Newspaper: Cherokee Nations Weekly Newspaper
THE OFFICIAL CHEROKEE NATIONS WEEKLY NEWSPAPER – EXTREMELY SCARCE
CHEROKEE PHOENIX, AND INDIANS’ ADVOCATE. New Echota (Georgia) September 28, 1833. Vol. 5. – No. 32. CHEROKEE NATION, PROPRIETOR, EDITED BY ELIJAH HICKS. NEW ECHOTA, CHEROKEE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28. 1933. “Printed Weekly. At $2.50 if paid in advance, $3.00 in six months, or $3.50 if paid at the end of the year” Articles include those on religion from the Chinese Repository “EARLY INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO CHINA”; Speech of the Hon. Isaac V. Bates, Representative from Massachusetts, Delivered In The House of Representatives, On The Bill For The Removal Of The Indians. May 19, 1833; an article FROM ARKANSAS reprinted from the Independent Citizen; Miscellaneous news; runaway slave notices along with foreign news from Mexico, Portugal, plus a variety of other subjects. The emphasis of the paper was “to address issues which Indians across the United States and its territories faced related to assimilation and removal from their traditional homelands.” The papers editor Elijah Hicks, was opposed to removal, but due to the actions of the federal government and lack of financial resources, the last issue of the paper was printed at New Echota on May 31, 1834.
The Cherokee Phoenix is the first newspaper published by Native Americans in the United States, with sections being in the Cherokee language. The first issue was February 21, 1828 and it continued until 1834 as an effort to keep members of the Cherokee Nation united and informed. the newspaper was printed “partly with English, and partly with Cherokee print; and all matter which is common interest will be given in both languages in parallel columns.” using the Cherokee syllabary which Sequoyah had developed in 1821.
“Included were printed tribal laws, official notices, news articles, prayers, and historical descriptions in Cherokee and English. The Cherokee Phoenix was published during a time of increasing tensions between the Cherokee Nation and the United States, tensions that were exacerbated by the discovery of gold in the Cherokee lands in the state of Georgia. Articles on the land dispute between the Cherokee Nation and Georgia and on Cherokee relations with the United States were prominent. Editorials and reports from tribal representatives, commenting on statements and legislation proposed by politicians outside the Nation, appeared regularly.”
A very rare opportunity to purchase a very scarce and important Native American newspaper. 20 x 13 inches. 4 pgs. 5 columns. Minor foxing and toning throughout, but overall in vg cond.
Sources: Library of Congress; James P. Pate – The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture; Wikipedia.