Sequoyahs

Sequoyah, born around 1770 and also known as George Guess or George Gist, was a Cherokee silversmith and linguist who devised the Cherokee syllabary, a writing system for the Cherokee language. His work is often described as a turning point in Cherokee literacy and cultural preservation.

Between 1809 and 1821, Sequoyah developed a set of 85 characters that represent syllables of spoken Cherokee. He created the system largely independently, drawing on adaptations from the English alphabet and his observations of the sounds of Cherokee. The syllabary was rapidly adopted by Cherokee people, aided by demonstrations and support from Cherokee leaders.

By the 1820s, literacy spread quickly within the Cherokee Nation, and the syllabary enabled the translation of religious and governmental texts, as well as the publication of the Cherokee Phoenix, a newspaper founded in 1828. Translations of the Bible and other materials followed, contributing to greater literacy and cultural cohesion among the Cherokee.

Sequoyah's creation helped to preserve the Cherokee language during a period of intense pressure from white settlement and forced removal policies. He traveled to promote the syllabary among Cherokee towns and neighboring tribes; his work earned him lasting recognition as a key figure in Native American linguistics.

Sequoyah died in 1843 in the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma); the exact circumstances of his death are uncertain. His syllabary remains the standard writing system for Cherokee today and is studied and used by the Cherokee Nation and other Cherokee communities around the world.