Brian Campbell

Sandy Meeks

Ryan Simmons

For local historical resources in the upper Coosa River basin:

Chieftains Museum in Rome

New Echota State Historic Site in Calhoun

Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site in Cartersville