How did colonialism impact our communities and their sense of connection and belonging in the natural world?

‘Aniyvwiya’, meaning first people, was the name ‘Cherokee’ people gave themselves before colonization. In this week’s episode we talk to Elder Mary Crowe from the Qualla boundary of the Eastern Band Cherokee about the importance of knowing our history and the transformative power of language.

Learn more about the Indigenous Environmental Network : https://www.ienearth.org

This project was made possible with funding from the Georgia Humanities Council and Patagonia.

Coosa River Basin Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization in Rome, GA with a mission to protect, preserve, and restore the upper Coosa River basin. To learn more about our work or become a supporter, visit our website at coosa.org or follow us on Facebook @coosariverbasinintiative or Instagram @coosariverbasin

If you have thoughts or questions about the show, send us a message to downstream@coosa.org. We’d love to hear from you.

This podcast is produced by Brand Red Studios. All episodes were recorded at Darkroot Studios in Rome, GA. Music, Engineering, and Editing by Austen Earp

Special Thanks to:

Brian Campbell

Sandy Meeks

Ryan Simmons

For local historical resources in the upper Coosa River basin:

Chieftains Museum in Rome

New Echota State Historic Site in Calhoun

Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site in Cartersville