Sequoyah

Sequoyah

Sequoyah was a Cherokee silversmith who invented the language known as Cherokee Syllabary.

Sequoyah's Cherokee Alphabet

Virtually nothing is known about Sequoyah’s early life. Some historians believe he grew up in Tennessee. He was most likely abandoned by his father, who was thought to have been a fur trader or scout for George Washington. Sometime around 1809, Seqouyah moved to the village of Willstow , Alabama where he established himself as a silversmith. While at Willstown, Sequoyah quickly grew enamored with the written communications used between White settlers. In 1809, Sequoyah decided to create a written Cherokee language. Sequoyah’s Cherokee alphabet took 12 years to complete. He created a system in which each syllable had a specific character (written symbol). In all, his alphabet featured 86 different characters. Sequoyah’s alphabet was quickly adopted by the Cherokee Nation and was made their official language in 1825. From 1828 to 1834, the language was used in the Cherokee Phoenix, the official newspaper of the Cherokee Nation.

Characters from Sequoyah's Alphabet
Characters from Sequoyah's Alphabet
 

Sequoyah eventually endeavored to create a universal language for all Native Americans. Throughout the 1830’s and early 1840’s, Sequoyah traveled throughout North America seeking the support of tribes. He died sometime between 1843 and 1845 while traveling in Mexico.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was Sequoyah inspired to create a written Cherokee language?
  2. What made Sequoyah’s alphabet special?
  3. How did the Cherokee use the alphabet after it was created?
  4. Why do you think Sequoyah wanted to create a language for all Native American tribes?

Who Was Sequoyah?

Sequoyah was a Cherokee silversmith who created the Cherokee syllabary, a written form of the Cherokee language. He most likely grew up in Tennessee and was abandoned by his father, who may have been a fur trader or scout.

Creating the Cherokee Alphabet

Around 1809, Sequoyah moved to Willstown, Alabama. There, he became interested in the writing used by White settlers and decided to create a writing system for the Cherokee language. It took him 12 years to finish. His alphabet had 86 characters, each standing for a different syllable. It became the official language of the Cherokee Nation in 1825.

Using the Alphabet

From 1828 to 1834, the Cherokee used Sequoyah’s alphabet in their newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix. The written language helped unite the Cherokee people and preserve their culture.

Sequoyah’s Later Life

Later, Sequoyah tried to create a common language for all Native American tribes. He traveled across North America looking for support. He died between 1843 and 1845 while in Mexico.

Sequoyah Activities