Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Part Two: Nonhelema: The Six Foot Six Warrior Woman of the Shawnee Who Fought the Empire
Nov 26, 2025
In this engaging discussion, comedian and writer Jamie Loftus dives into the incredible story of Nonhelema, the formidable Shawnee warrior woman who led her people against colonial forces. Jamie and Margaret explore how Nonhelema emerged as a war chief and her pivotal role at the Battle of Bushy Run. They dissect biased historical narratives and the challenges she faced, including her eventual decision for peace amidst conflict. The conversation reveals the complexities of indigenous resistance and the legacies of women often overlooked in history.
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Shawnee Bilateral Leadership
- The Shawnee used bilateral councils where women and men shared war leadership roles, sometimes elevating sibling pairs.
- Margaret Kiljoy highlights this system to explain how Nonhelema and Cornstalk could co-lead resistance effectively.
Dramatic War Paint And Battlefield Presence
- Nonhelema allegedly fought painted and partially naked, sometimes half-black and half-red on her face to symbolize death and blood.
- Margaret Kiljoy uses these vivid accounts to support the claim she was a fearsome frontline warrior.
Nickname Implies Exceptional Stature
- British accounts nicknamed Nonhelema with a slur paired with "Grenadier," implying her extraordinary height and ferocity.
- Margaret Kiljoy reads the epithet as evidence she was notably tall and physically imposing.
