If The Legends Fade

by Tom Hendrix

From the author:

"All things shall pass. Only the stones will remain." ....In northwest Alabama, there is a stone wall dedicated to my great-great-grandmother's journey about which this book is written, and to all Native American women. The wall is my way of honoring my ancestors. It has become a special place to many who visit it, for reasons that relate to their own lives.

After walking the length of the wall, Charlie Two Moons, a spiritual person, explained it this way: "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."

If the Legends Fade is the story of Te-lah-nay's journey. The story, like the wall, belongs to all people.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Native American, Book Club

235 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

For over 25 years, Tom Hendrix built a stone wall to honor his great-great-grandmother, Te-lah-nay. Te-lah-nay's Wall, also known as the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall, is in Florence, Alabama.

Tom's book, If the Legends Fade, tells Te-lah-nay’s story. From the Prologue:

Ewashnay-e-e-mello. Greetings, Brothers and Sisters. Let me tell you of a journey—a journey of a young girl, a healer, a daughter of the Sun. Her name was Te-lah-nay, which in her language means Woman with the Dancing Eyes. She was born above the shoulderbone in the valley of the Tennessee River in the 1800s. Her tribe was the Yuchi, and she was my great-great-grandmother.

Te-lah-nay's journey began when she and her sister were part of the removal of native peoples from northwest Alabama to the Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Almost from the beginning of her exile, Te-lah-nay had a recurring dream in which her grandmother beckoned to her from a hill overlooking the river.

The Yuchi people believed that in the Tennessee River there was a young woman who sang beautiful songs. They called it the Singing River. When she reached Oklahoma, my great-great-grandmother said the rivers and streams were silent. She felt she had to return to her homeland.

On her journey back to Alabama, Te-lah-nay encountered people and places both good and bad. She endured in the remote mountains of Arkansas, the treacherous canebrakes of many rivers and streams, and the long shadows of the Devil's Backbone.

Come, make the long walk with a young Indian girl who lived her dream—a dream to come home.

Reviews

[Carlene Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I glad Tom Hendrix wrote this book to tell the stories. Even more impressive is the wall he built to honor his great-great grandmother. I encourage each reader to make the effort to go to his wall and talk to him. You will not leave the same as you came.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

These types of books are important - if only to remind people of the pain and suffering of an entire nation of people as we attempted to settle this world. And even closer to home, it's the story of a woman who was born in North Alabama, was forced to Oklahoma, and made her way back here. Her great, great grandson tells her story. (He has also spent over thirty years building a rock wall monument to her.)

The book is oddly written. Simple, like a children's book, but with some themes a little too mature for children.

With some amazing irony - intended or unintended, I don't know.

The irony that WE, the civilized white men, were showing THEM, the barbaric, peaceful people, a better way of life. I guess that's the way it always is. The ones with might and power try to force their way of life on anyone they can overpower.

And how can we miss the irony of American soldiers complaining about pirates ("Lower than a snakes belly, they are.") as they slowly and efficiently work toward genocide?

Worth reading - especially if you're from anywhere near Florence, Alabama.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Tom Hendrix for sharing your grandmother's story. I cried.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it makes me sad that they were treated so poorly.

[Laura McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so incredibly special. I wish all school kids would be asked to read it. There were so many wonderfully heartwarming moments throughout the story, which I was not expecting at all. I knew the basic story because I have heard the author interviewed on NPR about the stone wall he built in memory of his great-great-grandmother, the woman who was the subject of the book. It is about her incredible life. She was part of the Yuchi tribe in Northern Alabama and was forcibly relocated by the American government. At the age of 13 she walked from Oklahoma back to Alabama all by herself. It took her two years. I'm genuinely surprised this hasn't been turned into a feature film. It teaches so many important lessons about our history, the treasure that is the indigenous culture in America and also shows the kindness of humans. I am fortunate enough to have been able to visit the Wichahapi Commemorative stone wall (commonly referred to as Tom's Wall) in Florence, Alabama on three different occasions. The author built this Stonewall in tribute to his great-great-grandmother. It took him 30 years. Each time I visited it has been a powerful experience. People travel from all over the world to visit it. I hope you are able to go there and experience the peace I did. You may have a hard time finding this book but I encourage you to seek it out. I found a used copy that happened to be autographed on Amazon.

[Sue Choppers-Wife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical story was written by the author to honor his great-great-grandmother's story of the loss of her whole tribe and her commitment to keeping their stories alive.

It was no easy commitment for a child that was torn from her home by the singing river in Alabama and taken to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. She had to escape and travel alone through hostile territory for over two years to find her way home, always guided by the dreams of her grandmother whose stories she felt she had to pass on.

Like any journey she had many adventures, met good and bad people and used the medicine that had been passed down through the women of her tribe to help herself and others along the way.

The story can be read easily by young readers but also understood on a deeper level by adults.

It's very well written from the lead character's point of view and I think the author truly honored her with this storyj, which is ultimately another rock in her wall of remembrance.

I'd like to think each person that reads this adds a rock of their own.

[Kathy Wingard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I really want to go see the wall - maybe one day. Not far from where I grew up.
I added it to my non-fiction shelf as it is the author's telling of his great grandmother's stories. Definitely based on historical fact - hard to know how much detail is lost in the re-telling. The writing style is simple - almost child-like - but I thought it was perfect to represent the voice of someone who came from a such a different culture with a different language. We can definitely learn so much from other ways of looking at the world!

[Lewestover · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing story of the resilience and courage of a Yuchi Indian teenage girl. Forced by the government to leave the tribal lands in Alabama and resettle on reservations in Oklahoma, young
Te-lah-nay chose to walk back to her home. Her journey, like life, was not easy or straight. Her
story is preserved in this book. The monument to her journey is found in a remarkable stone wall,
the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall outside Florence, AL.

[Kipahni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't been able to read anything apart from textbooks since grad school began 3 years ago. But I'm back baby. And what a great book to get into. The yuchi people don't have a lot written about them so reading a fictional retelling of one person's journey was enlightening and enthralling. Very quick and easy read. If you ever get a chance go to Tom's wall that he built for the trail of tears.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy set of stories about Telahnay, Tom’s great great grandmother. We have visited Tom’s wall, it is moving quiet place. A work of love and honor.

Some people are aware of their own paths and stick to them with the help of good people; both those who have gone on and those we meet in this life.

[Georgia Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful and empowering story

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Glad I read it.

[Robert Conder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. The story of the trip of a young Native American took to return home.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not well written, but a very interesting story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although somewhat simple writing, I really enjoyed this book. The author tells the story of his Native American great-great-grandmother during 1839/40, when the Indians were being driven west. She was taken west, but then traveled all by herself about 350 miles to get back to her home area. It's really fascinating what she did to survive, the people she met on the way, the herbal remedies that she used to heal people. I'm really into herbal remedies, so I appreciated that a lot. Also, now that we have a Black man for our next president, which I am SO THRILLED about, I am anxious to see Native Americans have a similar success, breaking through the racial barriers that have been horrific for them, too. I feel like Native Americans have become an invisible people in our country and can't even name any that are prominent political figures. There is a lot to do to make up for the wrongs in their past as well!!

[JoAnn H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. I really felt her journey and saw through her eyes. I can't wait for Tom Hendrix to write his next book.