NOVEMBER 2022

PERUVIAN INCA SOPRANO YMA SUMAC DIED Born Zoila Augusta Chavarri del Castillo, September 13, 1922, in Ichocán, Cajamarca, Peru, Yma’s mother was a full-blooded Incan.  Lacking formal music training, she claimed “The creatures … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 1, 2008”

OJIBWE CORA REYNOLDS ANDERSON ELECTED—ONLY NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE Born in L’Anse, Michigan, on April 10, 1882, Cora was a member of the La Pointe band.  Graduating from the L’Anse … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 2, 1924”

CHICKASAW NASA ASTRONAUT JOHN HERRINGTON BECOMES 1ST ENROLLED NATIVE AMERICAN  IN SPACE Born September 14, 1958, in Wetumka, Oklahoma, John graduated high school in Plano, Texas (1976) and earned a Bachelor … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 3, 2002”

HAIDA GUUD SANS GLANS (ROBERT CHARLES DAVIDSON) BORN—NOTED CARVER Born in Hydaburg, Alaska, both grandfathers (one was famed Haida artist Charles Edenshaw) and his father were noted carvers.  Robert, whose Haida … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 4, 1946”

INUPIAQ EDNA AGHEAK MACLEAN BORN—LINGUIST & ANTHROPOLOGIST Born in Barrow (now Utqiaġvik), Alaska, Edna was punished for speaking Iñupiaq at school.  She earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado Women’s … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 5, 1944”

PRESIDENT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13175:  REQUIRES “CONSULTATION & COORDINATION WITH INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS” Signed by President William J. Clinton, the intent of the Executive Order was to:  Establish regular and … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 6, 2000”

INUK ARTIST SIMON TOOKOOME DIED Born December 9, 1934, by Chantrey Inlet, near Canada’s northern coast, Simon grew up learning the lifestyle and beliefs of his people, the Utkusiksalingmiut Inuit, who … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 7, 2010”

GUATEMALA PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES TO ACHI FORCED TO LEAVE LAND FOR CHIXOY DAM In Guatemala City, President Otto Perez Molina apologized to 33 communities of indigenous Achi whose members were murdered or … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 8, 2014”

HO-CHUNK (WINNEBAGO) WRITER, TRADITIONALIST MOUNTAIN WOLF WOMAN DIED Born on April 1, 1884, near Black River Falls, Wisconsin, her grandfather taught her tribal medicine.  Her brother gave her as a bride to … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 9, 1960”

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM RECIPIENT NAVAJO ACTIVIST ANNIE DODGE WAUNEKA DIED Born in 1910, near Sawmill, Arizona, Annie, while at boarding school, contracted the Spanish influenza.  Recovering, she stayed at school … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 10, 1997”

WET’SUWET’EN ANDREW GEORGE JR. BORN—WORLD CULINARY OLYMPIAN & AUTHOR Born in Smithers, British Columbia (B.C.), Andrew grew up in Telkwa, B.C.  In 1983, after secondary school, he entered Vancouver Vocational Institute for cook training, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 11, 1963”

CHEROKEE VICE ADMIRAL JOSEPH “JOCKO” CLARK BORN—1ST NATIVE AMERICAN GRADUATE OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY Born in Pryor, Oklahoma, he attended Willie Halsell College & Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 12, 1893”

NIGHT THE STARS FELL–LEONID METEOR SHOWER AND THE PAWNEE The Leonid Meteor Shower happens annually, in mid-November.  However, every 33 years, when the Leonid comet’s orbit takes it closer to Earth, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 13, 1833”

KWAKIUTL ELLEN MAY NEEL BORN—INTERNATIONALLY-NOTED TOTEM CARVER Born in Alert Bay, British Columbia (B.C.), Ellen’s mother was of the Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) tribe. Neel’s grandfather, Charlie James, and uncle, Mungo Martin, were … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 14, 1916”

QUEBEC COURT RULING LEADS TO JAMES BAY & NORTHERN QUEBEC AGREEMENT WITH CREE & INUIT. In the 1970s, Quebec undertook construction of several hydroelectric dams in the James Bay region.  It … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 15, 1973”

MEXICAN TEPEHUAN REVOLT AGAINST SPANISH Taking place in the states of Durango and Chihuahua, the revolt was part of a series of Indian revolts caused by being empressed into labor in the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 16, 1616”

KIOWA PAINTER TSEKOYATE (JAMES AUCHIAH) BORN—MEMBER OF THE “KIOWA SIX” Born in Oklahoma (OK) Territory near present Medicine Park, his Kiowa name meant “Big Bow.”  James’ talent was noticed at mission … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 17, 1906”

REPUTED—MAYAN AJAW (PIEDRO NEGRAS) ITZAM K’AN AHK II BORN Also known as Ruler 4, he ruled during the Late Classic Period (729–757 AD).  Of the 3 extant references to his birth, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 18, 701”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN JASON SCOTT LEE BORN—STAGE & SCREEN ACTOR Born in Los Angeles, California, of Hawaiian and Chinese descent, Lee was raised in Hawaii.   His interest in acting began while … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 19, 1966”

CANADIAN SUPREME COURT DECISION IN R V. DRYBONES—DISCRIMINATION VIOLATIVE OF NATION’S BILL OF RIGHTS. On April 10, 1967, Joseph Drybones pleaded guilty to being an Indian intoxicated off a reserve in … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 20, 1969”

CHARLES JOYCE CHIBITTY BORN—THE LAST COMANCHE WWII CODE TALKER Born near Medicine Park, Oklahoma, Chibitty, whose name meant “Holding on Good,” attended Haskell Indian School. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in January … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 21, 1921”

MEXICAN MAZATEC NATIVE HEALER MARIA SABINA DIED María Sabina Magdalena García, known as the “Priestess of Mushrooms,” was born to the Mazatec people on July 24, 1894, in Huautla de Jiménez, in … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 22, 1985”

INUK SCULPTOR PRINTMAKER KANANGINAK POOTOOGOOK DIED Born on January 1, 1935 in Ikirasak, on Baffin Island, he moved to Cape Dorset in 1957 to help care for his father.  Pootoogook’s drawings … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 23, 2010”

MATAIO KEKŪANAŌʻA—KUHINA NUI FATHER OF KINGS-DIED Born in 1791, Kekūanaōʻa’s name meant “The Standing Projection” in Hawaiian.  He was a close companion of King Kamehameha II in his youth, and was with him in … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 24, 1868”

AFRICAN-AMERICAN & APACHE ACTRESS CLAUDIA McNEIL DIED Born on August 13, 1917, in Baltimore, Maryland, Claudia’s father was African-American, her mother was Apache.  In her teens, she was adopted by a … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 25, 1993”

THELMA CHALIFOUX BECOMES FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN APPOINTED TO CANADIAN SENATE Born in Calgary, Alberta, February 8, 1929, Thelma studied at Lethbridge Community College and at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology while … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 26, 1997”

OJIBWE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME PLAYER O-GEE-CHIDAH (JOE GUYON) DIED Born November 26, 1892, on the White Earth Indian Reservation, Minnesota, Joe attended Carlisle Indian School where, for Coach Pop Warner, … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 27, 1971”

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN ACT OF 1989 SIGNED INTO LAW Signed by President George H. W. Bush, Public Law 101–185, authorized the erection of the National Museum of the … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 28, 1989”

MÉTIS LEADER JAMES ISBISTER BORN Son of an English father & English Métis mother and born in Manitoba, James was fluent in English, Gaelic, Cree, Chipewyan & Michif (a Cree-French hybrid).  … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 29, 1833”

ONEIDA LAWYER & ACTIVIST GEYNA (CHESTER POE CORNELIUS) DIED Born September 7, 1869, on the Oneida Reservation, Wisconsin, Cornelius attended Carlisle Indian School, Dickinson College, Univ. of Pennsylvania & Harvard before … Continue reading “NOVEMBER 30, 1930”