DuckstersDucksters
History Biography Geography Science Games

Biography

Sequoyah

History >> Native Americans >> Biographies


Sequoyah by Unknown
Biography:

Where did Sequoyah grow up?

Sequoyah grew up as a member of the Cherokee people in eastern Tennessee. His father was a white man who Sequoyah never knew. He was raised by his Cherokee mother, Wuteh, who ran a trading post. Growing up, Sequoyah didn't go to school and only spoke Cherokee. He spent his time helping his mother by tending to the garden and working with the livestock.

Becoming a Metalworker

At some point in Sequoyah's life he became lame and couldn't help much with farming or hunting. As a result, he taught himself how to work with metal. He made jewelry out of silver and tools out of iron. He spent much of his adult life working as a metalworker.

Learning About Writing

As a metalworker, Sequoyah spent a fair amount of time working with white people. He learned that they had a way of communicating across distances called writing. They would draw symbols on paper that conveyed messages. Sequoyah decided that he would create a way to write down the Cherokee language. His friends and fellow Cherokee laughed at him and thought this was a silly idea.

How to Write Cherokee

Sequoyah began to draw up a symbol for each word in the Cherokee language. He wrote them down on wooden slats. He spent a year doing nothing but making up new symbols. His neighbors thought he was crazy. Eventually, Sequoyah realized that there were too many symbols. This method of writing wasn't going to work. He tried to think of another way.

A Syllabary

Sequoyah then began to make a symbol for each syllable in the Cherokee language. He created 85 characters that each represented a different syllable. A syllabary is a little different from an alphabet in that the characters typically represent the sound of a consonant followed by a vowel sound. For example, one symbol represented the sound "go" and another the sound "ga."

Convincing Others

When Sequoyah told his fellow Cherokee what he had invented, they did not believe him. He didn't know what to do to convince them, so he taught his young daughter how to read using his new type of writing. He then held a meeting with some Cherokee leaders. With his daughter out of earshot, he asked each of the leaders to say a word which he wrote down. Then he had his daughter come into the meeting and read the words. The leaders were amazed.

Sequoyah continued to tell people about his writing. He began to teach adults how to read and write. Soon people all across the Cherokee nation were learning his new letters. They began to publish newspapers and books.

Later Life and Death

Sequoyah spent most of his later life in Arkansas and Oklahoma where he worked as a blacksmith and taught people his syllabary. He also dreamed of seeing the reunification of the Cherokee Nation which had scattered across much of the country. He even traveled to Washington D.C. to negotiate a treaty regarding Indian Territory.

In 1843, Sequoyah died while traveling to meet up with some Cherokee bands in Mexico. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown.

Interesting Facts about Sequoyah Activities

  • Listen to a recorded reading of this page:



    • For more Native American history:

    Culture and Overview
    Agriculture and Food
    Native American Art
    American Indian homes and Dwellings
    Homes: The Teepee, Longhouse, and Pueblo
    Native American Clothing
    Entertainment
    Roles of Women and Men
    Social Structure
    Life as a Child
    Religion
    Mythology and Legends
    Glossary and Terms

    History and Events
    Timeline of Native American History
    King Philips War
    French and Indian War
    Battle of Little Bighorn
    Trail of Tears
    Wounded Knee Massacre
    Indian Reservations
    Civil Rights

    		 Tribes
    Tribes and Regions
    Apache Tribe
    Blackfoot
    Cherokee Tribe
    Cheyenne Tribe
    Chickasaw
    Cree
    Inuit
    Iroquois Indians
    Navajo Nation
    Nez Perce
    Osage Nation
    Pueblo
    Seminole
    Sioux Nation

    		 People
    Famous Native Americans
    Crazy Horse
    Geronimo
    Chief Joseph
    Sacagawea
    Sitting Bull
    Sequoyah
    Squanto
    Maria Tallchief
    Tecumseh
    Jim Thorpe
    Works Cited



    History >> Native Americans >> Biographies


    Ducksters Footer Gif with Ducks


    About Ducksters Privacy Policy 

     

    This site is a product of TSI (Technological Solutions, Inc.), Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use.