Cherokee Facts for Kids
The Cherokee are a Native American tribe who originally lived in the southeastern region of the United States. They have a rich history and culture that is still celebrated today. Here are some fun facts about the Cherokee that even kids will enjoy!
1. The Cherokee called themselves Tsalagi (pronounced cha-la-gee).
2. The Cherokee people were skilled farmers and hunters. They grew crops such as corn, beans, and squash.
3. Sequoyah, a Cherokee man, invented the Cherokee writing system, which is still used today to write the Cherokee language.
4. The Cherokee had a written constitution before the United States did. The Cherokee Nation adopted its first constitution in 1827.
5. The Cherokee Nation has its own government and laws, and its citizens have their own passports.
6. The Cherokee were forced to leave their homes in the 1830s and walk thousands of miles westward to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in a journey known as the Trail of Tears.
7. Today, the Cherokee Nation has more than 300,000 citizens and is the largest Native American tribe in the United States.
8. The Cherokee use many natural medicines and remedies, such as tea made from the purple coneflower to treat colds and flu.
9. The Cherokee celebrate a number of cultural festivals throughout the year, including the Cherokee National Holiday in September and the Cherokee Indian Fair in October.
10. The Cherokee have a rich tradition of storytelling, which is still passed down from generation to generation. Many of their legends and myths are still told today.