The Cherokee Syllabary / ??? ???? ????: An Illustrated Key to the Cherokee Language / Tsalagi Digoweli Tsunoyvgi

by Brad Wagnon, Beth Anderson (Artist)

Overview

The Cherokee Syllabary: An Illustrated Key to the Cherokee Language is a tool for parents and educators to introduce Cherokee children to the syllabary of their native language. Adults as well can appreciate the simplicity of the format to help become familiar with their Native speech.

On each page spread, there is a beautiful illustration of a syllabary character, a Cherokee word that contains the character, how to pronounce the word in Cherokee, and the word in English. Along the bottom of a page is a row of syllabary characters and their pronunciation.

The concept for the illustrations was influenced by medieval illuminated manuscripts. The intent is to allow people of all ages to learn, appreciate and celebrate the historic Cherokee language that was created in written form by Sequoyah in 1891. This book is a valuable resource for schools and libraries by adding multicultural diversity to their classrooms and collections.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570674228
Publisher:	Book Publishing Company
Publication date:	06/25/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Brad Wagnon, author, and storyteller is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He taught Cherokee history, culture, and language at Tahlequah High School for ten years. Brad has a degree from Northeastern State University in Criminal Justice and Native American Studies. Brad works for Cherokee Nation Emergency Management as the Community Preparedness Coordinator. He has a passion for sharing Cherokee History and Culture with future generations and has authored four Cherokee children’s books based on traditional Cherokee stories: How the World Was Made: A Cherokee Story, The Land of the Great Turtles, and The First Fire: A Cherokee Story. Brad lives in Gideon, OK with his wife Tanya and right next door to his mom on the same property where he grew up.

Beth Anderson is a Cherokee Nation citizen and a contemporary visual artist. Her work is influenced by her culture, her love of materials and handmade objects, and her relationship with nature. Beth holds a BFA in sculpture from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and is certified by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO). She is a member of the US Department of Interior’s Indian Arts and Crafts Board and is a board member and the Social Media Chair of the Southeastern Indian Artists Association. Beth currently lives in Upstate New York.