How a Cherokee silversmith created the only Native American writing system still used today

The Sequoyah Syllabary Creation

Sequoyah spent twelve years working on what many thought was impossible.

The Cherokee had no written language, so he invented one. His syllabary had 85 characters, each representing a sound in Cherokee speech.

By 1824, the Cherokee Nation had a constitution written in their script.

Here’s the story, and how you can explore this achievement at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Oklahoma.

A Silversmith Observes Talking Leaves

Sequoyah was born between 1770 and 1778 in Tennessee. He worked making silver items, which put him in regular contact with white settlers.

He grew curious about the Cherokee tribe’s “talking leaves”, papers with writing used to send messages far away.

Though Sequoyah spoke only Cherokee and couldn’t read or write any language, he knew they needed their own writing system.

The War That Reinforced His Vision

Sequoyah joined the Cherokee Regiment during the Creek War of 1813-1814.

While fighting alongside American soldiers, he saw they could write home, something the Cherokee warriors couldn’t do.

This clear disadvantage stuck with Sequoyah. He wanted to give his people the same communication power other groups had.

After the war ended, he returned home more determined than ever to create a way for Cherokee people to write.

Experimental Years With Logographic Symbols

After the war, Sequoyah settled in Willstown, Alabama (now Fort Payne) where he focused on creating Cherokee writing.

His first attempt tried to create a unique symbol for every Cherokee word. He soon realized this approach would require a lot of learning.

He spent several years drawing and testing the word symbols. Though this method failed, it was an important step in his progress.

Facing Accusations of Witchcraft

Sequoyah became so focused on his writing system that it affected his personal duties at home and on the farm. His neighbors grew worried.

Many thought he had gone crazy. Some accused him of witchcraft. His frustrated wife reportedly burned some of his early work.

Despite this pressure, Sequoyah kept working. He believed deeply in the importance of his project even when no one else did.

Breakthrough With a Syllabic Approach

After years of trial and error, Sequoyah made a crucial discovery.

Instead of treating each word as a whole, he broke Cherokee speech into its basic sound patterns.

He found that the Cherokee used about 85 distinct syllables.

For each of these sound units, he created a symbol, adapting letters he had seen in English, Greek, and Hebrew writing.

This approach worked much better than his earlier word-based system. With only 85 symbols to learn, the system became practical for everyday use.

Six-Year-Old Ahyoka Becomes First Student

In 1821, Sequoyah taught his new writing system to his six-year-old daughter, Ahyoka. She quickly learned to read and write using the Cherokee symbols.

Ahyoka became the first person besides Sequoyah to use the syllabary. Her success showed that others could learn the system too.

Next, Sequoyah taught his brother-in-law to read and write Cherokee. They proved his system worked for real communication between people.

Proving the Syllabary’s Power

When Sequoyah showed his writing system in 1821, tribal leaders doubted it. Many believed writing was impossible for the Cherokee.

As detailed in The Genius of Sequoyah exhibit, Sequoyah demonstrated his syllabary in front of the town chief with his daughter Ayoka.

The leaders said a word, and Sequoyah wrote it down. When Ahyoka returned and correctly read the written word, the leaders were amazed.

This simple demonstration proved Sequoyah’s system truly worked.

A Nation Embraces Literacy

News about Sequoyah’s invention spread quickly through Cherokee territory.

People traveled long distances to learn the syllabary. The Cherokee Nation officially adopted the writing system in 1825.

The Cherokee National Council honored Sequoyah with a silver medal in 1824 which praised his “ingenuity in the invention of the Cherokee Alphabet.”

Birth of the Cherokee Phoenix Newspaper

The Cherokee Nation started the Cherokee Phoenix in 1828.

Printed in both Cherokee and English, it was the first Native American newspaper that came from New Echota, Georgia.

Elias Boudinot served as editor, with help from missionary Samuel Worcester who created the Cherokee printing type.

The newspaper shared tribal news, laws, and cultural information, helping unite the Cherokee during increasing pressure from white settlers.

Unprecedented Literacy Rates

Cherokee people quickly embraced Sequoyah’s writing system. People could master it in weeks instead of years.

Thousands of Cherokees learned to read and write in their native language. By the 1830s, about 90 percent could read and write.

This was higher than the literacy rate of nearby white communities.

The system was easier to learn than English because each symbol matched directly to a Cherokee sound.

Visiting Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Tennessee

You’ll find the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum at 576 Highway 360 in Vonore, Tennessee.

The museum belongs to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and offers engaging exhibits about Sequoyah and Cherokee culture.

Inside, you can watch informative videos and explore interactive displays showcasing the syllabary creation. Outside, walk the 1.5-mile Max D. Ramsey Shoreline Trail along Tellico Lake with its bridges and boardwalks.

The museum has a gift shop where you can buy Cherokee crafts and books.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

• England’s Failed Utopian Experiment Survives as a Victorian Time Capsule in Rural Tennessee
• The Mississippi River Flowed Backwards in 1811, Creating This Strange Lake in Tennessee
• The Cherokee Nation’s Final Council Meetings Happened at This Tennessee Park in 1837