Most Native American groups, including the Cherokees, did not have a system of writing. But the Cherokees saw how important writing was in other American cultures, so they learned to read and write in English. They also created a Cherokee alphabet so they could read and write in their own language.
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The Cherokee Alphabet
In this video, you will learn how a Cherokee man named Sequoyah created the Cherokee alphabet. As you watch, think about how this alphabet was an important tool that the Cherokees used to preserve parts of their own culture while assimilating parts of American culture, including the English language.
Click on the left to watch the video.
How did Sequoyah's Cherokee alphabet change the Cherokee way of life?