Nanye’hi and the Power of Oral History | Finding Your Roots

Learn the story of Nanye’hi, a beloved figure in Cherokee history–celebrated as both a warrior and a stateswoman. Nanye’hi held a powerful political role within her tribe, and eventually led negotiations with the U.S. government in the hopes of retaining her people’s land. Throughout her life, she worked towards peace between her people and the United States.

Through this often untold story, students examine and discuss how stories of women are passed down via oral family history and offer both a different perspective of Indigenous culture as well as unique knowledge. They then listen to snippets of recorded conversations with Native American and Indigenous women to experience oral storytelling before going through the process of collecting oral history, experiencing the power and importance of oral storytelling as a form of history first-hand.