AUGUST 2024

HAWAI’I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK ESTABLISHED Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, located on the island of Hawaii, encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s largest shield volcano. … Continue reading “AUGUST 1, 1916”

HURON CHIEF KONDIORANK (GASPAR SOIAGA) DIED WHILE NEGOTIATING PEACE OF MONTRÉAL In 1697, negotiations began to end decades of conflicts between the French and their Aboriginal allies and the Iroquois. By … Continue reading “AUGUST 2, 1701”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN POLITICIAN HISTORIAN JOHN PAPA ʻĪʻĪ BORN John Papa ʻĪʻī, born at Waipi‘o, Oahu, came to Honolulu at age 10 and became an attendant of Kamehameha I and later companion … Continue reading “AUGUST 3, 1800”

NISGA’A TREATY WITH BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA On August 4, 1998, a land-claim stemming from 1887 was settled by treaty between the Nisga’a, the government of British Columbia (BC), and the … Continue reading “AUGUST 4, 1998”

AYMARA TUPAC KATARI & BARTOLINA SISA FORCES LAY 2nd SIEGE ON LA PAZ The Upper Peru Rebellion against Spain began under Quechua chief Tomás Katari in August 1780. With his execution, … Continue reading “AUGUST 5, 1781”

YUP’IQ SPIRITUAL HEALER RITA PITKA BLUMENSTEIN DIED Born in 1936 and raised in the Yup’ik village of Tununak, Nelson Island, Alaska (AK), Rita’s name meant “Tail End Clearing of the Pathway … Continue reading “AUGUST 6, 2021”

TLINGIT EDUCATION/HEALTH ADVOCATE GERTRUDE (PAULL) WOLFE BORN Gertrude, born in Sitka, Alaska (AK), moved with her husband to Hoonah, AK, in 1954. The town of 750 people, half Tlingit, is accessible … Continue reading “AUGUST 7, 1933”

DENE/CREE-MÉTIS INDIGENOUS POLITICAL LEADER/INTELLECTUAL GEORGES ERASMUS BORN Erasmus was born in Behcheko, Northwest Territories (NWT), to a Tlicho (​Dene) mother and Cree Métis father. After attending high school in Yellowknife, NWT, he was a volunteer … Continue reading “AUGUST 8, 1948”

GUATEMALA’S PRESIDENT ADMITS THAT NATION’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PLAN DE SANCHEZ MASSACRE In 1982, President General Efraín Ríos Montt suspected the village of Plan de Sánchez of harboring or supporting guerrilla … Continue reading “AUGUST 9, 2000”

FRENCH & ABENAKI BEGIN NORTH COAST CAMPAIGN WITH THE “SIX TERRIBLE DAYS” The 1701 Peace of Montréal had just seen the Iroquois Confederacy declare peace with the French in Canada, as … Continue reading “AUGUST 10, 1703”

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”

JOE MEDICINE CROW–LAST CROW WAR CHIEF–RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM Born October 27, 1913, on the Crow Reservation in Montana (MT), Joseph heard from his step-grandfather, White Man Runs Him, a … Continue reading “AUGUST 12, 2009”

MIAMI CHIEF PECHEWA (JEAN BAPTISTE DE RICHARDVILLE) DIED Born in 1761 in Kekionga (Fort Wayne), son of Tacumwah, Chief Little Turtle’s sister, Jean’s name meant “Wildcat.” Raised partly with his father … Continue reading “AUGUST 13, 1841”

NAVAJO CODE TALKERS DAY The Navajo language and its complexity gave the military an enormous advantage when it came time to make codes. It was virtually unbreakable. Some strongly believe that … Continue reading “AUGUST 14, 1982”

POTAWATOMI ROUT U.S. TROOPS IN BATTLE OF FORT DEARBORN In 1803, the U.S. Government built Fort Dearborn in what is now Chicago as part of a strategic effort to protect lucrative … Continue reading “AUGUST 15, 1812”

ULKATCHO NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (NHL) GOALIE CAREY PRICE BORN Carey, born in Vancouver, British Columbia, son of a former Ulkatcho First Nation chief (mother), played first for the Western Hockey League (HL) Tri-City Americans … Continue reading “AUGUST 16, 1987”

MEXICAN ZAPOTEC WEAVER ARNULFO MENDOZA RUIZ BORN Ruiz, born in Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, learned Zapotec weaving at his family’s workshop. Arnulfo studied fine arts at Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de … Continue reading “AUGUST 17, 1954”

DAKOTA ATTACK LOWER SIOUX AGENCY—START OF THE DAKOTA WAR OF 1862 By 1862, delays in treaty annuity payments, crop failures, and denial of credit by traders & Indian agents, left the … Continue reading “AUGUST 18, 1862”

DAKELH ROSE PRINCE DIED—SHE BECAME SUBJECT OF CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGES Rose was born in Fort St. James, British Columbia, on August 24, 1915. At age 6, Rose was sent to the Lejac Residential School … Continue reading “AUGUST 19, 1949”

LAKOTA CHIEF TȞATȞÁŊKA PTÉČELA (GRANT SHORT BULL) DIED Born circa 1851-52 near Fort Laramie, Short Bull, of the Cankahuhan (Soreback) Ogalala Band, was the youngest brother of famed Ogalala chief He-Dog. In January … Continue reading “AUGUST 20, 1935”

ATHABASCAN LEGISLATOR/ENTREPRENEUR JULES WRIGHT BORN Jules, born at St. Mark’s Mission in Nenana, Alaska (AK), was son of an Athabascan father who served as deacon of the Episcopal mission. His family … Continue reading “AUGUST 21, 1933”

CHIRICAHUA APACHE SCULPTOR, PAINTER ALLAN CAPRON HAOZOUS (HOUSER) DIED Born near Apache, Oklahoma (OK), on June 30, 1914. Allan, at age 20, began art training at Santa Fe Indian School in … Continue reading “AUGUST 22, 1994”

MARTIN FORBISHER KIDNAPS THREE INUIT AND SAILS FOR ENGLAND English sailor and privateer, Martin Frobisher made 3 voyages to the New World in search of the North-west Passage. On his 2nd expedition, it 1577, there were several skirmishes with … Continue reading “AUGUST 23, 1577”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN 1912 OLYMPIC GOLD SWIMMER/SURFER DUKE KAHANAMOKU BORN Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, born in Honolulu, was a 5-time Olympic medalist in swimming, winning medals in 1912, 1920 and 1924. … Continue reading “AUGUST 24, 1890”

CREE NURSE JEAN CUTHAND GOODWILL DIED Born August 14, 1928, raised in Little Pine First Nation (FN), Saskatchewan (SK), Jane spent 3 years in a sanitarium with tuberculosis. She graduated from the Holy … Continue reading “AUGUST 25, 1997”

ALEUT CHAGUDAX CARVER/ACTIVIST ANDREW GRONHOLDT BORN Born in Sand Point, Alaska, Gronholdt had a background as a wooden boat builder. He also crafted wooden pumps, known as chxuusi-x, to bail water … Continue reading “AUGUST 26, 1915”

“KIOWA FIVE” PAINTER QUED KOI (STEPHEN MOPOPE) BORN Stephen was born on the Kiowa Reservation in Indian Territory. Mopope’s name meant “Painted Robe. Influenced in art by his great uncles, Haungooah … Continue reading “AUGUST 27, 1898”

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”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN OLYMPIC SWIMMER PUA KEALOHA DIED Born on November 14, 1902, in Waialua, Hawaii, Pua was an American competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1920 Summer Olympics … Continue reading “AUGUST 29, 1989”

MOHAWK YOU-DA-GENT (DR. LILLIE ROSA MINOKA HILL) BORN-2ND NATIVE AMERICAN FEMALE PHYSICIAN Born on St. Regis Reservation in New York, Lillie’s Mohawk mother died in childbirth. At age 5, her Quaker … Continue reading “AUGUST 30, 1876”

YUP’IK CONGRESSWOMAN AKALLEG (MARY PELTOLA) BORN—1ST ALASKA NATIVE IN CONGRESS Born in Anchorage, Alaska (AK), Mary attended the University (Univ.) of Northern Colorado (1991-94) and Univ. of AK Fairbanks, Southeast, and … Continue reading “AUGUST 31, 1973”