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All through historical past and right now, Indigenous peoples have left and proceed to go away their mark throughout each facet of society, from local weather justice to the humanities. Whereas it is very important talk about Indigenous history and identity all through the college 12 months, there’s a well timed alternative to acknowledge Indigenous peoples and their contributions throughout Indigenous Peoples’ Day in October and Indigenous Peoples’ Month in November. Whereas this checklist is just not complete, listed here are 15 vital Indigenous figures from previous and current who you may train about in your lessons.
7 Historic Indigenous Figures and Their Influence
Loopy Horse (c. 1840-1877)
Oglala band of the Lakota division of the Sioux
Born within the Black Hills of South Dakota, Tasunke Witco — or Loopy Horse — was an Oglala Lakota warrior. He fought in opposition to encroachment by White American settlers on Indigenous territory and performed a pivotal function within the Black Hills Battle, significantly within the Fetterman Struggle and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. At present, this well-known battle chief is honored on the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota.
Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907)
Mississauga
The primary African American and Indigenous sculptor to realize nationwide and worldwide recognition, Edmonia Lewis, additionally known as Wildfire, was born to a Black father and a Chippewa (Ojibwa) mom. Lewis was orphaned at a younger age and grew up amongst her mom’s tribe earlier than attending school in Ohio and later establishing herself as an artist in Boston. In 1865, she moved to Rome, Italy, the place she created works depicting the struggles and traditions of each Black and Indigenous peoples.
We’wha (1849-1896)
Zuni
We’wha was a Lhamana (Zuni Two Spirit) particular person who grew to become a Zuni cultural ambassador, a pottery and textile artist, and a religious chief. A talented crafter, We’wha grew to become one of many first Zunis to promote their ceramics and woven blankets, belts, and sashes, serving to to advertise Indigenous arts extra extensively. They participated of their neighborhood’s drugs society and the boys’s kachina society, the place they carried out ritual masked dances. We’wha’s affect was acknowledged past their neighborhood, and in 1885, We’wha visited Washington D.C. for six months, even calling on President Grover Cleveland.
Susan La Flesche Picotte (1865-1915)
Omaha
The primary Indigenous lady to obtain a medical diploma in the US, Susan La Flesche Picotte wished to make sure that the Indigenous peoples on the Omaha Reservation had entry to medical care. This grew to become her life’s purpose and work after watching an Indigenous lady die when a White physician refused to take care of her. Picotte not solely achieved her purpose, however she additionally went on to open a full hospital within the reservation city of Walthill, Nebraska. At present, the unique hospital hosts a museum devoted to her legacy.
Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)
Sac and Fox Nation
Jim Thorpe was the primary Native American to win a gold medal within the Olympics for the US. He’s usually thought to be one of the vital versatile athletes in trendy sports activities historical past. In 1912, Thorpe gained two Olympic gold medals: one in traditional pentathlon and the opposite in decathlon. On prime of that, Thorpe additionally performed American soccer, skilled baseball, and basketball, and was even inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
Katie John (1915-2013)
Ahtna Athabascan
A revered Elder and champion of Alaskan Native rights, Katie John labored via proposals and courtroom instances to revive her neighborhood’s fishing rights on their ancestral land alongside the Copper River, an space often known as the Batzulnetas. The case grew to become identified all through Alaska because the “Katie John case.” Katie additionally helped maintain the Ahtna Athabascan language alive by creating its first written alphabet and making recordings to show its pronunciation. In 2019, Alaska declared Might 31, the day of Katie John’s dying, as Katie John Day to have fun her life’s work.
Chester Nez (1921-2014)
Navajo Dibéłizhiní (Black Sheep Clan) of the Tsénahabiłnii (Sleeping Rock Folks)
Chester Nez was the last surviving original Navajo code talker who served within the U.S. Marines throughout World Battle II. On the time, radios weren’t outfitted with encryption expertise, which means enemy forces may overhear delicate data. Nez and different Navajos helped forestall this from taking place by speaking throughout radios within the Navajo language, which was tough for others to be taught and had no written kind. Nez went on to put in writing concerning the expertise in his memoir and was one among 5 residing code talkers to obtain the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush in 2001.
8 Dwelling Indigenous Folks and Leaders to Educate About
Oren Lyons (b. 1930)
Onondaga and Seneca nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (the Haudenosaunee)
Oren Lyons is a Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, a member of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, the co-founder of the Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse workforce, and a member of the Indigenous Peoples of the Human Rights Fee of the United Nations. In his work, Lyons advocates for environmental justice and treaty recognitions uncared for by the U.S. authorities.
Pleasure Harjo (b. 1951)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
A poet, musician, playwright, and creator, Pleasure Harjo is the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate and the primary Indigenous particular person to obtain this honor. She has written 9 books of poetry, two kids’s books, two memoirs, and three performs, amongst different works. She has additionally launched seven award-winning music albums and has taught at numerous universities.
John Herrington (b. 1958)
Chickasaw Nation
In 2002, former U.S. Naval aviator John Herrington grew to become the primary enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in house. The NASA astronaut carried the Chickasaw Nation flag on his 13-day journey in house after the flag was given to him by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. Harrington was awarded many medals and honors all through his profession, was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame, and finally retired in 2005. He now serves as a motivational speaker to younger folks.
Sterlin Harjo (b. 1979)
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and Muscogee heritage
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Sterlin Harjo is an Indigenous filmmaker, director, and producer who has directed three characteristic movies, a characteristic documentary, and the FX comedy sequence Reservation Dogs, which he co-wrote with the Māori filmmaker, actor, and comic Taika Waititi. Harjo’s work is centered across the Indigenous expertise and attracts upon Indigenous traditions and practices of storytelling. Reservation Canines is the primary and solely TV sequence the place each author, director, and sequence common is Indigenous, and it most just lately gained a Peabody award.
Sharice Davids (b. 1980)
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin
Sharice Davids is the primary brazenly LGBTQ+ Indigenous particular person elected to the U.S. Congress and one of many first two Native American ladies elected to Congress, together with Deb Haaland of New Mexico. First elected in 2018, she is presently serving Kansas’ Third Congressional District in Congress after working in financial and neighborhood growth on reservations and within the Division of Transportation below President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump.
Tommy Orange (b. 1982)
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma
A graduate of the MFA program on the Institute of American Indian Arts, Tommy Orange is the creator of the novel There There. Printed in 2018, the ebook follows a bunch of Indigenous folks residing in Oakland, California, and addresses Indigenous historical past and id in addition to the expertise of Indigenous peoples residing in city locations. Orange gained the John Leonard Prize, the PEN/Hemingway Award, and American Ebook Award for his work.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (b. 2000)
Mashika Folks
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is an environmental activist and hip-hop artist who served because the Youth Director of Earth Guardians. He was named one among DoSomething’s 2019 Youth Empower Players and has been talking out for the local weather justice motion since he was six years old. He has spoken in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl on the UN and has additionally advocated for local weather change reform via lawsuits.
Quannah Chasinghorse (b. 2002)
Han Gwich’in and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota Tribes
An Indigenous land protector and local weather justice activist, Quannah Chasinghorse was a part of Teen Vogue’s 2020 list of “21 under 21.” She is captivated with Indigenous sovereignty and the motion MMIWG2S, which stands for Lacking and Murdered Indigenous Ladies, Ladies and Two-Spirit Folks. She works as knowledgeable vogue mannequin and unapologetically reveals her facial tattoos, a conventional hand-poke tattoo known as Yidįįłtoo. Chasinghorse bridged conventional Indigenous adornments and up to date components in her viral 2022 Met Gala look and, shortly after, walked in New York Fashion Week for the first time.
For classroom assets for educating about Indigenous peoples and their contributions, head over to TPT to find what you need. And for tips about tips on how to train about Indigenous peoples and cultures, learn what these Indigenous Instructor-Authors should say:
This weblog submit, initially printed in 2022, has been up to date for 2023.
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