Phoenix first Native paper

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The first Native American newspaper, The Cherokee Phoenix, began publishing in New Echota, GA., in 1828. It was produced in both English and Cherokee, using the 86-character Cherokee alphabet developed by Sequoyah, a Cherokee silversmith.

They first issue included parts of the tribal constitution, verses from the Gospel of Matthew and detailed essays on the Cherokee language. It also covered events about neighboring tribes, national issues and the U.S. Congress.

Simultaneous with the birth of the paper were discussions in Congress about moving the Cherokees west. Editor Elias Boudinot initially editorialized avidly against the move.

But two major events led to the move west, which became known as the Trail of Tears. Georgia state government ruled the laws within the Cherokee Nation void and it was given no legal protection from aggressive gold miners within its homeland.

Conflicts over gold fever escalated and in February 1831, Boudinot declared the laws of the state oppressive for the Cherokees. Printer John F. Wheeler was arrested shortly after that and imprisoned for aiding the Cherokees.

Boudinet and many other Cherokees concluded their cause was lost and he changed his editorial position to support the move west. But Cherokee Chief John Ross forbid him to write articles supporting the move and Boudinot resigned in 1832. The paper fell into debt and the last issue was published in 1834.

During the recent NAJA convention, a plaque was presented to the Georgia State Historical Society to commemorate the establishment of the Cherokee Phoenix.