The Cree and Cherokee syllabary systems were designed by gifted amateurs, such as Sequoyah, who received no funding or significant institutional support. Although he had influential kinsmen in his matrilineage, his project encountered active, widespread opposition from his contemporaries prior to its validation in 1821. Sequoyah found it necessary…

Since the early nineteenth century, scholars have marveled at the unlettered Cherokee native named Sequoyah--or Sikwaya--and also known as John Guess--or Guest or Gist--who, unassisted, developed a medium for the written expression of the Cherokee language that was uniquely appropriate to the peculiarities of the spoken language. There is much…

Walter D. Edmunds created convincing characters of the Iroquois without pretending to know them. Carl Carmer was less interested in digging for the truth about Indians than in writing a story. Edmund Wilson perceived the Iroquois world view intuitively in his writing, overcoming any obstacle to get at the truth. (Author/LC)