The sitelen pona glyph is derived from the Mi'kmaq hieroglyphs, according to Sonja Lang in 2021.[1] It is unknown, however, which hieroglyph it originated from.
According to Lang, "esun was told [to her] by a taxi driver who spoke a language from the Akan family in West Africa". Many have posited that it comes from Akanedwamu(“market”). Previously thought to be from Acadian Frenchéchange(“exchange”).