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Sequoyah Genius

  • Cherokee Language Program Instructor Tom Belt transcribed and translated this passage.
  • Ilvhiyu tsigesv, Sigwoya tsudoida asgaya sgwisda osda nidudvnelv anitsalagi. Atsalagi gesvi. Unvsv uniwonihisdi unigoliyedi dunelv anitsalagi. Uwetsi agehyutsa usdelvhv duhneyonv anitsalagi ayeli dinilawigi. Usgwanigdi uniyelvnv anitsalagi nole dinilawigi. Uhlisda unikusdanv digohweli duwosanv Sigwoya. Uhlisdano unadehlogwav anitsalagi tsunowelodi nole tsunigoliyedi tsalagi gvdi.
  • A long time ago, a man named Sequoyah did good things for the Cherokee people. He was Cherokee himself. He gave the Cherokee people the ability to read their own language. With his daughter, he demonstrated the Cherokee writing system to the Cherokee Nation Council. The Council and the people were astounded. They quickly adopted Sequoyah’s writing and soon almost all the Cherokee people could read and write.