AUGUST 2021

UNITED LEAGUE OF INDIGENOUS NATIONS TREATY (“INTERNATIONAL TREATY”) Representatives of 11 Indigenous Nations, including the US, Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Australia, met on the homelands of the Lummi Indian Nation … Continue reading “AUGUST 1, 2007”

PAWNEE LAWYER, PUBLIC OFFICIAL LARRY J. ECHO HAWK BORN Raised in Farmington, New Mexico, Echo Hawk played football at Brigham Young University (1967-69) and earned Western Athletic Conference All-Academic Football honors … Continue reading “AUGUST 2, 1948”

ANISHINAABE ELDER, SPIRITUAL LEADER, CANOE MAKER OJIGKWANONG (WILLIAM COMMANDA) DIED Named “Morning Star” by his mother, Commanda was born in River Desert Indian Reserve (now Kitigan-Zibi) on November 11, 1913.   … Continue reading “AUGUST 3, 2011”

FIRST ISSUE OF NAVAJO TIMES PUBLISHED The first official edition of the Navajo Times newspaper cost 10 cents.  Until March 21, 1984, the Navajo Times was a black-and-white, tabloid-sized paper printed … Continue reading “AUGUST 4, 1960”

OJIBWE BINAASWI (FRANCIS PEGAHMAGABOW) DIED – DECORATED CANADIAN WWI SNIPER Born March 9, 1891, on what is now the Shawanaga First Nation, near Parry Sound, Ontario, Pegahmagabow, whose Ojibwe name meant … Continue reading “AUGUST 5, 1952”

HAWAIIAN LAWYER POLITICAL LEADER WILLIAM PŪNOHU WHITE BORN Born in Lahaina, Maui, White was descended from Kaiakea, orator for King Kamehameha I.  As deputy sheriff of North Kohala, he gained a … Continue reading “AUGUST 6, 1851”

PARAGUAYAN GUARANI CLASSICAL GUITARIST AGUSTÍN PÍO BARRIOS DIED Born on May 5, 1885, in San Bautista de las Misiones, in Southern Paraguay, his mother’s guitar playing inspired him at an early … Continue reading “AUGUST 7, 1944”

SINIXT-COLVILLE-OKANAGAN AUTHOR HUM-ISHU-MA (CHRISTAL QUINTASKET) DIED Born near Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho, circa 1884, Christal spent her life mostly on the Colville Reservation, Washington, but also was connected to the South Okanagan … Continue reading “AUGUST 8, 1936”

TREATY OF FORT JACKSON ENDS CREEK WARS Under the treaty, the Creek Nation ceded nearly 22 million acres to the United States.  General Andrew Jackson, the sole U.S. negotiator, justified the … Continue reading “AUGUST 9, 1814”

MARICOPA POTTER IDA REDBIRD DIED Born March 15, 1892, in Laveen on the Gila River Reservation where she spent almost all her life, Redbird’s pottery was known nationally.  In the 1920s, … Continue reading “AUGUST 10, 1971”

AMERICAN INDIAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT (AIRFA) ENACTED The AIRFA states that “On and after August 11, 1978, it shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for … Continue reading “AUGUST 11, 1978”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER AND POLITICIAN JOHN HENRY WISE DIED Born July 19, 1869, on the Island of Hawai‘i, Wise, while at Oberlin College in 1891 on an evangelical mission, became … Continue reading “AUGUST 12, 1937”

CUAUHTÉMOC CAPTURED—AZTECS SLAUGHTERED BY HERNÁN CORTÉS Born circa 1495, Cuauhtémoc, whose name meant “Descends Like an Eagle,” was cousin and son-in-law of Moctezuma II and the last Aztec emperor.  He became … Continue reading “AUGUST 13, 1521”

AWA’UQ (REFUGE ROCK) MASSACRE—THE WOUNDED KNEE OF ALASKA In the mid-1700s, Russian fur traders sought a foothold in the Aleutian Islands and Kodiak Archipelago. Expeditions, however, met with Aleut and Alutiiq … Continue reading “AUGUST 14, 1784”

LEGACY POLE ERECTED IN GWAII HAANAS NATIONAL PARK Over 400 people participated in raising the Gwaii Haanas Legacy Pole in Hlk’yah G̱awG̱a (Windy Bay) on Lyell Island in Haida Gwaii, British … Continue reading “AUGUST 15, 2013”

MOHAWK POET MAURICE F. KENNY BORN Born in Watertown, N.Y., his father was of Mohawk descent; his mother, part Seneca.  Developing an interest in Iroquois culture at an early age, Kenny … Continue reading “AUGUST 16, 1929”

SALISH VIOLA WYSE-TRIBE’S FIRST WOMAN ELECTED CHIEF-DIED Born on August 29, 1947, in Campbell River, British Columbia (B.C.), Vi Wyse made history by becoming the first female chief of the Snuneymuxw … Continue reading “AUGUST 17, 2009”

OJIBWE ENVIRONMENTALIST/WRITER/ACTIVIST WINONA LaDUKE BORN Born in Los Angeles, her father, an Ojibwe actor from White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, enrolled her in the tribe at an early age.  Graduating from … Continue reading “AUGUST 18, 1959”

LAKOTA SPIRITUAL LEADER HEHAKA SAPA (BLACK ELK) DIED Born December 1, 1863, on the Little Powder River in Wyoming, he was the son of the elder Black Elk and White Cow … Continue reading “AUGUST 19, 1950”

KAMEHAMEHA V SIGNS 1864 CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF HAWAII Kamehameha V, ascending the throne in 1863, believed that the king should control the government of Hawai’i.  Opposing portions of the … Continue reading “AUGUST 20, 1864”

THE CANADIAN SUPREME COURT GIVES CONDITIONED DEFERENCE TO NATIVE FISHING RIGHTS William and Donald Gladstone, members of the Heiltsuk Band in British Columbia, were both charged with selling herring spawn contrary … Continue reading “AUGUST 21, 1996”

PAIUTE ALICE PIPER DIED—COURT CASE OVERTURNED CALIFORNIA BAR TO INDIAN EDUCATION Born June 7, 1908, Piper was denied entry on June 2, 1923, to the newly-built Big Pine High School.  California … Continue reading “AUGUST 22, 1985”

FEMALE HAWAIIAN ISLAND GOVERNORS REMOVED Under Hawai’i’s 1840 Constitution, the islands of Hawai’i, Maui, O’ahu, and Kaua’i were administered by governors nominated by the island chiefs and approved by the King.  … Continue reading “AUGUST 23, 1888”

PAWNEE SCOUT CO-TUX-A-KAH-WADDE (TRAVELING BEAR) BECOMES FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT Born in 1847, in Nebraska, Co-Tux-A-Kah-Wadde entered the U.S. Army as an Indian Scout.  Because his name was … Continue reading “AUGUST 24, 1869”

MEXICAN ZAPOTEC ABSTRACT PAINTER RUFINO TAMAYO BORN Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, of Zapotec heritage, Tamayo entered Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1917.   His first show, in New York (1926), … Continue reading “AUGUST 25, 1899”

PENOBSCOT OLYMPIC MARATHONER ANDREW SOCKALEXIS DIED Born on January 11, 1892, in Old Town, Maine, Andrew grew up on Indian Island, Maine.  His older brother, Louis, played a few seasons with the … Continue reading “AUGUST 26, 1919”

MOHAWK CHIEF AHYONWAEGHS (JOHN BRANT) DIED Born September 27, 1794, near Brantford, Ontario, Brant, son of Mohawk chieftain Joseph Brant, was the first Aboriginal to receive a commission in the British … Continue reading “AUGUST 27, 1832”

AMERICAN INDIAN FEDERATION CREATED The American Indian Federation (AIF) was an Anti-New Deal lobbying group.  AIF grew from the Oklahoma-based Indian National Confederacy, under Joseph Bruner, a wealthy Creek, who was … Continue reading “AUGUST 28, 1934”

QUEBEC BRIDGE COLLAPSE KILLS 33 MOHAWK IRONWORKERS The ironworkers constructing the Quebec Bridge were getting ready to leave for the day when, without warning, the bridge collapsed into the St. Lawrence … Continue reading “AUGUST 29, 1907”

MONTAUK STEPHEN TALKHOUSE DIED—THE WALKER Born circa 1821, Stephen Taukus “Talkhouse” Pharaoh, as a child, was an indentured servant to an East Hampton family.  Released at age 21, he worked as … Continue reading “AUGUST 30, 1879”

BATTLE OF KINGSBRIDGE—WIPED OUT STOCKBRIDGE WAPPINGER FORCE Bitter towards the British over land claims, the Wappinger Indians of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, joined the Continental Army in 1775.  Ethan Allen sent them to … Continue reading “AUGUST 31, 1778”