- OCTOBER 1, 1981IÑUPIAQ ELLIOT SAMPSON’S UPSET CROSS COUNTRY VICTORY At the starting line of the 1981 Alaska (AK) state cross country championship, Elliot Sampson from little Noorvik, AK, lined up with the state’s … Continue reading “OCTOBER 1, 1981”
- OCTOBER 2, 1843HAWAIIAN JOURNALIST/DIPLOMAT JOHN MĀKINI KAPENA BORN Kapena, born at Lahaina, on Maui, was of the Kalākaua family. Adopted hānai by Jonah Kapena, John attended the Royal School and Oahu College. In 1870, he became editor of … Continue reading “OCTOBER 2, 1843”
- OCTOBER 3, 1979HAWAIIAN HULA DANCER EDITH KANAKA’OLE DIED Edith Kenao, born October 30, 1913, in Honomu, Hawai’i (HI), learned Hula from her mother. Known as “Aunty Edith,” she also was a composer & … Continue reading “OCTOBER 3, 1979”
- OCTOBER 4, 1754CATAWBA/SENECA LEADER TANACHARISON (HALF-KING) DIED Likely born into the Catawba tribe about 1700 near modern Buffalo, New York, Tanaghrisson was captured by the French and later adopted into the Seneca. He hated the French … Continue reading “OCTOBER 4, 1754”
- OCTOBER 5, 1902HAWAIIAN HIGH CHIEFTESS ULULANI LEWAI BAKER DIED–GOVERNOR OF HAWAI’I Descended from the high chiefs of Maui, Ululani Lewai Peleiōhōlani was born in 1858. Under Hawai’i’s 1840 Constitution, the islands of Hawai’i, … Continue reading “OCTOBER 5, 1902”
- OCTOBER 6, 649MAYAN KING (CALAKMUL) YUKNOOM YICH’AAK K’AHK BORN A Maya king of the Kaan kingdom with its capital at Calakmul, his name meant “Jaguar Paw Smoke.” While he acceded to the throne at age 36, he may have … Continue reading “OCTOBER 6, 649”
- OCTOBER 7, 1966SPOKANE/COUER D’ALENE POET SHERMAN ALEXIE BORN Alexie, born on the Spokane Indian Reserve, Washington (WA), was an avid reader. A high school honor student & class president, Sherman graduated from WA State University in … Continue reading “OCTOBER 7, 1966”
- OCTOBER 8, 1839SEMINOLE CHIEF EMATHLA (KING PHILLIP) DIED AT AGE 100 Emathla was a respected Seminole leader of the Alachua region in the early 1800s. Known for his diplomacy, he was firmly committed … Continue reading “OCTOBER 8, 1839”
- OCTOBER 9, 2003JORDIN TOOTOO BECOMES 1ST INUIT TO PLAY IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (NHL) Jordin, born February 2, 1983, in Churchill, Manitoba, grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. He played for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the … Continue reading “OCTOBER 9, 2003”
- OCTOBER 10, 2022INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY IN THE UNITED STATES PROCLAIMED On October 7, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., proclaimed that Indigenous Peoples’ Day would be celebrated in the U.S. that October 10th. … Continue reading “OCTOBER 10, 2022”
- OCTOBER 11, 1951CREE PAINTER JANE ASH POITRAS BORN Poitras was born in Ft. Chipewyan, Alberta (AB). When her mother died after birth, she was adopted by a non-Aboriginal widow. Jane did not know … Continue reading “OCTOBER 11, 1951”
- OCTOBER 12, 1911SOCIETY OF AMERICAN INDIANS (SAI) FOUNDED The first Pan-Native lobbying entity, SAI was organized by noted Native Americans. Its leaders included: Episcopal priest Rev. Sherman Coolidge (Arapaho); anthropologist Arthur C. Parker … Continue reading “OCTOBER 12, 1911”
- OCTOBER 13, 1980NATIVE HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITARIST CHARLES PHILIP KUNIA “GABBY” PAHINUI DIED Born in Honolulu on April 22, 1921, Pahinui grew up shining shoes and selling newspapers before leaving school after 5th … Continue reading “OCTOBER 13, 1980”
- OCTOBER 14, 2014MASTER POTTER/ELDER AND OLDEST CATAWBA BERTHA GEORGE HARRIS DIED Born on June 29, 1913, in Lancaster County, South Carolina, Harris lived in neighboring Catawba and York Counties for most of her life. Harris created Catawba … Continue reading “OCTOBER 14, 2014”
- OCTOBER 15, 625MAYAN AJAW (DOS PILAS) BALAJ CHAN K’AWIIL BORN Balaj Chan K’awiil, also known as Ruler 1, Flint Sky God K and Malah Chan Kʼawil, was son of K’inich Muwaan Jol II, the 23rd or 24th … Continue reading “OCTOBER 15, 625”
- OCTOBER 16, 1992GUATEMALAN INDIAN RIGOBERTA MENCHU RECEIVES NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Born in Laj Chimel, Guatemala, Rigoberta, while a teen, participated in social reform and women’s’ rights activities. During the Guatemalan Civil War, she … Continue reading “OCTOBER 16, 1992”
- OCTOBER 17, 1959INUPIAQ ELLEN PANEOK BORN—BUSH PILOT/AUTHOR/ARTIST Born in Bedford, Virginia in 1959, Paneok moved to Anchorage with her mother after her parents’ divorce. At age 12, she went to live in a … Continue reading “OCTOBER 17, 1959”
- OCTOBER 18, 2003KLUANE FIRST NATION ENTERS LAND CLAIMS & SELF-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT WITH CANADA & YUKON TERRITORY The Kluane First Nation (KFN) in Canada’s Yukon Territory, is centered at Burwash Landing along the Alaska Highway on the shores of Kluane Lake, the … Continue reading “OCTOBER 18, 2003”
- OCTOBER 19, 1954HAWAIIAN HISTORIAN/AUTHOR NOENOE K. SILVA BORN Noenoe, born on Oʻahu of Kanaka Maoli descent, grew up in California but returned to Hawaiʻi in 1985. At University of Hawaii, Mānoa (UHM), she … Continue reading “OCTOBER 19, 1954”
- OCTOBER 20, 2012UNANGEN (ALEUT) BASKET WEAVER MARIA TURNPAUGH DIED Born in Unalaska in 1927, Maria’s grandfather was a chief and a warden in the Russian Orthodox church. She learned the Aleut language, Unangam … Continue reading “OCTOBER 20, 2012”
- OCTOBER 21, 1989CREE ASHLEY CALLINGBULL BORN–1ST FIRST NATIONS MRS. UNIVERSE/ACTIVIST Born in Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, Ashley, by age 10, had won all the princess crowns in her community. Graduating from high … Continue reading “OCTOBER 21, 1989”
- OCTOBER 22, 1902PUEBLO PAINTER MA PE WI (VELINO SHIJE HERRERA) BORN Herrera, born in Zia Pueblo, New Mexico (NM), attended Santa Fe Indian School. As the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) then barred teaching … Continue reading “OCTOBER 22, 1902”
- OCTOBER 23, 1880PAEZ COLUMBIAN REVOLUTIONARY QUINTÍN LAME BORN–LED ‘GUERRA RACIAL” IN 1920s Born in Cauca, Columbia, Lame started the Indigenous Movement in 1911 and, in 1914, tried to establish an indigenous republic. His … Continue reading “OCTOBER 23, 1880”
- OCTOBER 24, 1966LAKOTA ACTOR ZAHN TOKIYA-KU McCLARNON BORN Zahn was born in Denver, Colorado, the son of a Hunkpapa Lakota mother. After growing up in multiple Midwest states, McClarnon graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1986. Getting … Continue reading “OCTOBER 24, 1966”
- OCTOBER 25, 1915OJIBWE TOMMY PRINCE BORN–CANADA’S MOST-DECORATED WAR HERO Born in Petersfield, Manitoba, Prince joined the Canadian Army in 1940 and served in the Canadian American “Devil’s Brigade.” At Anzio, Tommy ran a … Continue reading “OCTOBER 25, 1915”
- OCTOBER 26, 2009NATIVE HAWAIIAN HULA & CHANT MASTER & ADVOCATE GEORGE NA’OPE DIED Born in Kalihi, Hawaiʻi, in 1928 and raised in Hilo, George’s grandfather composed “Hawai‘i No E Ka Oi.” At age … Continue reading “OCTOBER 26, 2009”
- OCTOBER 27, 1921EASTERN CHEROKEE POTTER AMANDA SWIMMER BORN Amanda Mabel Sequoyah was born in Big Cove on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina. She taught herself to form and fire pots after discovering a deposit … Continue reading “OCTOBER 27, 1921”
- OCTOBER 28, 1990KIOWA/PAWNEE/ARAPAHO PAINTER MIRAC CREEPINGBEAR DIED Born September 8, 1947, in Lawton, Oklahoma, of a Kiowa mother and Pawnee Arapaho father, Mirac was raised in Carnegie and Pawnee, Oklahoma. A self-trained artist, … Continue reading “OCTOBER 28, 1990”
- OCTOBER 29, 2017AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT CO-FOUNDER NOWA CUMIG (DENNIS BANKS) DIED Born April 12, 1937, on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota, Banks, whose Ojibwe name meant “In the Center of the Universe,” … Continue reading “OCTOBER 29, 2017”
- OCTOBER 30, 1990NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES ACT (NALA) OF 1990 ENACTED On this date, President George H. W. Bush signed Public Law 101-477, an Act “to assist Native Americans in assuring the survival and … Continue reading “OCTOBER 30, 1990”
- OCTOBER 31, 1795WILLIAM A. BOWLES PROCLAIMS PAN INDIAN STATE OF MUSCOGEE The State of Muskogee was a proclaimed sovereign nation located in Florida. Founded in 1799, it was led by William Augustus Bowles, a Loyalist veteran of the American Revolutionary War who lived … Continue reading “OCTOBER 31, 1795”