🍂 Cherokee

Keepers of the Syllabary

Who Are the Cherokee?

The Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ, Tsalagi) are one of the largest Native American nations, with over 400,000 enrolled tribal members across three federally recognized tribes: the Cherokee Nation and United Keetoowah Band in Oklahoma, and the Eastern Band in North Carolina. Originally inhabiting the southeastern United States—present-day Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and surrounding areas—the Cherokee developed a sophisticated society that included a written constitution, newspaper, and the first Native American writing system created by a single individual.

400K+Enrolled Members
1821Syllabary Created
3Federal Tribes
ᏣᎳᎩTsalagi

The Cherokee Syllabary

In 1821, Sequoyah (ᏍᏏᏉᏯ) completed a syllabary—a writing system where each character represents a syllable—for the Cherokee language. Working for over a decade, he created 85 characters representing all Cherokee sounds. Within years, Cherokee literacy rates exceeded those of surrounding European-American populations. The Cherokee Phoenix newspaper, printed in both English and Cherokee syllabary, began in 1828. Today, the syllabary remains in use, taught in schools and appearing on signs throughout Cherokee territory.

The Trail of Tears

Despite Cherokee efforts at "civilization"—adopting European-style government, farming, and even slaveholding—President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. Between 1836-1839, the US military forcibly marched approximately 16,000 Cherokee to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Over 4,000 died from disease, exposure, and starvation on what the Cherokee call Nunna daul Tsuny—"The Trail Where They Cried." A small group hid in the North Carolina mountains, becoming the Eastern Band. The Trail of Tears remains central to Cherokee collective memory.

Cherokee Nation Today

The Cherokee Nation, headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is the largest tribe in the United States. With over $2 billion in annual economic impact, the Nation operates hospitals, schools, housing programs, and businesses. Recent years saw the Nation exercising its treaty right to send a delegate to the US Congress. Language revitalization efforts include immersion schools and digital resources. The Cherokee demonstrate how tribes can build economic and political power while maintaining cultural identity.

Stomp Dance and Ceremony

Traditional Cherokee spirituality centers on maintaining balance with the natural world. Stomp dances, held at ceremonial grounds, bring communities together for all-night dancing around sacred fires. Medicine people maintain knowledge of healing plants and ceremonies. The Green Corn Ceremony celebrates the new corn harvest with fasting, purification, and renewal. While many Cherokee are Christian, traditional practices persist and are experiencing revival, particularly among younger generations seeking connection to ancestral ways.

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