In the early 1800's Sequyah, the only man in history of mankind to do so, invented a complete alphabet, without being able to read or write any other language. Sequyah was a great man of letters and also instrumental in always advising the Cherokees in a path of wisdom and tolerance. The removed of the Cherokee occurred in the years of 1838 and 1839 with 4,000 silent graves reaching from the foothills of the Smokey mountains to what is known as the Indian territory in the west and southwest. Covetousness on the part of the White race was the cause of all that the Cherokee had to suffer. The Cherokee today may work where they will and vote in local county and state elections.
Cherokee citizens pay all taxes that ordinary citizens pay.
They make their living in many different walks of life just as other Americans do. Many of the older Cherokee people do not speak what is called the English language. They may understand the language but refuse to speak it . Just last summer 1996 I was informed that in public schools in Oklahoma they are required to teach the Cherokee Language I attended and graduated from high school in Oklahoma. Also, attended one year of College.