Beyond her public speaking appearances and lectures (such as her First America presentations), Cherokee journalist, author, and activist Rebecca Nagle has produced several major works focusing on tribal sovereignty, federal Indian law, and Indigenous rights:
- Books
- By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land (2024)
Her award-winning debut book investigates the centuries-long legal and political fight over tribal land in eastern Oklahoma. It weaves together historical acts of Indigenous resistance following forced removal with the modern-day legal battle (McGirt v. Oklahoma) that ultimately resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court recognizing reservation boundaries across nearly half of Oklahoma.
- Podcasts
- This Land (Crooked Media)
As creator and host, Nagle led two seasons of this documentary podcast examining critical threats and victories regarding Indigenous sovereignty: - Season 1: Focuses on the McGirt v. Oklahoma case, tracing how a small-town murder case evolved into one of the most consequential tribal land rights rulings in modern Supreme Court history.
- Season 2: Investigates the conservative legal campaign targeting the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) through the Haaland v. Brackeen Supreme Court case.
- Journalism & Essays
Nagle’s investigative reporting and commentary on Native representation, federal Indian law, and violence against Indigenous women regularly appear in major outlets, including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, USA Today, and Indian Country Today. - Activism & Advocacy Projects
- FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture & The Monument Quilt: Before focusing heavily on journalism, she co-founded FORCE, an activist organization dedicated to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors. She helped lead the creation of The Monument Quilt, a massive public art display built by and for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
- Language Revitalization: Living in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Nagle has also worked directly with the Cherokee Nation on local Cherokee language preservation and revitalization initiatives.
