JANUARY 2022

BLACKFOOT MINNIE SPOTTED WOLF DIED—1ST NATIVE AMERICAN FEMALE U.S. MARINE Born in 1923 and raised on a ranch near White Tail Creek, about 15 miles from Heart Butte, Montana, Spotted Wolf … Continue reading “JANUARY 1, 1988”

CREE PAINTER ALLEN SAPP BORN—GRANDFATHER OF SASKATCHEWAN FIRST NATION ARTS From the Red Pheasant Reserve in north central Saskatchewan, Sapp’s artistic talent, developed while recovering from childhood illnesses, was nurtured by … Continue reading “JANUARY 2, 1928”

HO CHUNK SHARICE DAVIDS AND LAGUNA PUEBLO DEB HAALAND SWORN IN AS US REPRESENTATIVES–FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN IN CONGRESS The 2018 elections brought to Congress two Native American women—the first Native … Continue reading “JANUARY 3, 2019”

OGLALA LAKOTA CHIEF ÓGLE ŠÁ (RED SHIRT) DIED Born circa 1847, near present day-Douglas, Wyoming, Red Shirt may have been the son of Red Dog, a progressive leader of the Oyuhpe … Continue reading “JANUARY 4, 1925”

CATHERINE H. TROEH BORN– CHINOOK HISTORIAN, ACTIVIST Born in Ilwaco, Washington, Troeh, a member of the Chinook tribe, was a nurse, antique-shop owner, and activist who spent her life supporting the … Continue reading “JANUARY 5, 1911”

MEXICAN MAYAN ZAPATISTA COMMANDANTA RAMONA DIED Born in 1959, near San Andrés de Larrainzer, Mexico, Commandanta Ramona (her nom de guerre), with Subcomandante Marcos, started the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) … Continue reading “JANUARY 6, 2006”

HAWAIIAN PRINCE JONAH KUHIO KALANIANA’OLE DIED-DELEGATE TO U.S. CONGRESS Born in Koloa, Kaua’i, Hawai’i, on March 26, 1871, Jonah was an heir to Kaumuali’i—the last ruling chief of Kaua’i.  He attended … Continue reading “JANUARY 7, 1922”

BEOTHUK DEMASDUIT (MARY MARCH) DIED Born circa 1798, Demasduit’s Beothuk people of Newfoundland were dwindling in number.  In early 1819, armed fur traders arriving at Red Indian Lake, winter camp of … Continue reading “JANUARY 8, 1820”

MESCALERO APACHE PRESIDENT SARA JANE MISQUEZ DIED Born September 6, 1945, in Mescalero, New Mexico (NM), Misquez grew up in Three Rivers, NM.  She earned a degree in business from Haskell … Continue reading “JANUARY 9, 2008”

MARIE CLEMENTS BORN–MÉTIS PLAYWRIGHT SCREENWRITER Born in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Clements studied journalism at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta, before working as a radio news reporter in the 1980s. … Continue reading “JANUARY 10, 1962”

INDIAN MESA DECLARED AGUA FRIA NATIONAL MONUMENT Created by proclamation, by President Bill Clinton, the Agua Fria contains one of the most important systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest, … Continue reading “JANUARY 11, 2000”

HAIDA SCULPTOR WILLIAM RONALD “BILL” REID, JR. BORN—MEMBER, ORDER OF CANADA Born in Victoria, British Columbia (BC), Reid initially was a CBC broadcaster in Toronto before returning to Vancouver in 1951, … Continue reading “JANUARY 12, 1920”

SAA.AAT’, KEET W’ OODEE’ISHK’ADUNEEK, GUSTEIHEEN (MARK JACOBS) DIED–TLINGIT LEADER & ALASKA NATIVE CODE TALKER Born on November 28, 1923, in Sitka, Alaska, Jacobs grew up at family camps.  His schooling was … Continue reading “JANUARY 13, 2005”

GERTRUDE GUERIN BECAME FIRST WOMAN CHIEF OF MUSQUEAM BAND IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Born in 1917, to the Squamish First Nation in Mission, British Columbia (BC), Gertrude married into the Musqueam First … Continue reading “JANUARY 14, 1961”

AYMARA CHIEF TOMAS KATARI DIED—HIS ARREST LED TO UPPER PERU REBELLION Born in San Pedro de Macha, Bolivia, Tomás Katari was a Quechua chief who, in support of indigenous rights, led … Continue reading “JANUARY 15, 1781”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN GUITARIST JOSEPH KEKUKU DIED–INVENTED STEEL GUITAR Born in 1874, in Lāʻie, on Oʻahu, Hawaii, Joseph left in 1889 to attend the Kamehameha School for Boys in Honolulu.  While there, … Continue reading “JANUARY 16, 1932”

CREE 1912 OLYMPIC RUNNER JOSEPH BENJAMIN “JOE” KEEPER BORN Of the Norway House Cree First Nation, Joe was born at Walker Lake, Manitoba.  At Brandon Indian Residential School & in high … Continue reading “JANUARY 17, 1886”

JOSE MARIA AERGUEDAS BORN– PERUVIAN MESTIZO NOVELIST, ANTHROPOLOGIST Born in Andahuaylas, in the southern Peruvian Andes, Arguedas grew up in an abusive household where he found solace with the Quecha servants.  … Continue reading “JANUARY 18, 1911”

TLINGIT AND HAIDA INDIANS OF ALASKA V. UNITED STATES The case involved 17 million acres taken from southeast Alaska tribes.  Work began on the case in 1929, but it took years … Continue reading “JANUARY 19, 1968”

PASSAMAQUODDY-WABANAKI CANOE MAKER DAVID MOSES BRIDGES DIED Born May 17, 1962, in Portland, Maine, David began paying attention to Native issues and learning more about his culture and heritage after the … Continue reading “JANUARY 20, 2017”

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK (APTN) ESTABLISHED IN CANADA Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, APTN is the first network by and for North American indigenous peoples.  It airs and produces programs made by … Continue reading “JANUARY 21, 1992”

KIOWA PASCAL C. POOLAW, JR. BORN—MOST DECORATED NATIVE AMERICAN SERVICEMAN Born in Apache, Oklahoma, Poolaw, in 1942, joined his father and brothers in the Army and served in World War II. … Continue reading “JANUARY 22, 1922”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMPOSER PIANIST ALBERT RICHARD (SONNY) CUNHA DIED Born on October 1, 1879, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Cunha attended Saint Louis School & Punahou School before going to Yale in 1898.  At Yale, he starred at … Continue reading “JANUARY 23, 1933”

OSAGE MARIA TALLCHIEF BORN–1ST NATIVE AMERICAN PRIMA BALLERINA Born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, Maria and her sister Marjorie were drawn to ballet.  After high school, Marie moved to New York City and … Continue reading “JANUARY 24, 1925”

INUPIAQ LEADER UGIAQTAQ (WESLEY AIKEN) DIED Born in January 25, 1926, in the small Arctic village of Isuk, he migrated with his family until age 12.  At 14, Aiken became a … Continue reading “JANUARY 25, 2020”

BATTLE OF SEATTLE BEGINS This one-day battle was part of the Puget Sound War (also Yakima War) which began in late 1855.  Natives were angered by treaties imposed by Territorial Governor … Continue reading “JANUARY 26, 1856”

CONGRESS APPROVES CREATION OF INDIAN TERRITORY (OKLAHOMA) After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson envisioned an “Indian colonization zone”– a permanent Indian frontier on the west bank of the … Continue reading “JANUARY 27, 1825”

BATTLE OF KURUYUKI (ALSO CURUYUQUI)—BOLIVIANS END GUARANIAN REVOLT The Chiriguanos (Eastern Bolivian Guarani) had fought successfully against the Inca Empire, the Spanish Empire, and Bolivia.  In 1889, a Chiriguano man named … Continue reading “JANUARY 28, 1892”

BEAR RIVER MASSACRE OF SHOSHONE Mormon settlers came to Cache Valley in Utah in the late 1850s forcing the Northwestern Shoshone into areas which could not support them.  As a result, … Continue reading “JANUARY 29, 1863”

HAWAII ENTERS TREATY OF RECIPROCITY WITH THE UNITED STATES In the mid-1800s, the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands was threatened by the imperial advances of Great Britain, France, and the United … Continue reading “JANUARY 30, 1875”

AHTNA TRADITIONAL CHIEF HARRY JOHNS, SR. DIED Born November 9, 1909, on the Klutina Lake Trail, Johns began working at age 9 hauling water.  In 1929, he joined the Territorial Railroad … Continue reading “JANUARY 31, 2004”