S2, E14: The Mystery of the Train Ride to Indian Territory, Jennifer Story

There are many mysteries out there - many that will never be solved. And some mysteries are so frustrating, they’ll leave a gap in your soul. One of those such puzzles in life is that of we American Indians trying to figure out the stories and history of our ancestors.

Most of our history is told and passed down by oral tradition. So centuries of our own stories have never be heard as they’ve faded over time. We often long to connect in some way with those family members, so that we can understand more about their world and about ourselves, and so they’re never forgotten.

My guest today – Jennifer Story - posed a mystery to me as we were preparing ahead of time for this episode. She stated that as many Choctaws from Mississippi were being removed to Indian Territory (on what’s now known as the “Trail of Tears”), she was baffled by the question that kept coming to her mind - why were her Choctaw ancestors removed many years later than the others?

Listen to today’s episode to hear about this mystery unraveled and solved! 

You’ll also learn about:

• A man named Bearheart
• Some unlikely next door neighbors
• What Jennifer learned as she cared for her ill brother
• The stories from Jennifer playing a dancer in the movie, Killers of the Flower Moon (guess whose famous actress’ shoes Jennifer was given to wear in the movie!)
• How her legendary Aunt Esther single-handedly saved the Tewa language
• Hear what famous actor attended Aunt Esther’s funeral
• Jennifer and I had such a fun time, so you may be hearing quite a dose of laughter from us Choctaw gals

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