Wichahpi Stone Wall - A Unique Memorial to A Native American Woman
For last 30 years Tom Hendrix has been building, all by himself, a long serpentine stone wall, about 7 km south of Tennessee-Alabama border just off the Natchez Trace Parkway, USA.
The wall is a memorial to his great-great-grandmother Te-lah-nay, who at the young age of just 14 years was evicted from her homeland along with her Yuchi Indian tribe and forcibly driven from Lauderdale County, Alabama to Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) on the infamous or rather the tragic Trail of Tears as a part of forcible resettlement of Native Americans from the eastern United States to Oklahoma.
In 1830s, the Natives were forcibly removed from their homes by federal troops, rounded up and made to live in camps where conditions were so bad that many died. The survivors were forced to make the long trek to reservations in the west, mostly on foot and thousands died during the journey. The Trail of Tears is generally considered to be one of the most regrettable episodes in American history.
In 1830s, the Natives were forcibly removed from their homes by federal troops, rounded up and made to live in camps where conditions were so bad that many died. The survivors were forced to make the long trek to reservations in the west, mostly on foot and thousands died during the journey. The Trail of Tears is generally considered to be one of the most regrettable episodes in American history.
Te-lah-nay was lucky enough to survive the harsh trip to the west; however she was determined from the very beginning of her journey to return back to her homeland on the Tennessee River. She made many abortive attempts during her westward trip but was always caught. After a short stay in her new environment she slipped away from the camp at Oklahoma and walked back to her home in Lauderdale County about 700 Kilometres (~450 miles) away. She travelled on foot through rough/dangerous terrain, met many hurdles, good and bad men and ultimately made it home in two years, where she was adopted by a white woman. She later married and settled near Little Cypress Creek.
As a child Tom Hendrix came to know about his great-great-grandmother from his grandmother (Te-la-nay's granddaughter) and when he grew up he wanted to do something to honour the memory of this brave girl. During a conversation with an elder of the Yuchi tribe he was told "All things shall pass. Only the stones will remain." These words gave him the idea to build the stone wall as a Memorial.
The wall is about 3 miles (5 km) long and growing. It is reportedly longest unmortared stone wall in the U.S. There is a stone from every state in the United States as well as stones from other countries, territories and islands including stones from the Arctic, Antarctic, the top of Everest, and the bottom of the ocean. Many persons, who visit the memorial, bring stones with them for placement on the wall. Its meandering shape is indicative of Te-lah-nay's travels.
After walking the length of the wall, Charlie Two Moons, a spiritual person, said;
"The wall does not belong to you, Brother Tom. It belongs to all people. You are just the keeper. I will tell you that it is wichahpi, which means 'like the stars'. When they come, some will ask, 'Why does it bend, and why is it higher and wider in some places than in others?' Tell them it is like your great-great-grandmother's journey and their journey through life-it is never straight."
The wall has received recognition as a significant piece of environmental art. Reportedly wife of Alabama's Governor Bob Riley wanted to turn it into a tourist destination, but Hendrix refused. However he welcomes all to come and see how he has honoured his ancestors.
Here are few images of the wall;
The stones assembled near the start of the wall, resemble faces/eyes.
Image from Flickr is by laura.bell
Image from Flickr is by laura.bell
Image from Flickr is by laura.bell
Image from Flickr is by laura.bell
Image from Flickr is by laura.bell
The Prayer circle meant for meditation.
Image from Flickr is by laura.bell
Tom Hendrix has also written a book entitled "If The Legends Fade" about the fantastic to and fro journey of Te-lah-nay.
A small portion (270 metres / 900 feet) of the wall runs parallel to Lauderdale County Local Road # 8, off the Natchez Trace Parkway and the rests winds through Hendrix forested estate and can be seen in Google Street View.
View location in Google Earth / Google Street View of the wall: West End / East End.
A small portion (270 metres / 900 feet) of the wall runs parallel to Lauderdale County Local Road # 8, off the Natchez Trace Parkway and the rests winds through Hendrix forested estate and can be seen in Google Street View.
View location in Google Earth / Google Street View of the wall: West End / East End.
- Home Page of the book "If the Legends Fade"
- Natchez Trace Travel
- TimesDaily.Com - Never-ending legacy (Alternate Link)
- Comments by laura.bell in her Flickr photoset
- Staying at the Cherokee Indian Reservation – in the blog entitled 'Recollections of a Vagabonde' is a well researched, highly readable post with some old and rare photographs of the tragic event. (Link added on Sept. 22, 2010)
Credits: I am thankful to laura.bell for placing her entire Te-lah-nay's wall Flickr photo set, under Creative Commons licence. This post would have been lifeless without the great photos from her collection.
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