Produced in 2000, three Appalachian women in their 80’s share their stories of growing up in the rural regions of the Appalachian mountains. Take a glimpse into their lives as they share their memories of growing up not only as mountain women, but also as Cherokee, Scots-Irish and African-American women.

Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer, born in 1921, at right,  lives in Big Cove, adjacent to the Smokey Mountain National Park, a member of the Eastern Cherokee Tribe, and describes her early life.  Amazingly, Amanda’s experiences don’t differ a great deal, with the exception that she speaks Cherokee as well as English, from the early life experiences of the Scotts-Irish and African woman whose ancestors were slaves.  They have more in common than they do differences.

Amanda became a very skilled pottery maker and produced pottery for over 40 years, receiving the Mountain Heritage Award in 2009 for her pottery making and other activities.  Read more and see photos here.

You can read more about her life and see her pottery here.

Information about the Cherokee and Amanda from the North Carolina Arts Council and about visiting the Cherokee can be found at Cherokee Heritage Trails.

Hat tip to Rhonda for this video.