Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Sequoyah's Pen

  • Cherokee Language Program Instructor Tom Belt transcribed and translated this passage.
  • Digowelododi gvdi ulenvhv gowelisgv Sigwoya. Kamama tsiganohilidoho iyusdi degowelv duwowelanvi. Asesgino kanoheda diganotsala goweli unadulvhv tsalagi ayeli dinilawigi. Disonasdodi digoweli dunadanvsv Boston, Massachusetts iyv. Unalenvhv danowelisgv diganotsala Tsalagi ayeli, Tsalagi Tsulehisanvhi dudovi. Tsalagi gvdi digoweli usoyasdv vsgi goweli.
  • Sequoyah started out writing with a pen. His syllables/his writing looked like a butterfly flying. But the Council wanted a newspaper in the Cherokee language. So the Cherokee Council ordered lead type from Boston and the Cherokee Nation began to print the Cherokee Phoenix, a newspaper with Cherokee language writing.