DECEMBER 2023

SPEECH OF SENECA CHIEF GYANTWAHLA (CORNPLANTER) TO PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON During the American Revolution, all Iroquois nations (except the Oneida) allied with the British and, under the 1784 Treaty of Fort … Continue reading “DECEMBER 1, 1790”

TLINGIT WEAVER CHAS’ KOOWU TLA’A (TERI ROFKAR) DIED Born on September 27, 1956, in San Rafael, California, Rofkar was introduced as a child to Tlingit weaving by her maternal grandmother, Eliza … Continue reading “DECEMBER 2, 2016”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN ACTOR/UKELELE VIRTUOSO WILFRED NALANI “MOE” KEALE BORN Moe, born on the island of Niihau, was raised on Oahu and learned to play the ukulele at the age of 4.   He … Continue reading “DECEMBER 3, 1939”

CHITIMACHA ACTOR/OPERA SINGER NED ROMERO BORN Romero, born in Franklin, Louisiana, earned a master’s degree in music from Louisiana State University.  Ned began his show-business career as an opera singer in … Continue reading “DECEMBER 4, 1926”

KUYOKON ALASKAN ATHABASKAN AUTHOR POLDINE CARLO BORN Poldine, born in Nulato, Alaska, was raised by her grandparents–both powerful medicine people. In the 1960s, Native Alaskans were not always welcome at businesses … Continue reading “DECEMBER 5, 1920”

FAMED WASHOE BASKET WEAVER DAT SO LA LEE (LOUISA KEYSER) DIED Born in 1829 near current-Schurz, Nevada (NV), Dat-So-La-Lee was known initially by her given name, Dabuda. In her earlier years, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 6, 1925”

ALEUT EDUCATION ADVOCATE KATHRYN SELLER BORN Kathryn was born in Unalaska. She attended Jesse Lee Home for Children before going to Carlisle Indian Industrial School, graduating in 1906, and Westchester State Normal School, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 7, 1884”

GWICH’IN COLUMNIST EDITH JOSIE BORN Edith, born in Eagle, Alaska, moved with her family to Old Crow, Yukon, when she was 16. Leaving school after 5th Grade, she learned to read … Continue reading “DECEMBER 8, 1921”

CHICHIMECA CUAUHTLATOATZIN (SAINT JUAN DIEGO) HAS FIRST VISION OF VIRGIN MOTHER Born in 1474 in Cuautitlán, near current-Mexico City, Juan’s Chichimec name meant “the Talking Eagle.” At age 50, Juan & … Continue reading “DECEMBER 9, 1531”

NAVAJO OFFICIAL/POLITICIAN MARK MARYBOY BORN Mark was born near Bluf, Utah. After he ran away from a BIA boarding school due to harsh treatment, he & his brother became the 1st reservation … Continue reading “DECEMBER 10, 1955”

ATTAWAPISKAT CHIEF THERESA SPENCE BEGINS HUNGER STRIKE On October 28, 2011, Chief Theresa Spence called on the Ontario government to declare a state of emergency in her tiny community of 1,800. In early … Continue reading “DECEMBER 11, 2012”

COOLIDGE ADMINISTRATION CONVENES “ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INDIAN AFFAIRS” The Secretary of the Interior invited an eminent group of Americans to form the “Advisory Council on Indian Affairs,” also known as the “Committee … Continue reading “DECEMBER 12, 1923”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN ARMY OFFICER/DIPLOMAT/PUBLIC SERVANT CURTIS PI’EHU I’AUKEA BORN Born December 13, 1855, at Waimea, Hawaiʻi, and reared in Honolulu by his uncle, a personal attendant to King Kamehameha III, he … Continue reading “DECEMBER 13, 1855”

JIMMY CLAXTON BORN–1ST BLACK IN WHITE BASEBALL IN 20TH CENTURY HAD NATIVE HERITAGE Born in Wellington, British Columbia, Claxton, who claimed Native American heritage, began playing baseball at age 13. In … Continue reading “DECEMBER 14, 1892”

CREEK CHIEF HOBOI-HILI-MIKO (ALEXANDER MCGILLIVRAY) BORN McGillivray, whose name meant “Good Child King,” was born in Little Tallassee near present-Montgomery, Alabama. He was raised traditionally until age 14 when he went … Continue reading “DECEMBER 15, 1750”

PERUVIAN QUECHUA ACTOR BENJAMIN BRATT BORN Bratt, born in San Francisco, went with his Peruvian Quechua mother to powwows & to the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz. In high school, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 16, 1963”

CREE NHL PLAYER/COACH CRAIG BERUBE BORN Berube, born in Calahoo, Alberta, of Cree descent, played in the Western Hockey League & for the American Hockey League (AHL) Hershey Bears before joining … Continue reading “DECEMBER 17, 1965”

ALASKAN NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT (ANCSA) SIGNED INTO LAW When signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon, the ANCSA, Public Law 92-203 (85 Stat. 688), codified at 43 USC 1601-24, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 18, 1971”

LAKOTAH OYATE (LAKOTA FREEDOM DELEGATION) DECLARES REPUBLIC OF LAKOTAH Lakotah Oyate, a 4-member organization traveled to Washington, D.C. and contacted the State Department announcing in a letter that the Lakota were unilaterally withdrawing … Continue reading “DECEMBER 19, 2007”

OBAMA SIGNS NATIVE AMERICAN APOLOGY RESOLUTION Contained within the 2010 defense appropriations act, an “apology to Native Peoples of the United States” was the result of a bipartisan effort led by … Continue reading “DECEMBER 20, 2009”

BATTLE OF SAN PEDRO YALBAC—YUCATAN MAYA DEFEAT BRITISH The Guerra Social Maya, AKA the “Caste War,” lasted over 80 years (1847-1930’s) and saw over 50,000 deaths, villages burnt, and people displaced. … Continue reading “DECEMBER 21, 1866”

ADA DEER & JAMES WHITE EFFORTS LEAD TO MENOMINEE RESTORATION ACT (ACT) Starting in the mid-1940s, the U.S. pursued a policy of “termination” designed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American … Continue reading “DECEMBER 22, 1973”

FORMATION OF THE ALEUT CORPORATION (TAC) TAC is one of 13 Alaska Native Regional Corporations created under the Alaska (AK) Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) in settlement of aboriginal land claims. The Aleut … Continue reading “DECEMBER 23, 1971”

HAWAIIAN DUKE KAHANAMOKU POPULARIZES SURFING IN AUSTRALIA Born on August 24, 1890, in Honolulu, Native Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a 5-time Olympic medalist in swimming, winning medals in 1912, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 24, 1914”

ARMY BOMBARDS STIKINE-TLINGIT VILLAGE OF KAACHXAANA.ÁAKʼW (OLD WRANGELL) With the Alaska Purchase, the U.S. Army built Fort Wrangell next to the Stikine-Tlingit village of Old Wrangell. To Americans, Tlingit law was based on … Continue reading “DECEMBER 25, 1869”

HOMINY INDIANS DEFEAT NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL) CHAMPS NEW YORK GIANTS 13-6 The Hominy Indians football team, established in the early 1920s, was comprised of members from several different tribes, including … Continue reading “DECEMBER 26, 1927”

SAN CARLOS APACHE-AKIMEL O’ODHAM PAINTER, PHOTOGRAPHER DOUGLAS MILES BORN Miles, born in Phoenix & raised on the San Carlos Reservation, attended Bostrom Alternative High School (1978-80) where he created street art. Corollaries between … Continue reading “DECEMBER 27, 1963”

ECUADORIAN QUICHUA-MULATTO SCIENTIST & WRITER EUGENIO ESPEIO DIED Born Francisco Javier Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo, in 1747, in Quito, he was Quichua-Mulatto. With only two doctors in Quito, Espeio … Continue reading “DECEMBER 28, 1795”

HAWAIIAN SUFFRAGIST LEADER WILHELMINA KEKELAOKALANINUI WIDEMANN DOWSETT DIED Born on March 28, 1861, at Lihue, Kaua’i, Wilhelmina’s Native Hawaiian mother’s grandfather was a retainer (main supporter) of the aliʻi (chiefs) of … Continue reading “DECEMBER 29, 1929”

TLINGIT HISTORIAN SHAAXHWAA SHAAY EESH (FRED HOPE) BORN Of the Kiks.adi (Raven) Clan, Point House, Fred was born in Sitka, Alaska (AK). In their youth, Fred and his brother Herb were … Continue reading “DECEMBER 30, 1934”

INUVIK OLYMPIC CROSS-COUNTRY SKIERS SHARON & SHIRLEY FIRTH BORN From Aklavik, Northwest Territories (NWT), the sisters began skiing through the Territorial Experimental Ski Training Program. Starting with the 1968 Canadian Junior … Continue reading “DECEMBER 31, 1953”