MARCH 2024

NATIVE HAWAIIAN SINGER SOLOMON HO’OPI’I DIED Born March 28, 1935, in the village of Kahakuloa, Maui, Solomon and brother Richard were both taught to play the ukulele at age 3. Singing … Continue reading “MARCH 1, 2006”

IÑUPIAQ ELLEN PANEOK DIED—BUSH PILOT/AUTHOR/ARTIST Born in Bedford, Virginia, in 1959, Paneok moved to Anchorage, Alaska, with her mother after her parents’ divorce. At age 12, she went to live in … Continue reading “MARCH 2, 2008”

IÑUPIAQ TEEN ALBERTA SCHENCK ARRESTED FOR SITTING IN WHITE SECTION OF NOME THEATRE—LEADS TO ALASKA ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1945. Born inNome, Alaska, on June 16, 1928, Alberta was a 16-year-old usher … Continue reading “MARCH 3, 1944”

KUNA (SAN BLAS) REVOLUTION SETTLED – TRIBAL AUTONOMY RESTORED After Panama achieved independence from Columbia in 1903, some Kuna on the San Blas Islands (the Guna Yala region) remained loyal to … Continue reading “MARCH 4, 1925”

OSAGE BASEBALL STAR JOHNNY LEONARD “PEPPER” MARTIN DIED Born February 29, 1904, in Temple, Oklahoma (OK), Pepper played baseball locally in OK City & football for the Hominy Indians before joining … Continue reading “MARCH 5, 1965”

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDIAN OPPORTUNITY (NCIO) ESTABLISHED The NCIO was established by Executive Order 11399 (later amended by Act of Congress on November 26, 1969) to encourage and oversee the rise … Continue reading “MARCH 6, 1968”

SHAWNEE BALLERINA MYRA YVONNE CHOUTEAU BORN Yvonne, of Shawnee heritage, joined with Maria and Marjorie Tallchief, Moscelyn Larkin, and Rosella Hightower—the Oklahoma Indian ballerinas—in being named “Cultural Treasures” in 1997. Born … Continue reading “MARCH 7, 1929”

SANTEE SIOUX ATTACK SPIRIT LAKE FOR KILLING OF SIDOMINADOTAH From March 8 through 12, 1857, a band of Santee Sioux attacked scattered Iowa frontier settlements during a severe winter. Suffering a shortage … Continue reading “MARCH 8, 1857”

OJIBWE SERGEANT MAJOR FRANCIS PEGAHMAGABOW BORN–MOST DECORATED INDIGENOUS SOLDIER IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR  Born on what is now the Shawanaga First Nation, near Parry Sound, Ontario, Pegahmagabow, whose Ojibwe name … Continue reading “MARCH 9, 1889”

MAYAN AJAW (PIEDRO NEGRAS) YO’NAL AHK III ACCEDED TO THRONE Also known as Ruler 5, Yoʼnal Ahk III ascended to the throne as ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala, upon the death of Itzam Kʼan … Continue reading “MARCH 10, 758”

KOYUKAN ATHABASKAN ENGINEER/ACTIVIST/POLITICIAN EMIL NOTTI BORN Notti, born in Koyukuk, Alaska (AK), Notti earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical and electrical engineering from Northrop University. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean … Continue reading “MARCH 11, 1933”

ACOMA PUEBLO POTTER LUCY M. LEWIS DIED Born circa 1890 in Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico (NM) Territory, Lucy, who celebrated her birthday on November 2, is deemed the matriarch of Acoma … Continue reading “MARCH 12, 1992”

IÑUPIAQ JOHN NUSUNGINYA BORN–ALASKAN LEGISLATOR Born in Utqiagvik, Alaska, John was a carpenter and owned a delivery service business in Utqiagvik, also serving as mayor and director of civil defense before being elected to … Continue reading “MARCH 13, 1927”

MAYA RULER TABSCOOB LEADS MAYA AGAINST SPANISH IN BATTLE OF CINTLA On March 13, 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés took over the Chontal Maya capital city of Potonchán (in the current … Continue reading “MARCH 14, 1518”

MESKWAKI (FOX) CHIEF WAPELLO DIED Born at Prairie du Chien, Northwest Territory, in 1787, his Sauk name meant “He Who Is Painted White.” Wapello led a band of Meskwaki in the … Continue reading “MARCH 15, 1842”

TLINGIT/ATHABASCAN/YUP’IK ARCTIC OLYMPIAN KAAYAK’W (KYLE WORL) BORN Kyle is an award-winning Arctic Sports athlete & coach. Arctic Sports, a collection of Indigenous games based on hunting and survival skills of the … Continue reading “MARCH 16, 1991”

CREEK WWII MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER LCOL ERNEST CHILDERS DIED Born February 1, 1918, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Childers attended Chilocco Indian Agricultural School before joining the Oklahoma Army National Guard … Continue reading “MARCH 17, 2005”

HAIDA GEORGE NIX BORN—1ST NATIVE ALASKAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER Born in Howkan, Alaska, a Haida island village west of Ketchikan, George went to Chemewa Indian School in Salem, Oregon, before attending Haskell … Continue reading “MARCH 18, 1895”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN BARITONE ALFRED AHOLO APAKA BORN— “THE GOLDEN VOICE OF HAWAII” Alfred, born in Honolulu, was an athlete, singer, and ROTC cadet captain at Roosevelt High School. With his strong … Continue reading “MARCH 19, 1919”

BATTLE OF NOOHOROOKA BEGINS: DECISIVE BATTLE OF THE TUSCARORA WAR In September 1711, the Tuscarora, who controlled the land between the Neuse and Roanoke Rivers, killed John Lawson, whom they believed was … Continue reading “MARCH 20, 1713”

NAVAJO CERAMIST/POTTER ALICE CLING BORN Cling, born in Cow Springs, Arizona (AZ), on the Navajo Nation, learned pottery from her mother, famed potter Rose Williams, and from her great aunt, Grace Barlow. Graduating from the Intermountain … Continue reading “MARCH 21, 1946”

WAMPANOAG SACHEM MASSASOIT FORMS ALLIANCE WITH PILGRIMS Four months after the Mayflower arrived in America, English settlers were still living either in temporary dwellings on shore or aboard the Mayflower. After … Continue reading “MARCH 22, 1621”

GEORGE COX KAHEKILI KEʻEAUMOKU (KEʻEAUMOKU II) DIED– ADVISOR TO KAMEHAMEHA I Born circa 1784, Ke’eaumoku’s parents hailed from noble families on the islands of Hawaiʻi & Maui. Ke’eaumoku’s father, Keʻeaumoku Pāpaʻiahiahi, was … Continue reading “MARCH 23, 1824”

REIGN OF MAYAN AJAW (PIEDRO NEGRAS) HA K’IN XOOK ENDS Haʼ Kʼin Xook, also known as Ruler 6 and Ajaw of the Piedras Negras Maya settlement in current day-Guatemala, ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 767–780 AD. … Continue reading “MARCH 24, 780”

OSAGE NOM-PEH-WAH-THEH (CARTER REVARD) BORN—POET SCHOLAR Born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma (OK), Carter’s name meant “Fear inspiring.” After the University (U.) of Tulsa & a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford, he earned a … Continue reading “MARCH 25, 1931”

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 of … Continue reading “MARCH 26, 1885”

LAKOTA/DAKOTA/ANISHANAABE SUSAN ALLEN BORN–1ST MINNESOTA NATIVE AMERICAN LEGISLATOR/1st OPENLY LESBIAN NATIVE AMERICAN LEGISLATOR Born on the Uintah & Ouray Indian Reservation, Utah, Allen graduated from Augsburg College (1992), earned a J.D. from the University of New Mexico … Continue reading “MARCH 27, 1963”

SIOUX BLACKFOOT LEADER FRANCINE TAYLOR ENTERS ALASKA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME Born in California in 1937, Francine moved to Anchorage, Alaska (AK) in 1961. Volunteering at the AK Crippled Children’s Association … Continue reading “MARCH 28, 2014”

BLACK SEMINOLE MEDAL OF HONOR (MOH) WINNER POMPEY FACTOR DIED Born in Arkansas in 1849, Factor, like many Black Seminoles, fled to Mexico which did not permit slavery. After the Civil … Continue reading “MARCH 29, 1928”

PUEBLO JEWELRY ARTIST GAIL BIRD BORN Born in 1949 at Oakland, California (CA), Gail’s father & mother were from the Santo Domingo and Laguna Pueblos, respectively. Bird studied at University of CA Berkeley and … Continue reading “MARCH 30, 1949”

MEKIA KEALAKAI–ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND CONDUCTOR–DIED Born October 15, 1867, on Oahu, son of a sergeant major (“Mekia” means “major”), Mekia was sent to reform school in 1879 where he began musical … Continue reading “MARCH 31, 1944”