The Cherokee

The Cherokee are one of the largest Native American nations in the United States. They originally lived in the southeastern part of the country. The Cherokee are known for their strong government, rich traditions, and for creating their own written language. Today, the Cherokee Nation is based in Oklahoma.

The Cherokee Syllabary

In the 1820s, a Cherokee man named Sequoyah created a writing system for the Cherokee language. It has 85 symbols, and each one stands for a syllable. Within a few years, most Cherokee people could read and write in their own language. The Cherokee even published their own newspaper called the Cherokee Phoenix.

Cherokee History and Culture

The Cherokee had a well-organized government with laws and courts long before Europeans arrived. They lived in log houses and farmed corn, beans, and squash. In the 1830s, the Cherokee were forced to walk to Oklahoma on a journey called the Trail of Tears. Today, the Cherokee Nation has over 400,000 members and works to preserve its language and culture.

Fun Facts

• Sequoyah is the only person in history known to have created an entire writing system by himself.
• The Cherokee Phoenix, started in 1828, was the first Native American newspaper.
• The Cherokee Nation is the largest tribal nation in the United States.

Did You Know?

The giant sequoia trees in California are named after Sequoyah, the Cherokee man who invented the Cherokee writing system. His achievement was so admired that scientists honored him this way!