Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Part One: Nonhelema: The Six Foot Six Warrior Woman of the Shawnee Who Fought the Empire
Nov 24, 2025
Jamie Loftus, a comedian and podcaster, dives into the incredible story of Nonhelema, a formidable Shawnee warrior leading resistance against colonial powers. They discuss the complex social and political structures of the Shawnee, contrasting their ceremonial warfare with European tactics. Loftus elaborates on how Eurocentric narratives have distorted Nonhelema's legacy and highlights her role in the broader context of Indigenous resistance during the tumultuous 18th century. The conversation promises an engaging continuation of Nonhelema's transformative journey.
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Tall Warrior, Complicated Legacy
- Nonhelema (Nan Halema) is a Shawnee leader portrayed as a six-foot-six warrior who fought colonial expansion in the Ohio Valley.
- Her story overlaps resistance, mythmaking, and limited reliable records, complicating a single heroic narrative.
Ohio Valley Was A Collision Zone
- The Shawnee, Lenape, and Moravian settlements occupied contested lands between British colonies and New France.
- These overlapping presences set the stage for alliances and conflicts in the 18th-century Ohio Valley.
Moravian Roots And Radical Sects
- The Moravian church traces to 15th-century Bohemian reformers and carried radical communal practices into the New World.
- Internal sects ranged from moderate to extreme (e.g., Adamite-like groups), affecting their social roles in colonies.
