The home site of one of history’s most famous Cherokees is going to his tribe.
Cherokee Nation is buying Sequoyah’s Cabin near Sallisaw from the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Sequoyah is credited with developing the written Cherokee alphabet, which was completed in the 1820s. Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff Chuck Hoskin said that caused literacy rates to soar.
"We've always been firm and great believers in education, and this syllabary only enhanced that and gave our people an opportunity not only to survive, but to thrive in modern civilization," Hoskin said.
State budget cuts totaling 40 percent over the past eight years have left the historical society unable to manage and maintain the site.
Hoskin said it’s a perfect agreement.
"We're glad to get it back. The historical society and the state are glad to see it go to the Cherokee Nation, who they know will maintain it and care for it not only now, but into the future," Hoskin said.
Oklahoma Historical Society Director Bob Blackburn said even though the society can’t afford to manage the site anymore, there’s a larger benefit to the sale.
"Since 1902, when the Cherokees were forced to enter into the federal agreement to allot the lands in severalty, the Cherokee Nation and people have been losing land," Blackburn said. "This is one way that we can return a little bit of their patrimony, some of their land base, back to the Cherokee people."
Oklahoma Historical Society acquired the site in 1936. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
