MARCH 2021

IROQUOIS LAWYER ACTIVIST ROBERTA JAMIESON INVESTED AS MEMBER OF ORDER OF CANADA Jamieson, a Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, was the 1st First Nations woman to … Continue reading “MARCH 1, 1995”

INUIT ARTIST JESSIE OONARK BORN Born in Back River in what is now Nunavut, Oonark, named “Una,” was of the Utkusiksalingmiut, semi-nomadic people who fished and hunted caribou.  Caribou decline … Continue reading “MARCH 2, 1906”

SUPREME COURT RULES FOR CHEROKEE SOVEREIGNTY IN WORCESTER V. GEORGIA In 1827, to avoid removal from Georgia, Cherokees created a constitutional government declaring themselves a sovereign nation.  Samuel Worcester, then … Continue reading “MARCH 3, 1832”

TLINGIT ATTORNEY AND NATIVE AMERICAN BROTHERHOOD LEADER WILLIAM PAUL DIED Born May 7, 1885, in Tongass Village, Alaska, in 1912, he and brother Louis founded the Alaska Native Brotherhood which … Continue reading “MARCH 4, 1977”

HAWAIIAN JUDGE EMMA KAʻILIKAPUOLONO METCALF BECKLEY NAKUINA BORN Born near Honolulu, O’ahu, Emma was daughter of a chiefess and granddaughter of legendary Kalanikūpule.  She attended Mills’ Seminary for Young Ladies … Continue reading “MARCH 5, 1847”

PUEBLO PAINTER POCANO (JULIÁN MARTINEZ) DIED Born in 1897 in San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico, Martinez, whose Pueblo name meant “Coming of the Spirits,” was a farmer, governor of San … Continue reading “MARCH 6, 1943”

ALASKA LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES ANFESIA SHAPSNIKOFF AS AN “ALEUT TRADITION BEARER” The 21st Legislature of the State of Alaska recognized Anfesia Shapsnikoff as an “Aleut Tradition Bearer” who “…served as nurse, … Continue reading “MARCH 7, 2000”

HAWAIIAN HULA DANCER EMILY KAU’I ZUTTERMEISTER BORN Born on Oahu, Emily Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo was raised traditionally—by her maternal grandparents.  Her grandfather taught her plant cultivation; her grandmother, the uses of medicinal … Continue reading “MARCH 8, 1909”

ABENAKI WRITER SCHOLAR HENRY LORNE MASTA BORN Masta was a writer, teacher, scholar of the Abenaki Language, and respected leader in the Abenaki community.  He received his primary and secondary … Continue reading “MARCH 9, 1853”

ECUADORIAN ARTIST OSWALDO GUAYASAMÍN CALERO DIED Ecuador’s most celebrated artist, seen as among the greatest Latin American painters and sculptors of the 20th century, Guayasamín was born July 6, 1919, … Continue reading “MARCH 10, 1999”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL NAVIGATOR CHARLES NAINOA THOMPSON BORN Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nainoa is a Native Hawaiian navigator and Executive Director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society.  The first Hawaiian to … Continue reading “MARCH 11, 1953”

FORMER GWICH’IN GRAND CHIEF CLARENCE LEE ALEXANDER BORN Alexander was raised about 20 miles north of Fort Yukon, Alaska.  Former Grand Chief of Gwich’in peoples, he also was the first … Continue reading “MARCH 12, 1939”

ALEUT CHAGUDAX CARVER/ACTIVIST ANDREW GRONHOLDT DIED Born August 26, 1915, in Sand Point, Alaska, Gronholdt had a background as a wooden boat builder.  He also crafted wooden pumps, known as … Continue reading “MARCH 13, 1998”

BLACK CARIB GARIFUNA CHIEF SATUYE (JOSEPH CHATOYER) KILLED IN ST. VINCENT Chatoyer was a Carib chief who led two wars against the British colonial rule in Saint Vincent. In 1772, … Continue reading “MARCH 14, 1795”

CAYUGA HEREDITARY CHIEF DESKAHEH (LEVI GENERAL) BORN Born on the Six Nations Reserve on the Grand River, Levi became the Cayuga’s hereditary chief, or deskaheh, on the Confederacy Council in … Continue reading “MARCH 15, 1873”

SAMOSET GREETS PILGRIMS AT PLYMOUTH Samoset (“He Who Walks Over Much”), a sagamore (subordinate chief) of either an Eastern Abenaki or Mohegan tribe, was visiting the great Wampanoag chief Massasoit … Continue reading “MARCH 16, 1621”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN CHAMPION SURFER EDDIE AIKAU DROWNS SAVING LIVES Born May 4, 1946, Eddie descended from the high priest of Kings Kamehameha I and II.  Working at a cannery so … Continue reading “MARCH 17, 1978”

PIMA (O’ODHAM) REVOLT ENDS The Pima Revolt was the culmination of a 70-year period of hostilities against Spanish settlers due to a gradual loss of autonomy and territory.  Treaties allowing … Continue reading “MARCH 18, 1752”

QUECHUA LEADER TÚPAC AMARU II (JOSE CONDORCANQUI) BORN José Gabriel Condorcanqui Noguera was a descendant of the last Inca ruler, Túpac Amaru.  He took the name Túpac Amaru II when … Continue reading “MARCH 19, 1738”

NATIVE AMERICAN POET FLORENCE AI OGAWA DIED Born on October 21, 1947 in Albany, Texas, she described herself as having Choctaw-Chicasaw, Southern Cheyenne and Comanche heritage, along with black, Japanese … Continue reading “MARCH 20, 2010”

CHEHALIS BASKET WEAVER HAZEL PETE BORN Born on the Chehalis Indian Reservation, Hazel learned to weave baskets at age 5 by watching her grandmother.  She later attended the Institute of … Continue reading “MARCH 21, 1914”

MAYA LEADER TECÚN UMÁN DECLARED GUATEMALA’S NATIONAL HERO Tecún Umán, the last king of the K’iche-Maya people in what is now Guatemala, according to legend, was slain by Captain Don … Continue reading “MARCH 22, 1960”

PFC KÖCHA-HON-MANA (LORI ANN PIESTEWA) FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN KILLED IN COMBAT FOR U.S. Born December 14, 1979, in Tuba City, Arizona, Lori’s Hopi name meant “White Bear Girl.”  Like … Continue reading “MARCH 23, 2003”

CREEK ‘RED STICK” CHIEF LAMOCHATEE (WILLIAM WEATHERFORD) DIED Born around 1781 near Coosada, an Alabama town of the Creek Confederacy, Weatherford, whose Creek name meant “Red Eagle,” was related to … Continue reading “MARCH 24, 1824”

DENE ETHEL DOROTHY BLONDIN-ANDREW BORN–FIRST ABORIGINAL PARLIAMENT MEMBER Born in Tulita, Northwest Territories, Ethel was the first Indigenous woman elected to the Canadian Parliament.  She initially taught school from 1974-81 … Continue reading “MARCH 25, 1951”

BATTLE OF DUCK LAKE BEGINS NORTH-WEST REBELLION BY MÉTIS Uncertainty over land rights due to Canadian expansion and encroaching settlement led Métis leader Louis Riel to proclaim the Provisional Government … Continue reading “MARCH 26, 1885”

KWAKIUTL ARTIST BEAU DICK DIED Born November 23, 1955, in Kingcome Inlet, north of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Beau learned woodcarving from his grandfather and father assisting them in carving … Continue reading “MARCH 27, 2017”

HAWAIIAN SUFFRAGIST LEADER WILHELMINA KEKELAOKALANINUI WIDEMANN DOWSETT BORN Born at Lihue, Kauai, Wilhelmina’s Native Hawaiian mother’s grandfather was a retainer of the aliʻi of Kauai.  Her wedding was attended by … Continue reading “MARCH 28, 1861”

PRINCE PHILLIP’S WAR—NARRAGANSETT BURN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND During King Philip’s War (1675-78), named for Wampanoag leader Metacomet (with the English name of Philip), about one-third of the towns of New … Continue reading “MARCH 29*, 1676”

HAWAIIAN CIVIL WAR SAILOR/SOLDIER & BUFFALO SOLDIER PRINCE ROMERSON DIED Born about 1840, likely on Oahu (though possibly in the Philippines or India), Prince was a barber in New York … Continue reading “MARCH 30, 1872”

CANADA EXTENDS SUFFRAGE TO FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE On this date, the Canadian government granted First Nations people the right to vote in federal elections without losing their treaty status.  Prime … Continue reading “MARCH 31, 1960”