Nanyehi biography of william

Cherokee diplomat and Beloved Woman (c.1738 – c.1822)

For the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, see Nancy L. Ward.

Nanyehi (Cherokee: ᎾᏅᏰᎯ), known in English as Nancy Ward (c.1738 – c.1823), was a Beloved Woman and political leader of the Cherokee.

She advocated for peaceful coexistence with European Americans and, late in life, spoke out for Cherokee retention of tribal hunting lands. She is credited with the introduction of dairy products to the Cherokee economy.^[1]

Life

Nanyehi (meaning "one who goes about") was born c.

1738 in the Cherokee chief-city, Chota (or "town of refuge"). Today, that area is within Monroe County, on the southeastern border of Tennessee. Her mother, a sister of Attakullakulla,^[2] was a member of the Wolf Clan.^[a][3][4] According to Nanyehi's descendant, John Walker "Jack" Hildebrand, her father was "Fivekiller", who was a member of the Lenape (Delaware) tribe.^&