DECEMBER 2022

NATIVE HAWAIIAN PRIMA DONNA SOPRANO NANI ALAPAI BORN Julita Nani Malina was born in Līhuʻe, on the island of Kauaʻi. Her mother was Native Hawaiian; her father, Filipino.  Nani was educated at … Continue reading “DECEMBER 1, 1874”

WAMPANOAG-NARRAGANSETT ELDER PRINCESS RED WING DIED Born Mary E. Glasko on March 21, 1896, in Sprague, Connecticut, her Wampanoag mother named her “Princess Red Wing” after the red-winged blackbird “to fling her … Continue reading “DECEMBER 2, 1987”

OJIBWE ELSIE KNOTT DIED–FIRST WOMAN ELECTED AS FIRST NATION CHIEF Born September 20, 1922, on Mud Lake Reserve, Ontario (ON), now Curve Lake First Nation (CLFN), Elsie’s schooling ended at grade … Continue reading “DECEMBER 3, 1995”

MÉTIS CREE CHIEF AHTAHKAKOOP (JOHN CHATELAIN) DIED Born in Saskatchewan River country in 1816, little is known of his early life.  By 1850, he became chief of a Cree band of … Continue reading “DECEMBER 4, 1896”

EDWIN MAHI’AI (“MAHI”) COPP BEAMER BORN– NATIVE HAWAIIAN TENOR FALSETTO Born in Honolulu and grandson of famed composer & hula teacher Helen Desha Beamer, he attended Kamehameha School, the University of … Continue reading “DECEMBER 5, 1928”

ROBERTO MAMANI MAMANI (ROBERTO AGUILAR QUISBERT) BORN– BOLIVIAN AYMARA ARTIST Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Mamani Mamani’s paintings draw upon his Aymara heritage, and include colorfully stylized images of indigenous mothers, condors, suns, and … Continue reading “DECEMBER 6, 1962”

JOHNNY BENCH BORN– BASEBALL HALL OF FAME CATCHER OF CHOCTAW DESCENT. Born in Oklahoma City, OK, Bench played baseball & basketball and was high school valedictorian in Binger, OK.  After 2 years with … Continue reading “DECEMBER 7, 1947”

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”

BATTLE OF CHUSTO-TALASAH IN OKLAHOMA: NATIVE V. NATIVE IN THE CIVIL WAR Also known as the “Battle of Caving Banks,” this fight occurred on Bird Creek near present Sperry, Oklahoma.  In … Continue reading “DECEMBER 9, 1861”

OGALALA LAKOTA CHIEF MAȞPÍYA LÚTA (RED CLOUD) DIED Born near present-day North Platte, Nebraska, raised by his maternal uncle, Ogalala Chief Smoke, Red Cloud gained notoriety in wars against the Pawnees, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 10, 1909”

DECISION IN DELGAMUUKW V. BRITISH COLUMBIA HELPS RESOLVE “ABORIGINAL TITLE” After many years of failed negotiations with British Columbia (B.C.), in 1984, the hereditary chiefs of the Gitxsan (Delgamuukw) & Wet’suwet’en First Nations (FNs) filed suit … Continue reading “DECEMBER 11, 1997”

SIOUX NATION MEMBER BOB BARKER BORN—LONG TIME TV GAMESHOW HOST Born in Darrington, Washington, Bob lived on the Rosebud Reservation, in South Dakota, until 8th grade.  Entering Drury College on a … Continue reading “DECEMBER 12, 1923”

SENECA HISTORIAN WRITER, INTELLECTUAL SOSISITOWAH (JOHN MOHAWK) DIED Born on August 30, 1945, on the Cattaraugus Reservation, New York, John graduated from Hartwick College in 1967 and became editor of Mohawk … Continue reading “DECEMBER 13, 2006”

NEDE WADE (ᏁᏕᏩᏕ) (NED CHRISTIE) BORN– CHEROKEE STATESMAN & FUGITIVE Born in Wauhillau, Cherokee Nation [now in Oklahoma (OK)], he was of the traditional Keetowah band.  Growing up, Christie was a marble champion, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 14, 1852”

MEXICAN YAQUI ACTOR ALFONSO BEDOYA DIED Born April 16, 1904, in Vicam, Sonora, Mexico, his family lived nomadically throughout the country.  Bedoya emigrated to Houston, Texas, as a teenager, but dropped … Continue reading “DECEMBER 15, 1957”

TUSCARORA JOHN NAPOLEON BRINTON HEWITT BORN—LINGUIST & ETHNOGRAPHER Born on the Tuscarora Reserve, New York State, Hewitt’s mother was of Tuscarora & Oneida descent; his father was a white orphan adopted … Continue reading “DECEMBER 16, 1859”

CREE-MÉTIS ACTIVIST JAMES W. BOURQUE BORN—NAMED TO QUEEN’S PRIVY COUNSEL Born in Wandering River, Alberta, Bourque, at age 18, was elected president of the hunters and trappers’ association in Fort Chipewyan before working as … Continue reading “DECEMBER 17, 1935”

WE’JITU (NOEL JEDDORE) BORN– EXILED MI’KMAQ GRAND CHIEF Born at Indian Point, Bay d’Espoir, Newfoundland, Jeddore was Saqamaw “grand chief” of the Mi’kmaq there.  The Mi’kmaq at Bay d’Espoir were Roman Catholic … Continue reading “DECEMBER 18, 1865”

UPPER SKALIT ELDER TEACHER TAQʷŠƏBLU (VI HILBERT) DIED Born July 24, 1918, near Lyman, Skagit County, Washington (WA), Vi grew up along the Upper Skagit River, moving frequently with her parents … Continue reading “DECEMBER 19, 2008”

FREDERICK W. KAHAPULA BECKLEY, JR. DIED—HAWAIIAN LEGISLATOR, HISTORIAN, LINGUIST Born on May 7, 1874, in Honolulu, son of Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Sr. & Emma Kaili Metcalf (later Nakuina), he had chiefly lineages on … Continue reading “DECEMBER 20, 1943”

FETTERMAN MASSACRE In the 1860s, gold miners in Montana Territory using the Bozeman Trail were often attacked by the Lakota in what was known as “Red Cloud’s War.”  In 1866, the … Continue reading “DECEMBER 21, 1866”

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

MAYAN QUEEN (PALENQUE) YOHL IK’NAL ACCEDED TO THRONE Yohl Ikʼnal, “Lady Heart of the Wind Place,” was a grandmother or great-grandmother of Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I, Palenque’s greatest king.  A descendant of Kʼukʼ … Continue reading “DECEMBER 23, 583”

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

CREE FRED “CHIEF RUNNING DEER” SASAKAMOOSE BORN–POSSIBLY 1ST INDIGENOUS NHL PLAYER Born on the Ahtahkakoop Indian Reserve, Saskatchewan (SK), Fred began playing ice hockey while at residential school in Duck Lake, SK.  After being Most … Continue reading “DECEMBER 25, 1933”

SUGPIAQ-ALUTIIQ JUDGE ROY MADSEN DIED–1ST ALASKAN NATIVE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE Born in 1923, in Kanatak, Alaska, Roy’s mother was Sugpiaq & Alutiq.  At age 4, Roy’s family moved to Kodiak.  He … Continue reading “DECEMBER 26, 2017”

LENAPE WATOMIKA (FATHER JAMES BOUCHARD) DIED—FIRST ORDAINED NATIVE AMERICAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST Born near Leavenworth, Kansas, circa 1823, his father was Lenape (Delaware).  His mother, of French ancestry, was captured by Native Americans & adopted … Continue reading “DECEMBER 27, 1889”

HAWAIIAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST EMMA NĀWAHĪ DIED Born on September 28, 1854, near Hilo, on the island of Hawaii, Emma ʻAʻima Aʻii Nāwahī’s mother was the daughter of a minor Hilo chief.  … Continue reading “DECEMBER 28, 1935”

ALGONQUIN BETSEY GUPPY CHAMBERLAIN REPUTEDLY BORN—WRITER & ACTIVIST Born in Wolfeboro or Brookfield, New Hampshire, Betsey claimed Algonquian (likely Abenaki) descent.  When her husband died in 1823, she worked in the … Continue reading “DECEMBER 29, 1797”

HOPI OTELLIE LOLOMA BORN—RENOWNED POTTER & DANCER Born at Second Mesa, Arizona, Otellie received a scholarship in 1945 to the School of the American Craftsman at Alfred University.  In the 1950s, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 30, 1921”

YAKAMA ACTOR ACTIVIST NEEHAHPOUW TACHNUM CHTUTUMNAH (NIPO T. STRONGHEART) DIED Born George Mitchell, Jr., May 15, 1891, on the Yakama Reservation, Washington, his name meant “Messenger of Light.”  At age 11, … Continue reading “DECEMBER 31, 1966”