DECEMBER 2024

TLINGIT ACTIVIST ḴAAX̲GAL.AAT (ELIZABETH PERATROVICH) DIED Born on July 4, 1911, in Petersburg, Alaska (AK), Elizabeth’s Tlingit name meant “Person who packs for themselves.” She attended Ketchikan High School, Sheldon Jackson College, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 1, 1958”

INUIT ACTIVIST/NOBEL PEACE PRIZE NOMINEE SHEILA WATT-CLOUTIER BORN Sheila, born in Nunavik, Northern Quebec (NQ), was sent at age 10 to school in Manitoba & Nova Scotia before studying at McGill University. Starting as Inuktitut … Continue reading “DECEMBER 2, 1953”

DR. FRANCISCO LUNA KAN BORN-1ST MAYAN GOVERNOR OF YUCATAN Born in Mérida, Yucatán, Luna Kan earned his medical degree from the National Polytechnic Institute’s Higher School of Rural Medicine, before earning a … Continue reading “DECEMBER 3, 1925”

HAIDA TOTEM CARVER SKIL KEW WAT (FREDA DIESING) DIED Born on June 2, 1925*, in Prince Rupert, British Columbia (BC), her Haida name meant “Little Magic Woman.” One of the first … Continue reading “DECEMBER 4, 2002”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMPOSER ELEANOR PRENDERGAST DIED Eleanor (or Ellen) Kekoaohiwaikalani Wright Prendergast was born in Honolulu on April 12, 1865. She was educated as a Catholic at Sacred Hearts Convent, married … Continue reading “DECEMBER 5, 1902”

MÉTIS OLYMPIC CURLER CAROLYN DARBYSHIRE-McRORY (ALSO McRORIE) BORN Carolyn, born in Arbourg, Manitoba (MB), began curling at age 11. Playing with her mother in 1985, the team won the provincial title … Continue reading “DECEMBER 6, 1963”

OJI-CREE ARTIST JACKSON BEARDY DIED—FOUNDED PROFESSIONAL NATIVE INDIAN ARTISTS INC. (PNIAI) Born July 24, 1944, at Garden Hill First Nation in Manitoba (MB), Jackson studied art at the University (Univ.) of MB. Of the “Woodlands … Continue reading “DECEMBER 7, 1984”

REPUTED-MAYAN AJAW (TIKAL) YIK’IN CHAN K’AWIIL I ACCEDED TO THRONE The 27th ruler in Tikal’s dynastic succession, Yikʼin Chan Kʼawiil was one of Tikal’s most successful and expansionary rulers, consolidating the political … Continue reading “DECEMBER 8, 734”

PUEBLO POTTER ROXANNE SWENTZELL BORN Swentzell, born at Taos Pueblo, New Mexico (NM), is from a long line of Santa Clara Pueblo (SCP) potters. As a child, she made small sculptures to communicate … Continue reading “DECEMBER 9, 1962”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN CHANTER/HIGH PRIESTESS OF HULA-IOLANI LUAHINE DIED Harriet Lanihau, born on January 31, 1915, in Nāpoʻopo’o on Hawaii Island, was adopted & taught hula by a great aunt who danced … Continue reading “DECEMBER 10, 1978”

BRITISH COLUMBIA AGREES TO RENAME THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS “HAIDA GWAII” British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell announced the renaming at the signing of a reconciliation protocol. The traditional Haida name, which … Continue reading “DECEMBER 11, 2009”

CHEROKEE STATESMAN/GENERAL STAND WATIE BORN Born at Oothcaloga, Georgia, Watie served as Speaker of the Cherokee National Council prior to the “Trail of Tears.” A member of the Ridge-Watie-Boundinot faction, he … Continue reading “DECEMBER 12, 1806”

WILLIAM C. ROGERS BORN—THE LAST ELECTED CHEROKEE NATION PRINCIPAL CHIEF Born in the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory, Rogers enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 and served in the First … Continue reading “DECEMBER 13, 1847”

HOPI PFC KÖCHA-HON-MANA (LORI ANN PIESTEWA) BORN–FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN SERVICEWOMAN KILLED IN COMBAT Born in Tuba City, Arizona, Lori’s Hopi name meant “White Bear Girl.” Like her grandfather (World War II) … Continue reading “DECEMBER 14, 1979”

PRESIDENT NIXON SIGNS P.L. 91-550 RETURNING BLUE LAKE TO TAOS PUEBLO The Taos Pueblo Indians pressed for decades to regain control of the Blue Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. … Continue reading “DECEMBER 15, 1970”

INUPIAQ LEGISLATOR/CIVIC LEADER ALFRED NAKAK BORN Alfred was born in Nome, Alaska (AK) and raised in St. Michael, AK. Nakak studied political science at Columbia University and served in the Army National Guard. In 1972, Nakak ran … Continue reading “DECEMBER 16, 1947”

CHEROKEE ACTOR/ACTIVIST WES STUDI BORN Born Wesley Studie in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma (OK), Wes attended Chilocco Indian Agricultural School before serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. An activist in the … Continue reading “DECEMBER 17, 1947”

AKWESASNE MOHAWKS BLOCK SEAWAY INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE On December 18, 1968, members of the Mohawk village of Akwesasne blocked the Seaway International (Cornwall) Bridge connecting the U.S. to Canada. Their village is … Continue reading “DECEMBER 18, 1968”

HAWAIIAN ROYAL PHILANTHROPIST BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP BORN Bernice Pauahi Pākī, last direct descendant of King Kamehameha I, was born in Honolulu. Receiving a Western education at the Royal School, she excelled … Continue reading “DECEMBER 19, 1831”

INUIT SCULPTOR OVILU TUNNILLIE BORN Ovilu, born in Kangia, Baffin Island, Northwest Territories, came from a family of noted Cape Dorset artists. At a young age, due to tuberculosis (TB), Ovilu … Continue reading “DECEMBER 20, 1949”

GUATEMALAN MAYAN ARTIST CARLOS MERIDA DIED Born Carlos Santiago Ortega on December 2, 1891, near Guatemala City, Merida was of Maya-Quiche heritage. He studied painting at the Instituto de Artes y … Continue reading “DECEMBER 21, 1985”

HUECHOL-MESTIZO MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICTORIANO HUERTA BORN Born in Agua Gorda, State of Jalisco, both parents were Huichol; his father also Mestizo. In 1872, Huerta entered Chapultepec National Military College. Joining the … Continue reading “DECEMBER 22, 1850”

TLINGIT EDUCATOR KAA.OOSTI (ANDREW P. HOPE III) DIED Hope’s family was prominent in Alaskan Native politics with both the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Alaska … Continue reading “DECEMBER 23, 1949”

CHIPPEWA JAMES K. BARTLEMAN BORN—DIPLOMAT/AUTHOR/PUBLIC OFFICIAL Born in Orillia, Ontario (ON), his mother was of Mnjikaning First Nation. Graduating from Western Univ. (1963), James joined the Foreign Service (1966). Career highlights: High … Continue reading “DECEMBER 24, 1939”

ARGENTINE GUARANI WRITER ARTIST MIRTA TOLEDO BORN Mirta, born in Buenos Aires, attended the National School of Fine Arts (FA) Prilidiano Pueyrredón, earned FA degrees from the School of FA Manuel Belgrano (Bachelor’s, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 25, 1952”

KIOWA/KIOWA-APACHE ARTIST, CURATOR, AND POET RICHARD AITSON BORN Richard, whose Kiowa name meant “Buffalo Rider,” was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma (OK) and hailed from a long line of bead workers. Aitson attended Kimball … Continue reading “DECEMBER 26, 1953”

TSIMSHIAN ACTIVIST PETER SIMPSON DIED-FATHER OF ALASKAN NATIVE BROTHERHOOD While some differ on birth year (1871 or 1864), Simpson held he was born on July 4, in Lax Kw’alaams, British Columbia … Continue reading “DECEMBER 27, 1947”

LAKOTA ACTOR MICHAEL SPEARS BORN Michael, born on the Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota, a member of the Sicangu Lakota, debuted as “Otter,” in Dances with Wolves (1990). Among his several … Continue reading “DECEMBER 28, 1967”

TLINGIT ELDER/LEADER KAA KATLIN (ELLEN HOPE HAYS) BORN Ellen’s Tlingit name meant “Raven Looking Forward.” Born in Sitka, Alaska (AK), in 1966, she became the 1st woman to be accepted as a … Continue reading “DECEMBER 29, 1927”

ANISHINAABE SURGEON DR. NADINE CARON BORN Caron, born in Kamloops, British Columbia (BC), of Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation (FN), is Canada’s 1st FN female general surgeon. University Education: Simon Fraser—Bachelor of Science, basketball star … Continue reading “DECEMBER 30, 1970”

HAWAIIAN QUEEN KAPI’OLANI DIED Born Kapiʻolani Napelakapuokakaʻe, in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, her names meant “The arch [of] heaven” & “The sacred flesh of Kakae.” At 16, she became ward of King Kamehameha … Continue reading “DECEMBER 31, 1834”