JUNE 2024

YUP’IK LINGUIST ARNAQ (MARIE MEADE) BORN From Nunapiciaqa, Alaska (AK), Marie’s Yup’ik name means “Woman.” A graduate of University of Alaska (UA) Fairbanks, Meade taught the 1st bilingual program in her village. … Continue reading “JUNE 1, 1947”

RED RIVER WAR ENDS WITH COMMANCHE QUANAH PARKER’S SURRENDER With the 1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty, southern Plains tribes were settled onto reservations in Indian Territory (IT). While the Comanche & Kiowa … Continue reading “JUNE 2, 1875”

MÉTIS LEADER JIM SINCLAIR BORN Sinclair, born in Punnichy, Saskatchewan (SK), joined the Métis Society of SK as a field worker in 1964. In 1967, he was elected to the board … Continue reading “JUNE 3, 1933”

CREE ACTOR DIRECTOR MICHAEL GREYEYES BORN Greyeyes, born in Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan, is Plains Cree from the Muskeg Lake First Nation. A 1984 National Ballet School graduate, Michael became a Corps de Ballet member … Continue reading “JUNE 4, 1967”

DENE MICHAEL SIKYEA BORN—DEFENDANT IN THE “MILLION DOLLAR DUCK” TRIAL Michael (also Michel) grew up in Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories (NWT) living traditionally: trapping, hunting, and fishing near Yellowknife, NWT. From 1963-95, … Continue reading “JUNE 5, 1901”

KAUIKEAOULI ASCENDS HAWAIIAN THRONE AS KAMEHAMEHA III Born March 17, 1814* on the island of Hawai’i, to Kamehameha I & Queen Keōpūolani, Kauikealouli’s name meant “Placed in the Dark Clouds.” He … Continue reading “JUNE 6, 1825”

OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL PLAYER ERIC FONOIMOANA BORN– OF SAMOAN DESCENT Born in Manhattan Beach, California (CA), Eric was “Athlete of the Year” at Mira Costa High School (MCHS) & 1987 Junior Olympics Most Valuable Player … Continue reading “JUNE 7, 1969”

BATTLE OF ACAJUTLA–SPANISH DEFEAT PIPIL Hernán Cortés, after conquering the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, delegated conquest of the territories southward to Pedro de Alvarado & his force of over 400 Spanish horsemen … Continue reading “JUNE 8, 1524”

IROQUOIS STAGE FIRST ATTACK ON MONTREAL Following nearby attacks on Algonquin traders in May, a group of forty Iroquois saw a group of 60 unarmed Huron (Wendat) coming down river in … Continue reading “JUNE 9, 1643”

MOHAWK POET PETER BLUE CLOUD BORN Born on the Caughnawaga Reserve in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada, Peter began writing poems as a teenager. In the 1950s, he moved to the West Coast … Continue reading “JUNE 10, 1933”

TLINGIT ATHLETE JUNKHATEEN (HERB DIDRICKSON) BORN—JIM THORPE OF ALASKA Sitka, Alaska, Herb’s Tlingit name meant “Quick Hands.” A great all-around athlete, Didrickson, who outran, out passed, outshot, and even outjumped opponents … Continue reading “JUNE 11, 1926”

CHIPPEWA AUGUSTUS “GUS” HUDON BEAULIEU, BORN—NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER Born in Crow Wing County, Minnesota (MN), Beaulieu’s influential family relocated to White Earth Reservation in 1869. Gus worked as clerk, shopkeeper, interpreter, real … Continue reading “JUNE 12, 1852”

GUATEMALA RATIFIES UNITED NATIONS PACT ON TRIBAL PEOPLES In Geneva, Switzerland, Guatemala’s Minister of Labour formally received notice of International Labour Organization’s acceptance of Guatemala’s decision to ratify the ILO Convention … Continue reading “JUNE 13, 1996”

TUSCARORA CHIEF/ACTIVIST RO-WA-DA-GAH-RAH-DEH (CLINTON RICKARD) DIED Born May 9, 1882, on the Tuscarora Reserve, Lewistown, New York, his name meant “Loud Voice.” After serving in the U.S. Army (1901-04), Clinton became a … Continue reading “JUNE 14, 1971”

MOHEGAN MEDICINE WOMAN AUTHOR DR. GLADYS TANTAQUIDGEON BORN Gladys, born in Uncasville, Connecticut (CT), was a descendant of the 1st Mohegan Sachem, Uncas. Starting at age 5, Tantaquidgeon learned about tribal … Continue reading “JUNE 15, 1899”

THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN PREDICTED BY SHAWNEE TENSKWATAWA (THE PROPHET) OCCURS In April 1806, Shawnee leader Tecumseh’s younger brother, Native religious revivalist, Tenskwatawa, whose name meant “Open Door” (also known … Continue reading “JUNE 16, 1806”

WARM SPRINGS CHIRICAHUA APACHE FEMALE WARRIOR LOZEN DIED Born circa 1840 near Ojo Caliente (in New Mexico), Lozen was one of her band’s best riders. At her coming-of-age ceremony, she received … Continue reading “JUNE 17, 1889”

MUSCOGEE (CREEK) ARTIST, DANCER, FLAUTIST LUMHEE HOLOT-TEE (ACEE BLUE EAGLE) DIED Born Alexander McIntosh, August 16, 1909, near Anadarko, Oklahoma (OK), “Acee” was a nickname; “Blue Eagle” a traditional family surname. … Continue reading “JUNE 18, 1959”

ACADIAN MÉTIS ARTIST HÉLÈNE BOUDREAU BORN Hélène, born in Petit de Grat, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, earned a degree in biology from Dalhousie University. She worked for the Canadian Parks Service & … Continue reading “JUNE 19, 1969”

ACT OF JUNE 20 AUTHORIZES LEASES OF HAWAII NATIONAL PARK LAND TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS H.R. 1995 was an Act to add certain lands on the island of Hawaii to the Hawaii … Continue reading “JUNE 20, 1938”

ATHABASCAN EDUCATOR JEANNEMARIE CRUMB BORN Jeannemarie, born in Fairbanks, Alaska (AK), attended local public schools before graduating from the University of AK Fairbanks, receiving a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School … Continue reading “JUNE 21, 1945”

CANADA PASSES GRADUAL ENFRANCHISEMENT ACT Following the 1763 Treaty of Paris, British colonial officials developed laws to decide who was an “Indian,” in part, for determining who could live on reserves. In … Continue reading “JUNE 22, 1869”

CHIEF AND LEGISLATOR AARON KEALI’IAHONUI DIED Born August 17, 1800, to the last king of Kaua’i and a mother of royal line, “Keali’iahonui” means the “King whose strength is attained through … Continue reading “JUNE 23, 1849”

MIXTÓN WAR-TENAMAZTLE & DON DIEGO DEFEAT SPANISH With the brutality of both conquistador Nuño de Guzmán and the encomenderos (slaveholders), the Caxcanes of Nueva Galicia, Mexico, and other Chichimecs (nomadic and … Continue reading “JUNE 24, 1541”

LENAPE DANIEL BARKER BORN—FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION Born in Santa Monica, California (CA), Barker earned a degree in religion from Azusa Pacific University. Ordained by the Standard Community Church, CA, in 1975, … Continue reading “JUNE 25, 1949”

OBAMA ESTABLISHES WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL ON NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS Executive Order (Order) 13647, creating the White House (WH) Council on Native American Affairs (Council), established “a national policy to ensure that … Continue reading “JUNE 26, 2013”

ASTRONAUT NICOLE AUNAPU MANN BORN—FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN FROM NASA IN SPACE Mann, born in Petaluma, California (CA) and registered with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, earned Mechanical Engineering … Continue reading “JUNE 27, 1977”

TSILHQOT’IN FILMMAKER TREVOR MACK BORN Mack, born in Vancouver (Van.), British Columbia (BC) started at age 15 editing Xbox video game footage into montages before co-founding the freelance videography group ‘Viral Design.’ From 2012-19, Mack, after collaborating … Continue reading “JUNE 28, 1992”

INUK CANADIAN SENATOR BUSINESSMAN CHARLIE WATT BORN Watt, born in Fort Chimo (now Kuujjuaq], Québec (QB), founded the Northern QB Inuit Assn. (NQIA) [later the Makvik Corp.]. President of NQIA/Makvik from 1972–82, … Continue reading “JUNE 29, 1944”

CHIPEWYAN MATONABBEE AND SAMUEL HEARNE’S 3rd EXPEDITION RETURN FROM COPPERRMINE RIVER Born circa 1737, Matonabbee, a noted Chipewyan caribou hunter who lived around the Prince of Wales Fort (near current Churchill, Manitoba) served … Continue reading “JUNE 30, 1772”