The Cherokee are one of the largest Native American tribes, originally from the southeastern United States, particularly in areas that are now Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama. For thousands of years, the Cherokee built thriving towns, farmed the land, and developed a sophisticated society with its own government and customs.

In the 1820s, a Cherokee scholar named Sequoyah created something remarkable: a complete writing system for the Cherokee language. This allowed the Cherokee to publish their own newspaper and write down their laws and stories. Few people in history have single-handedly created an entire writing system.

Tragically, in 1838, the United States government forced the Cherokee to leave their homeland and march over 1,000 miles to what is now Oklahoma. Thousands died during this journey, which the Cherokee call the Trail of Tears. Despite this enormous hardship, the Cherokee Nation survived and continues today, with its own government, schools, and cultural traditions.

Today, there are three federally recognized Cherokee tribes: the Cherokee Nation and United Keetoowah Band in Oklahoma, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. The Cherokee language is still spoken and taught, and the tribes work to preserve their history and traditions while also being part of modern American life.