APRIL 2024

FORT SILL APACHE ARTIST ROBERT HAOZOUS BORN Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his father, sculptor Allan Houser, was Chiricahua Apache; his mother was Navajo. Raised in Brigham City, Utah (UT), … Continue reading “APRIL 1, 1943”

TLINGIT ALASKAN LEGISLATOR FRANK PERATROVICH BORN Born in Klawock, Alaska (AK), of Tlingit-Serbian descent, Frank served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After attending Haskell Indian Nations University (Lawrence, Kansas) and Capitol Business College … Continue reading “APRIL 2, 1895”

KOYUKON-ATHABASCAN LINGUIST NEEŁTENOYENEEŁNO (ELIZA JONES) INDUCTED INTO ALASKA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME Born in 1938 in Cutoff, Alaska (AK), near Huslia, Eliza’s name means “She has versatile talent.” Raised in camps … Continue reading “APRIL 3, 2016”

ODAWA FUR MERCHANT MAGDELAINE LA FRAMBOISE DIED Born in 1780 at Mackinac Island (Mack. Is.), Madaleine was raised in her mother’s Odawa village near current-Grand Haven, Michigan (MI). At age 14, … Continue reading “APRIL 4, 1846”

SALISH ARTIST SUSAN POINT BORN Susan, born in Alert Bay, British Columbia (BC), grew up on the Musqueam Indian Reserve. In the early 1980s, she taught herself the Salish traditions and … Continue reading “APRIL 5, 1952”

TLINGIT ALASKAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BYRON MALLOTT BORN Byron, born in Yakutat, Alaska (AK), went to boarding school in Skagway, AK where he both developed a stutter & was expelled sticking up … Continue reading “APRIL 6, 1943”

MAYAN AJAW (PIEDRO NEGRAS) K’INICH YAT AHK II BORN Likely the final ajaw of Piedras Negras (PN), Kʼinich Yat Ahk II (also known as Ruler 7) was the son of Lady Bird; possibly son … Continue reading “APRIL 7, 750”

HAWAIIAN POLITICIAN KEAHIOWAILUKU (JOHN W. KALUA) DIED Born circa 1846 on the island of Molokai, Kalua later moved to the island of Maui working as a lawyer. Kalua was in the House of Representatives (HOR) … Continue reading “APRIL 8, 1928”

INNU PETER PENASHUE BORN–1ST INNU CANADIAN CABINET MEMBER Born in Sheshatshiu, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Peter attended Memorial University of NL. For the Innu Nation (IN), Penashue served as a Land Claims … Continue reading “APRIL 9, 1964”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN WRITER JOURNALIST JOSEPH MOKU’ŌHAI POEPOE DIED Born on March, 27, 1852, in Honomakaʻu, Kohala, on the island of Hawai’I, Joseph was raised in Honolulu. After graduating from the Royal … Continue reading “APRIL 10, 1913”

HURON CHIEF TSAOUENHOHOUI (NICOLAS VINCENT) BORN Tsaouenhohoui (“One Who Plunges Things Into The Water”), or Tsawenhohi (“He Who Sees Clearly”), born in Jeune-Lorette (Wendake), Quebec, was baptized as “Nicolas Vincent.” Named … Continue reading “APRIL 11, 1769”

BLACK-CHEROKEE PASTOR AND FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD H. CAIN BORN Born free in Greenbrier Co., now in West Virginia, Richard’s mother was Cherokee. The family moved to Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1831 … Continue reading “APRIL 12, 1825”

MÉTIS FORMER NHL PLAYER AARON ASHAM BORN From Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Asham played 4 years with the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels (1994-98). Drafted 71st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in … Continue reading “APRIL 13, 1978”

IPPERWASH CRISIS SETTLED For the duration of World War II, the Canadian Government expropriated reserve land from the Ojibwe of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation to use for military training. … Continue reading “APRIL 14, 2016”

DENA’INA ATHABASCAN LEGISLATOR/SCIENTIST ADELHEID HERMANN BORN Adelheid was born in Levelock, Alaska (AK) and grew up in Naknek, where she attended Bristol Bay High School. She earned a degree in public policy, fisheries, and Native … Continue reading “APRIL 15, 1953”

WITCHITA TEACHER DORIS LAMAR-MCLEMORE BORN–LAST WITCHITA SPEAKER McLemore was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma (OK). Her mother was Wichita and she was raised by her fullblood Wichita maternal grandparents. Doris grew up speaking … Continue reading “APRIL 16, 1927”

MOHAWK-ALGONQUIN KATERI TEKAKWITHA (1ST NATIVE AMERICAN CATHOLIC SAINTE) DIED Tekakwitha, whose Mohawk name meant “She Who Bumps Into Things,” was born in 1656, at Ossernenon, near current Auriesville, New York, of … Continue reading “APRIL 17, 1680”

3RD ANGLO-POWHATAN WAR BEGINS In 1607, Wahunsenacah (AKA Chief Powhatan) of the Powhatan Confederacy (Powhatan, Appamattuck, Arrohateck, Chiskiack, Mattaponi & Pamunkey) allied with the English against the Spanish & against other tribes. However, English … Continue reading “APRIL 18, 1644”

MAYAN QUEEN KNOWN AS THE “LADY OF TIKAL” ACCEDES TO THRONE Born on September 1, 504, the “Lady of Tikal” assumed the throne at the age of six, but did not … Continue reading “APRIL 19, 511”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN SCHOLAR, DANCER, COMPOSER, EDUCATOR MARY KAWENA PUKUI BORN Kawena, born on the Island of Hawaiʻi, was raised in the hanai style, by her Hawaiian grandparents. Her grandmother, Po’ai, a … Continue reading “APRIL 20, 1895”

GERONIMO ARRESTED–THE ONLY TIME HE WAS CAUGHT In early 1876, the U.S. closed the Ojo Caliente Chiricahua Reservation in Arizona Territory where the Apache band had lived peaceably. They were to … Continue reading “APRIL 21, 1877”

MÉTIS NOVELIST SANDRA LOUISE BIRDSELL BORN Birdsell, born in Hamiota, Manitoba (MB), studied creative writing at University of Winnipeg and received arts grants in 1979 & 1982. Her awards include: 1984, … Continue reading “APRIL 22, 1942”

LOKONO-ARAWAK GEORGE SIMON BORN—ARTIST/ARCHEAOLOGIST Born at St Cuthbert’s Mission, British Guiana (now Guyana) and raised by an Anglican priest, George studied fine art at the Universities of Portsmouth & London (along … Continue reading “APRIL 23, 1947”

HERNAN CORTÉS MAKES CONTACT WITH AZTEC EMISSARIES OF MOCTEZUMA II On February 18, 1519, Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés left Cuba with 10 ships, 530 soldiers, 16 horses, 14 artillery pieces, and … Continue reading “APRIL 24, 1519”

CREE CHIEF KUPEYAKWUSKONAM (ONE ARROW) DIED Born circa 1815 near the Saskatchewan (SK) River, One Arrow led a band of Willow Crees. By 1879, the band settled near the Métis settlement … Continue reading “APRIL 25, 1886”

HAWAIIAN STATESMAN JONAH PI’IKOI DIED Born circa January 1804, at Waimea on Kauaʻi, his Hawaiian name “Piʻikoi” meant “Lofty Aspirations.” He began public service as a tobacco lighter for King Kaumualiʻi … Continue reading “APRIL 26, 1859”

INUPIAQ ALASKAN LEGISLATOR BILL BELTZ BORN Beltz was born on the Seward Peninsula, Haycock, Alaska (AK), studied at home, apprenticed as a carpenter, and later was elected President of the Alaska Council … Continue reading “APRIL 27, 1912”

ACOLHUA POET ARCHITECT NEZAHUALCOYOTL BORN Born in Texcoco, northeast of Tenochtitlan, Nezahualcoyotl’s name meant ”Hungry Coyote.” He was 16 when his father, Ixtlilxochitl I, ruler of Texcoco, was dethroned. In 1428, … Continue reading “APRIL 28, 1402”

CHILCOTIN WAR BEGINS The Chilcotin War was a series of attacks by the Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) people in British Columbia on white workers building a gold road through Chilcotin land. On April … Continue reading “APRIL 29, 1864”

HAWAIIAN ORGANIC ACT—U.S. ASSERTS GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY OVER THE ISLAND Hawai’i was acquired by the United States through a congressional act on July 7, 1898. The Organic Act (Act), passed in 1900, … Continue reading “APRIL 30, 1900”