Oconostota (ca. 1710-1783) was the Warrior of Chota and the war chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1775 to 1780. On the flag of Nashville, Tennessee, he is believed to be the Native American on the central emblem.

His Cherokee name, according to Mooney, was Aganstata, which he translates as "groundhog-sausage" ("agana" = groundhog, and "tsistau" = "I am pounding it" as in pounding meat in a mortar). It appears as "Oconastota" (with two "a"s) on his grave marker at the site of Chota.
Oconastota's grave at the Chota memorial, in Monroe County, Tennessee.
Chota Memorial in Monroe County, Tennessee.

Oconostota was a son of Moytoy Pigeon of Tellico (Moytoy II), and was born around 1704, one of eleven children. This made him a cousin of Attacullaculla through his aunt, Nancy Moytoy. The identity of Oconostota's wife is a mystery, although she was of the Paint Clan. Their daughter, Nionne Ollie, was the wife of his predecessor, Attacullaculla.

Oconostota (who is also sometimes known as "Stalking Turkey," a fact which causes much confusion with his uncle Kanagatucko, "Standing Turkey") became the Principal Chief of the Cherokee following the death of his cousin Attacullaculla, sometime around 1775-1777. His tenure was wrought with warfare and struggle, which culminated in the destruction of Chota-Tanasi by the American revolutionary forces in 1780. He is believed to have died in either 1782 or 1783.

Following the destruction of Chota, the chiefs descended from Amatoya Moytoy (Moytoy I) effectively lost much of their powerbase. However, Oconostota's successor, Hanging Maw, married a granddaughter of Moytoy I (and sister of Attacullculla).

His remains were uncovered during the archaeological digs around the site of Chota for the Tellico Reservoir impoundment. He was identified by a pair of reading glasses that he owned and were buried with him. He was re-interred at Chota in the portion raised by TVA (which includes the site of the council house) and has a gravestone marking the site.