Jeanette "Little Wind" Egan

by Laberta Salamancha
June 5, 2007

LJeanette "Little Wind" Egan, an elder of the Cherokee Nation, spoke to the Putnam County Rotary Club today at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

After a recording of the history of "The Trail of Tears" was played to the audience of Rotarians and their guests, she explained how her family ended up on the Wapole Island Reservation Lake Superior.

Little Wind discussed growing up on the reservation without electricity and few modern conveniences such as stoves, microwaves, central heat and/or air, and refrigerators. She learned by the age of 9 to grow and preserve food. She also learned beadwork which she sewed on her regalia and displayed on various Native American handicrafts.

Being a Prayer Pipe Carrier, she often receives badges from various armed forces to carry with her when she enters the circle.

She prays for all of the men who have died in battle and our current troops and military personnel.

Her son is in the US Navy and is currently stationed in Washington. D.C.

She also has two daughters who are in management positions in Michigan. She is keeping the traditions alive through them and her four grandchildren.

Little Wind moved to West Virginia five years ago and reports that she enjoys the beautiful hill and the animals.

She loves to camp and especially likes Kanawha State Forrest.

Little Wind also participates in local Powwows.

She estimates that there are around 500 Cherokees in our state.

The Rotary was told that the same one room school house is still operating on Wapole Island and that the students are in need of books and other school supplies.

Many of the Rotarians became interested in helping supply the school by next school term.