An ancient name for an ancient river
The first 3 symbols form the Cherokee word pronounced DuGa Si for Turtle – referring to the little reptile which we know as the box turtle. The ending syllable Yi means “place of”, which explains why so many locations in our region end with this sound: Tennessee, Cullowhee, Hiawsee. Can you think of others?
The 85-character Cherokee alphabet is actually called a syllabrary because each letter has the specific sound of single syllable. You can learn more about the language and download the font set to write documents using the actual Cherokee symbols. website.
Jerry Wolf, a respected Cherokee Elder, gave us this small lesson in the Cherokee language. For years, he has been the play-by-play announcer at Cherokee stickball games. I first met him when he was the coach of the newly revitalized Cherokee Women’s Stickball Team. He now works at the Cherokee Museum and travels far and wide as a spokesman for the tribe.
— RBC
“Tuckasegee River”
in Cherokee:
DuGa Si Yi
“Place or River of the Turtle”
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