The Woodpecker's Mother-in-Law is a Cheyenne tale which, like any other, is open to various interpretations but, among them, highlights the strength and autonomy of Cheyenne women. The old woman and her daughter each possess supernatural powers, which they wield in asserting their own desires. The men in the story can be seen as secondary characters.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2477/the-woodpeckers-mother-in-law/.
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