Indigenous communities honour Dolly Parton for decades of literacy support

Indigenous communities across Indian Country and Canada are mourning the loss and celebrating the legacy of country music legend Dolly Parton, following her death from cancer on 25 August at the age of 80. Parton is being remembered not only for her musical contributions but for her decades of dedicated support to Native American and First Nations literacy through her Imagination Library programme. Parton, a native of Tennessee, maintained a deep connection with the Cherokee people of her homeland. Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians noted that Parton never lost her connection to the Great Smoky Mountains or the people of the region. He shared that Parton performed in Cherokee on several occasions, leaving a lasting impression on the community through her warmth and generosity. In 1995, inspired by her father, Parton founded the Imagination Library to provide free books to children. The programme’s reach into Indigenous territories began in earnest in 2002, when it first partnered with 92 tribal nations in the United States. According to ICT, the initiative eventually expanded to serve First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Canada. The non-profit Native Americans for Sovereignty and Preservation stated that Parton’s early footprint across tribal lands remains one of her most meaningful contributions, grounded in a respect for tribal sovereignty. Recent partnerships have continued to foster Indigenous culture. In 2023, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma joined the programme to provide monthly book deliveries to youth aged four and under. A highlight of this collaboration was the distribution of the book “How the World Was Made: A Cherokee Story,” written by Brad Wagnon and illustrated by Alex Stephenson. Indigenous leaders say Parton’s spirit will be deeply missed, but her investment in the literacy of their youth ensures a lasting legacy across the continent.