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2009

LaFollette, Tennessee

Taking it Home!

September 26, 2009 - LaFollette, Tennessee

Fellow Street Painter Jeanie Burns and I were invited to LaFollette, Tennessee to participate in their first annual Street Painting festival.
We were encouraged to chalk someone of Tennessee history so I chose Sequoyah (ᏍᏏᏉᏯ Ssiquoya, as he signed his name, or ᏎᏉᏯ Se-quo-ya, as his name is often spelled today in Cherokee) Named in English George Gist or George Guess, was a Cherokee silversmith. In 1821 he completed his independent creation of a Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible. This was the only time in recorded history that a member of a non-literate people independently created an effective writing system. After seeing its worth, the people of the Cherokee Nation rapidly began to use his syllabary and officially adopted it in 1825. Their literacy rate quickly surpassed that of surrounding European-American settlers.
I had also created a flyer with Sequoyah's history and some photos to pass out to to all of the folks that came despite the rain. Click on the the above graphic to view/download the PDF file.
ᏍᏏᏉᏯ Ssiquoya

Sequoyah never learned to read or write English, but while in Georgia he became captivated by whiteman's ability to communicate by making marks on paper and reading from "talking leaves." He began work on developing a Cherokee writing system in 1809. During the war, he became convinced he was on the right path. Unlike white soldiers, he did not write letters home and could not read military orders.

After the war Sequoyah began in earnest to create symbols that would make words. He and his daughter, Ayoka, played games using the symbols. He became obsessed with developing a new Cherokee alphabet writing system because he knew it would help his people. Sequoyah became a recluse in his obsession to perfect the writing system. He endured constant ridicule by friends and even family members, who said he was insane or practicing witchcraft.

Sequoyah moved west to Arkansas and continued his work. Finally, after twelve years of labor, ridicule and abuse he finally reduced the complex language into 86 symbols, each representing a unique sound of Cherokee speech. In 1821, after a demonstration of the system to amazed tribal elders, the Cherokee Nation adopted his alphabet, now called a 'syllabary'.

In 1824 the Cherokee National Council at New Echota, Georgia, honored him with a silver medal, which he proudly wore for the rest of his life, and later with an annuity of $300, which his widow continued to receive after his death.

By 1825, the Bible and numerous religious hymns and pamphlets, educational materials and legal documents and books of every description were translated into the Cherokee language.

In 1827, the Cherokee National Council appropriated funds to print the first Indian newspaper published in the United States.

HUGE THANKS to Manuel and Dana Mesa for their hospitality!