SEPTEMBER 2022

PONCA-OTOE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP TOMMY MORRISON DIED Born on January 2, 1969, in Gravette, Arkansas, and raised in Oklahoma, Morrison’s mother was Native American.  Graduating high school, Morrison advanced to the National golden … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 1, 2013”

ACOMA PUEBLO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SAN ESTABAN The Feast of San Estevan is a harvest dance and annual feast day in the Indian pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico.  Acoma is a cluster of adobes atop a barren mesa 367 feet above a valley.  Established in the 12th century, it is the oldest continuously inhabited community in America.  While only about 50 people live there year-round, nearby villages return for feast days and celebrations.  The mission … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 2, ANNUALLY”

BRAZILIAN XAVANTE CHIEF MÁRIO JURUNA BORN–1ST FEDERAL-LEVEL INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVE Son of Chief Xavante Apoenã, Jurina was born near Barra do Garças in 1942.  Six years later, his tribe was contacted for … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 3, 1942/1943”

OSAGE ACTIVIST, NOTED RIBBONWORKER WAH-KAH-SAH (GEORGEANNE ROBINSON) DIED Born October 13, 1917, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma (OK), her tribal name meant “My Deer Is Running Pairs.”  After boarding school, Georgeanne earned a … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 4, 1985”

PONCA-OMAHA ZHOGAXE (FRANCIS LAFLESCHE) BORN–SMITHSONIAN ANTHROPOLOGIST Born December 25, 1857, on the Omaha Reservation, Nebraska, his father, Chief Joseph Laflesche, part of Ponca Chief Standing Bear’s band, was adopted by the … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 5, 1932”

CHITIMACHAN BASKETWEAVER ADA THOMAS DIED Born July 31, 1924, on the Chitimacha Reservation, near Charenton, Louisiana, Ada, at age 12, learned traditional basket-weaving from her grandmother.  Traveling and working all over … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 6, 1992”

NEZ PERCE SINGER ISLUUMC (HORACE P. AXTELL) DIED Born November 7, 1924, near Ferdinand, Idaho, Axtell heard tribal elders tell of the 1877 Nez Perce War.  In 1943, he left high … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 7, 2015”

ALOOTOOK IPELLIE DIED–INUK GRAPHIC ARTIST, SATIRICAL CARTOONIST, WRITER Born in 1951 on Baffin Island in what is now Nunavut, Canada, Ipellie grew up in Frobisher Bay. Ipellie developed his artistic skills while … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 8, 2007”

HAWAIIAN POLITICIAN JOHN MAHI KANEAKUA BORN John Mahiai Miller, born in Honauaula, Maui, was hānai adopted by James Kāneakua and took his name.  After graduating from the Royal school in 1877, … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 9, 1860”

SEMINOLE ALICE BROWN DAVIS BORN—FIRST FEMALE SEMINOLE PRINCIPAL CHIEF Born at Park Hill, Indian Territory, her father, a Scottish physician, went with the Seminole on the Trail of Tears; her mother’s … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 10, 1852”

HIGH CHIEFESS ELIZABETH KEKAʻANIAU LAʻANUI PRATT BORN—WRITER, ADVISOR & ACTIVIST Born at Waialua, Oahu, and named “Elizabeth,” the baptismal name taken by Kaʻahumanu, co-ruler & wife of Kamehameha I, she was bridesmaid … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 11, 1834”

WORLD’S LARGEST TEPEE ERECTED IN MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA Now named the Saamis Tepee, this work of public art, located in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, was installed in 1991 south of the Trans-Canada … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 12, 1991”

PERUVIAN QUECHUA PHOTOGRAPHER MARTIN CHAMBI DIED Born November 5, 1891, to a Quechua family, Chambi discovered photography while traveling with his father who worked in a Carabaya Province gold mine.  In … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 13, 1973”

OJIBWE ELIJAH ED “ED” PINNANCE BECOMES 1ST FULL-BLOODED NATIVE AMERICAN TO PLAY IN A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME Born October 22, 1879, on Walpole Island, Ontario, Ed went to Shingwauk Indian … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 14, 1903”

HAIDA JADAŁ Q’EGƏNGÁ  (FLORENCE EDENSHAW DAVIDSON) BORN—NOTED WEAVER Born in Masset, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and daughter of famed Haida artist Chief Charles Edenshaw, her Haida name meant “Story Maid.”  Florence assisted her … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 15, 1896”

TEWA STORYTELLER P’OE TSWA (ESTHER MARTINEZ) DIED Born in Ignacio, Colorado, in 1912 and raised by her grandparents in New Mexico, her Tiwa name meant “Blue Water.”  She graduated from Albuquerque … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 16, 2006”

BELIZE GARIFUNA NATIONAL HERO THOMAS VINCENT RAMOS BORN—HEALTH ADVOCATE & GARIFUNA ACTIVIST Born in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, Ramos spent most of his life in Belize as a school teacher and Methodist … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 17, 1887”

ECUADORIAN PAINTER CAMILO EGAS DIED  Born in Quito, Ecuador, in 1889, Egas studied art at College of San Gabriel y Mejia and later Escuela de Bellas Artes in Quito (1905).  In … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 18, 1962”

SANTA CLARA PUEBLO PAINTER TSE TSAN (PABLITA VELARDE) BORN—SANTA FE LIVING TREASURE Born in Santa Clara Pueblo near Espanola, New Mexico (NM), Pablita’s name meant “Golden Dawn.”  At Santa Fe Indian … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 19, 1918”

COLVILLE ACTIVIST LUCY FRIEDLANDER COVINGTON DIED Born November 24, 1910, in Nespelem, Colville Indian Reservation, Lucy graduated from Haskell Institute in Kansas, in 1931.  After working in Portland with her husband … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 20, 1982”

MALISEET SANDRA LOVELACE NICHOLAS BECOMES 1ST ABORIGINAL WOMAN IN CANADIAN SENATE Born April 15, 1948, in Maliseet, Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick, Nicholas studied at St. Thomas University and earned a degree from Northern Technical … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 21, 2005”

MI’KMAQ NORA BERNARD BORN—BROUGHT RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL CLASS ACTION SUIT Born in the Mi’kmaq community of Millbrook, she was sent to the Shubenacadie residential school in 1945 after her mother was told … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 22, 1935”

INUK OSUITOK IPEELEE BORN—FAMED CAPE DORSET SCULPTOR Born in Neeouleeutalik camp, near Cape Dorset, then-Northwest Territories, Ipeelee began carving in the 1940s and by 1951 had become one of the best … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 23, 1923”

MOHAWK AYWAHANDE (PATRICIA MONTURE-ANGUS) BORN– LAWYER, ACTIVIST, AUTHOR Born in London, Ontario, Patricia was orphaned at an early age.  An avid reader, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Univ. of Western … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 24, 1958”

MISSION INDIANS DAY OF MOURNING OVER CANONIZATION OF JUNIPERO SERRA As Pope Francis held a special mass in Washington, D.C., to officially pronounce Junipero Serra a “saint,” California Indians, descendants of the … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 25, 2005”

NATIVE HAWAIIAN MUSICIAN RAY KINNEY BORN—HAWAIIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME Born in Hilo, Hawaii, Ray & his brothers were sent to school in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they formed a band and … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 26, 1900”

MÉTIS GEORGE R. D. GOULET BORN—HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR Born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, George earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba (UM), Bachelor of Laws from its law school, and Master … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 27, 1933”

POTAWATOMI TRADER DIPLOMAT SAUGANASH (BILLY CALDWELL) DIED Born on March 17, 1780, near Fort Niagara in what is now New York State, Caldwell’s father had him educated by Jesuits in Detroit … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 28, 1841”

KIOWA PAINTER TSA TO KEE (MONROE TSATOKE) BORN—MEMBER OF THE “KIOWA SIX” Born near Saddle Mountain, Oklahoma (OK) Territory, Tsa To Kee meant “Hunting Horse” and was the name of his … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 29, 1904”

OJIBWE LARRY “PHIL” FONTAIN BORN—NATIONAL CHIEF, ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS Born in Fort Alexander Reserve, Manitoba (MB), Phil attended Powerview Collegiate in 1961.  As Chief, Sagkeeng First Nation (FN) in 1973, … Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 30, 1944”