Week of  3/13/02
   
 
 
Maney is third ‘Beloved Woman’ in 225 years
By Don Hendershot
“This potter will be remembered,” Bob Blankenship, chairman of the Cherokee Tribal Council, told those gathered at the Cherokee High School Auditorium to honor Louise Bigmeat Maney.

Tribal officials, enrolled members, friends and family of Louise Maney gathered Saturday, March 9, at Cherokee High School to celebrate what Carmaleta Monteith, president of the North Carolina Chapter of the North American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA), called the highest honor that could be bestowed on a woman of the Cherokee Nation, the title of “Beloved Woman.”

The soft spoken, strong willed master potter, long-time elementary teacher and keeper of traditional Cherokee culture, passed away in August 2001. Saturday’s celebration was public recognition of the “Beloved Woman” titled conferred on Maney by tribal council in December 2001.

Tommye Saunooke, tribal council member from Maney’s community of Painttown said, “Friends and family knew her as a beloved woman” before council passed the resolution.

Principal Chief Leon Jones noted the title of Beloved Woman had been bestowed on only two other Cherokee women since the 1700s. Nancy Ward was recognized in 1775 for her bravery in a battle between the Cherokee and Creek when she picked up the rifle of her fallen husband rallied Cherokee warriors to victory. Maggie Wachacha of the Snowbird Community in Graham County, a traditional healer and tribal clerk, was recognized as a Beloved Woman in the mid-1980s.

“She will be missed but she won’t be forgotten,” said Jones to Maney’s husband, John Henry, and members of her large extended family.

Marie Junaluska, the other Painttown council representative and member of the Ani‘Yun‘wiyahi (Principal People) committee, gave an emotional eulogy in her native tongue. Afterward Junaluska said, “She was my mentor and a great believer in preserving our culture.”

The program began with a “Presentation of Colors” by the Tsalagi Warrior Society and included presentations by the Cherokee Elementary Traditional Singers and the Young Voices.

Artist Dorothy Sullivan was present to see her painting “She Speaks for Her Clan” donated to the NAIWA. The painting which won Best of Show at the 1994 Cherokee Trail of Tears Art Show depicts Cherokee women representing the seven clans of the Cherokee Nation and will hang in the Cherokee Museum. Maney was the model for the representative of the Paint Clan.

NAIWA also presented John Henry Maney with a traditional Cherokee blanket and a video titled “Louise Maney, Cherokee Beloved Woman” was shown.

Former Principle Chief, Joyce Dugan said Maney “would be embarrassed” by all the attention. She said Maney simply worked hard and always believed preserving the traditional culture was the proper thing to do. Dugan pointed out that Maney’s art and influence was revered across North Carolina and the nation. Maney was awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award and selected in 2001 as a Distinguished Woman of North Carolina. Her pottery is on display at the Smithsonian.