NOVEMBER 2023

MAYO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PITCHER FERNANDO VALENZUELA BORN Born in Etchohuaquila, Mexico, Valenzuela, with his screwball (the “Fernando Fadeaway”), led the Texas League in strikeouts in 1980. Joining the Dodgers in late … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 1, 1960”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN OLYMPIC SWIMMER MANUELA KALILI BORN   Manuella or Manuela, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, learned to swim with his older brother, Maiola, in Honolulu harbor where they dove for coins. Together, they represented … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 2, 1912”

WRITER MARTIN CRUZ SMITH BORN—OF PUEBLO AND YAQUI HERITAGE Born in Reading, Pennsylvania (PA), his father was a jazz musician; his mother a nightclub singer. Martin received a Bachelor of Arts (creative writing) from University … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 3, 1942”

KWAKIUTL PUGLASS [JODY WILSON-RAYBOULD (JWR)] BECOMES CANADA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS MINISTER OF JUSTICE (MJ) AND ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG) Born March 23, 1971, in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), her name means “Woman with … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 4, 2015”

YOHL IK’NAL DIED–FIRST MAYAN QUEEN OF PALENQUE Lady Yohl Ik’ nal was the 1st recorded female ruler of the Mayan city of Palenque and 1st to have a full royal title. … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 5, 604”

MÉTIS FORMER BRITISH COLUMBIA (BC) SENATOR GERRY ST. GERMAIN BORN St. Germain, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, of Métis descent, was a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, police officer, businessman & farmer before entering politics. A conservative, Gerry … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 6, 1937”

EEYAWQUITTOOWAUCONNUCK (“BROTHERTOWN”) FOUNDED The Brothertown Indian Nation is made of descendants of the Christian, English-speaking Pequot, Niantic, Montauk and other coastal peoples of New York (NY) and New England. Forming in … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 7, 1785”

HAWAIIAN CHIEFTESS/HISTORIAN/SUFFRAGIST EMMA AHUENA DAVISON TAYLOR DIED Born on November 13, 1867, in Honolulu, Emma was educated at St. Andrew’s Priory and befriended Princess Kaʻiulani. Marrying writer/historian Albert Pierce Taylor in … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 8, 1937”

CARLISLE FOOTBALL TEAM BEAT ARMY 27-6 The West Point Cadets took the field to avenge a 1905 surprising loss to Carlisle Indian School. The Cadets, with the best defense in the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 9, 1912”

SHAWNEE CHIEF CORNSTALK DIED Possibly born about 1720 in Pennsylvania, by 1760, his band moved to the Scioto plains in Ohio. He may have led raids for the French during the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 10, 1777”

INUPIAQ COMMUNITY LEADER JACOB “ANAGI” ADAMS BORN Adams, born in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska (AK), was raised in Inupiaq traditions and became a lifelong practitioner and advocate for his culture. A successful whaling captain, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 11, 1946”

INUK ARTIST AGNES NANOGAK GOOSE BORN Born on the Baillie Islands in the Northwest Territories, in 1937, her family relocated to Holman, on Queen’s Bay. In the 1960’s, she joined the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 12, 1925”

NORTHERN PAIUTE LEADER CHIEF PAULINA BORN The location of Chief Paulina’s birth and events of his early life are not known. By the late 1850s, he led a band of Northern … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 13, 1833”

TLINGIT SCHOLAR AND PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER KHA’JAQ’TII (WALTER A. SOBOLEFF) BORN Soboleff, whose name meant “One slain in battle,” was born in Killisnoo, Alaska. His influences included Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 14, 1908”

DR. EVAN ADAMS BORN–SALISH PHYSICIAN/ACTOR/PLAYWRIGHT Born in the Salish Sliammon First Nation (FN) in British Columbia (BC), Evan’s acting career includes roles in several Canadian TV series & made-for-TV movies. On stage, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 15, 1966”

NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS ESTABLISHED In Denver, Colorado, in 1944, close to 80 delegates from 50 tribes and associations in 27 states came together to establish the National Congress of … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 16, 1944”

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ GET FEDERAL STATUS RESTORED The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is comprised of more than 27 Native American tribes & bands who once inhabited an extensive homeland of more than … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 17, 1977”

GOVERNMENT OPENS NEZ PERCÉ RESERVATION TO WHITE SETTLEMENT The Nez Percé reservation was created in 1855 and was officially established by the Treaty of June 9, 1863 and by subsequent agreements … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 18, 1895”

COLUMBUS LANDS IN PUERTO RICO; GREETED BY TAINO After Christopher Columbus’s first voyage in 1492, he had little trouble convincing Ferdinand and Isabela of Spain to fund a second voyage. On … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 19, 1493”

INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (IRSSA) REACHED On November 20, 2005, an agreement in principle was reached between: The plaintiffs represented by the National Consortium and the Merchant Law Group (MLG), … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 20, 2002”

LAKOTA LEADER/ELDER WWII VETERAN WIGMUKE WASTE’ WIN (MARCELLA LEBEAU) DIED Born October 12, 1919, in Promise, South Dakota (SD), on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation (CRIR), her name meant “Pretty Rainbow … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 21, 2021”

UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA CHIEFS (UBCIC) FORMED The UBCIC was founded in response to the Canadian federal government’s proposed “White Paper,” a 1969 government policy paper proposing dismantling the Department of Indian … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 22, 1969”

MEXICO PASSES JUAREZ’S LAW—AFFECTS CHURCH & INDIGENOUS LANDS IN MEXICO When Mexico obtained its independence from Spain in 1821, leader Agustin de Iturbide promised to maintain the Catholic religion and the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 23, 1855”

NISQUALLY BILLY FRANK, JR. RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM POSTHUMOUSLY orn in Nisqually, Washington, March 9, 1931, Frank left school after 9th grade, working construction jobs before joining the U.S. Marines … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 24, 2015”

NARRAGANSETT RELIGIOUS LEADER/WRITER THOMAS COMMUCK DIED Born January 4, 1804, Thomas grew up in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Around 1824, after attending a missionary school, he moved to Brothertown, New York. Marrying in … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 25, 1855”

FREDERICK WILLIAM KAHAPULA BECKLEY, SR. BORN-GOVERNOR OF KAUAʻI Born at Waimea, Beckley’s grandfather was Captain George Charles Beckley, a British sea captain and advisor of King Kamehameha I, who married the High Chiefess Ahia. … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 26, 1845”

BLOOD KUKUTOSI-POOTA (PRIVATE ALBERT MOUNTAIN HORSE) BURIED–ONLY CANADIAN INDIAN ON WORLD WAR I FRONT LINES TO DIE Born on December 25, 1893, on the Blood Indian Reserve in Alberta, his tribal … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 27, 1915”

ARGENTINE QOM INDIGENOUS ACTIVIST FELIX DIAZ BORN Diaz grew up in the Qom community of Potae Napoqna Navogoh (Colonia la Primavera). He joined the army, but left after learning of the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 28, 1959”

INDIAN ARTS & CRAFTS ACT OF 1990 (ACT) BECAME EFFECTIVE The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law prohibiting false representation in the marketing of American Indian or Alaska Native arts and … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 29, 1990”

MOHAWK WANEEK HORN-MILLER BORN–WATER POLO OLYMPIAN Born in Montreal, Quebec (QB), from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory (KMT), Waneek (WHM) almost died from being bayoneted during the Oka Crisis (1990). At Carleton University (CU) she … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 30, 1975”