The first newspaper in a Native American language was published in 1828
Before colonization, Native American languages were transmitted only through oral communication. After Europeans arrived, many tribes adopted writing systems. Sequoyah, who was a member of the Cherokee Nation, spent 12 years developing a certain writing system that his people might learn to read and write in their language.
He completed his 86-character syllabary in 1821. “There are so many syllabaries, out of which the Japanese “hiragana” is the most famous one.” as Dr. Ellen Cushman, a member of the Cherokee Nation and professor at Northeastern University, explained. “Cherokee is probably the only one that was invented by a Native person, for Native people.”
Given that the syllabary was made to represent a specific sound that can only be found in the Cherokee language, it was very easy for them to learn. “Within a span of three to five years, the tribe could easily read and write,” Cushman added.
On February 21, 1828, one of the first editions of the Cherokee Phoenix was published in New Echota, Georgia, which was the Cherokee capital. Also, it was the first bilingual newspaper in the U.S., printed both in English and Cherokee.
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Looking forward to more information .History taught never much of any facts of actual history,facts marred in time.
Short paragraphs but loaded with precise facts .Very inspiring and informative.
What’s interesting to me, where did the ‘native’ Americans come from. If we complete a more intense historical search, the ‘native’ American came from Filipino islands which really complicate the ‘American’ claim. When tracing historical facts, we should not stop searching when we get the results we’re looking for. History requires accuracy to the historical beginning. When a complete line of heritage is gone because a ‘wacko’ kills them all, that doesn’t change historical facts!
It was very interesting would enjoy reading more about this as my mother was native American
My maternal grandmother was a Onondaga Iroquois. I learned a lot of my Indian heritage from my grandfather. I am proud to be part of this history. Thank you for this history lesson.
This is deeply disturbing. Many of us don’t think to reeducate ourselves. Our history that is taught in school is all lies. I am Iriquois, from the northern NY state into Canada’s Quebec providence. My great great great grandmother was full blooded Iriquois, Seneca. I am proud of that and I respect all the tribes.
Good one!
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