How The Trail of Tears Impacted the Ancestors of Wes Studi | Finding Your Roots | PBS

Official website: https://to.pbs.org/fyr10 | #FindingYourRoots

Wes Studi learns about the impact of The Trail of Tears on his mother's side of the family, a tragic forced displacement that affected thousands of Native families. Research reveals a claim written in the 1840s of what Studi's family lost when they were displaced by American settlers.

From small-town Oklahoma native to internationally acclaimed actor and musician, Wes Studi credits his passion and multi-faceted background for his powerful character portrayals that forever changed a Hollywood stereotype. Wes moved audiences with unforgettable performances in “Dances with Wolves,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Geronimo: An American Legend,” and “Heat.” In 2019, Wes received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Award, an honorary Oscar statuette, given to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement.

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Finding Your Roots
Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guides influential guests into their roots, uncovering deep secrets, hidden identities and lost ancestors. Using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides influential guests deep into the branches of their family trees, revealing surprising stories of forgotten ancestors that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity.