
In February of 1757, the great Cherokee leader Attakullakulla came to South Carolina to negotiate trade agreements with the governor and was shocked to find that no white women were present.
1757: in a meeting between Cherokee leaders and European settlers, the Cherokee were astonished to find no women on the settlers’ council. “Since the white man as well as the red was born of woman,” they asked, “did not the white man admit women to their council?”
The centuries that followed sadly saw this Cherokee gender equality gradually erode as the tribe adjusted to shifting times.