There are five civilized tribes: Chickasaw, Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Seminole. The Cherokee, along with other tribes, were forced from their native lands in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. This removal occurred from the early 1800s to the late 1800s. The removal placed them in Indian Territory, the area that is now Oklahoma. The Cherokee were relocated to the northeastern part of present-day Oklahoma. Their capital was Park Hill, near what is now Tahlequah. The man known as Sequoyah and his mother, Wuh-Teh, were among the thousands of Cherokees who were forced from their homeland. These tribes had a rich and colorful history. This story was mainly passed down orally, because there was no written language. Sequoyah changed the situation for the Cherokee people. He single-handedly provided the means to make the Cherokee a literate people. For this reason, Sequoyah was one of the most influential Native Americans in history. Sequoyah was born around 1776 in Tuskegee, Tennessee. His English name was George Guess. From the beginning, his life was a bit scandalous. He lived with his mother in a house where only Cherokee was spoken. His name is said to be a form of the Cherokee word for pig. This Cherokee word is Sikwa. This may be a reference to the lameness and cane we see in Sequoyah's images. Family ties are very important for natives. His mother's side of the family was considered a strong line and he was proud of it. Wut-teh, Sequoyah's mother, had a brother, John Watts or Young Tassel, and they were the granddaughter of Old Tassel and Doublehead. Sequoyah's father was a German immigrant and was also named George. His father was not around during h... middle of paper... the bands of Cherokee who had gone to Mexico in wartime. He and his son participated in this expedition. It was during this time that Sequoyah died. His grave is marked near Eagle Pass, Texas. Sequoyah was a great visionary and a great Native American. He gave his people a gift that will continue to give forever. “The Sequoyah primer and a timeline complete the package.” (Bash, Margaret A.) He lived a life full of hardship and fought against the illiteracy of his people. He is truly one of history's remarkable and noteworthy Native Americans. Work Cited Bash, Margaret A. "Sequoyah, the Cherokee Man Who Gave Writing to His People." Horn 2004: n. page Print.Conley, Robert J. Sequoyah. New York: Martin's, 2002. Print.Oppenheim, Joanne. Sequoyah. NJ: Troll Associates, 1979. Print.Spider. Gilbertson, James, 2012. Web. 8 November. 2013