National Native News

Monday, December 31, 2007

On this day in 1960, the federal government terminated the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin. It took more than 10 years before the tribe's federal recognition status was restored.

Friday, December 28, 2007

On this day in 1890, Lakota Chief Big Foot and his band were captured by the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry. They were detained at a campsite in Wounded Knee, South Dakota. When the soldiers tried to disarm the warriors they fought back. The next morning more than 100 Lakota people were killed and the conflict became known as the "Wounded Knee Massacre."

Thursday, December 27, 2007

During this week in 1962, five sites in Alaska were designated National Historic Landmarks. The sites are located near Barrow, Nikolski, Cordova, Yukon Island and Wales. The sites commemorate Alaska Native people and culture.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

On this day in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation for the Doyon Region Village of Birch Creek was established. It’s located about 26 miles southwest of Fort Yukon.

Monday, December 24, 2007

During this week in 1977, the Arctic Education Foundation was established to provide financial assistance to Alaska Natives for higher education.

Friday, December 21, 2007

On this day in 1979, the Alaska Supreme Court reversed the conviction of an Alaska Native man who transported a moose out of season. The moose was killed for a funeral potlatch. The court decision was based on religious freedom.

During this week in 1944, the Interior Department approved the Corporate Charter of Metlakatla. The Alaska Native community is located about 15 miles south of Ketchikan. Members of Metlakatla have the only reservation in the state because they didn’t participate in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

On this day in 1980, Chaco Canyon National Monument was re-designated Chaco Culture National Historical Park. An additional 13,000 acres were added to the park which is located in New Mexico. The canyon contains many ancient puebloan ruins.

On this day in 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was signed into law. It extinguished all aboriginal title to land and water in Alaska. It led to the establishment of Native corporations in the state.

Monday, December 17, 2007
On this day in 1974, the Cook Inlet Housing Authority was established in Alaska. It provides housing assistance to Native people within the Cook Inlet region. The program includes services for elders, youth, families in crisis and first time home owners. It also provides transitional housing for people in CITC’s alcohol recovery program.

During this week in 1852, Ned Christie was born in Oklahoma. The Cherokee citizen was elected as a tribal senator. He was falsely accused of killing a U.S. Marshal and became the most wanted fugitive in the territory. He avoided capture for more than five years before being killed by a Marshal. Years later Christie was found innocent after an eyewitness came forward.

During this week in 1997, the Kake Cannery in Alaska was designated a National Historic Landmark. The cannery in the Tlingit community has more than a dozen structures and demonstrates trends and technology in the Pacific salmon canning industry.

During this week in 1970, President Richard Nixon endorsed the official signing ceremony for the return of Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. The government took the lake in the early 1900's.

On this day in 2004, Cecilia Fire Thunder took the oath of office as the first woman president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Fire Thunder was impeached in 2006 for her stand on women’s right to choose.

On this day in 1991, the Custer Battlefield Monument was renamed Little Bighorn Battlefield Monument. It’s located in Montana. The monument sits on the site of the 1876 battle between the U.S. Army and Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

On this day in 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack led to the round up and forced incarceration of all Japanese-Americans including Alaska Natives who were part Japanese. Aleuts from the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands were also interned.

On this day in 2006, the Senate passed an Act to provide assistance to ongoing Native American language restoration programs. The Act was named in honor of Ohkay Owingeh storyteller Esther Martinez who helped create a Tewa language dictionary.

During this week in 2006, a federal judge in Arizona ended the “Bennett Freeze” land dispute between the Navajo and Hopi tribes. For 40-years a construction freeze on the western part of the Navajo Nation prevent people from making capitol improvements on thousands of acres. Both tribes had to agree on the terms and the federal government had to give its approval.

During this week in 2006, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii can favor Native Hawaiians. The school was sued over its admissions preference policy. The private school has given preference to Native Hawaiian applicants for more than 100 years.

During this week in 1947, Athabascan dog musher Carl Huntington was born. The Alaska Native man won the second ever Iditarod race in 1974. It took him about 20 days and 15 hours to finish the race.

During this week 1958, Alaska Native civil rights leader Elizabeth Peratrovich died. The Tlingit Native helped get the first anti-discrimination law passed in Alaska.

During this week in 2006, a white buffalo sacred to many Native people died during a thunderstorm on a Wisconsin ranch. “Miracle’s Second Chance” lived nearly three months and was the third white buffalo born on the ranch.

On this day in 1922, Tlingit spokesperson Stella Martin was born in Kake, Alaska. She was a leader of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and the Sealaska Heritage Foundation.

On this day in 1911, Haidas found the village of Hydaburg in Southeast Alaska. Haida Indians migrated to Prince of Wales from Canada during the 1700’s.

On this day in 1900, Alaska Native leader Nick Gray was born in Council City. Gray urged Natives to work together to fight for Native rights. He helped found the Cook Inlet Native Association and was instrumental in unifying Alaska Natives into statewide organizations.

On this day in 2005, the Canadian government announced its two billion dollar compensation plan for former students of Indian residential schools. The first checks were paid out this fall to abuse survivors.

During this week in 2005, Michael Scanlon pleaded guilty for his role in the Indian lobbying scandal. Scanlon worked with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff who’s accused of defrauding tribes out of millions of dollars.

During this week in 1917, the Mountain Village reserve with nearly 1,300 acres was created in Alaska. The Yup’ik village is located on the north bank of the Yukon River, nearly 500 miles northwest of Anchorage.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

During this week in 1945, Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She was the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation and served for ten years.

During this week in 1993, Athabascan Chief Walter Northway died in Northway, Alaska. He was well known for hunting and providing for his people. Chief Northway lived to be 117.

During this week in 2004, Navajo Code Talker Samuel Billison died in Window Rock, Arizona. He received the Silver Medal of Honor.

On this day in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians was established to monitor federal policies. Today, there are more than 200 member tribes.

During this week in 2005, Native author, historian and activist, Vine Deloria, Jr. died. One of Deloria’s most famous books is Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto. His books laid the groundwork for understanding Indian affairs.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

During this week in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation was established for Newtok. The community is located 94 miles northwest of Bethel. Village relocation efforts are underway due to severe beach erosion.

Friday, November 9, 2007

On this day in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation for Hoonah in Southeast Alaska was established. Tlingit people have occupied the Glacier Bay and Icy Strait area since prehistory.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

On this day in 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act was made into law. It sets federal requirements for Indian child custody proceedings. ICWA was passed in response to the high number of Indian children being removed from their homes.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

On this day in 1922, Alaska Native leader Eben Hopson was born in Barrow. He organized Alaska's first regional land claims organization and helped create the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.

On this day in 1971, the Atomic Energy Commission exploded a nuclear bomb on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians despite protests from Alaska Natives and environmentalist. It was the third weapons test on the island. Aleuts said the detonation threatened their property, commerce and culture.

During this week in 1968, the U.S. Post Office issued a Chief Joseph stamp. Chief Joseph was the leader of the Nez Perce. He is most known for leading a resistance against relocation and reservations.

On this day in 1966, the Fur Seal Act became law. It prohibited the killing of fur seals and sea otters. Exceptions were made for Alaska Natives. The statute also continued a project on the Pribilof Islands to conserve, protect and manage animals of the North Pacific Ocean.

During this week in 1971, the bill to resolve Native land claims in Alaska passed the Senate. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was signed by the president more than a month later.

On this day in 1974, President Gerald Ford vetoed a bill designed to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from pipeline construction and other industrial uses. ANWR is located in northeastern Alaska and is a hot topic among many Alaska Natives.

During this week in 1988, Alaska Natives helped in an international whale rescue effort. Elders showed chain saw crews where to cut the ice to make air holes for two gray whales stranded near Barrow.

During this week in 2005, residents of the Kashechewan Reserve in Northern Ontario were evacuated due to contaminated water. Leaders urged the Canadian government to relocate the reserve because of terrible living conditions and health problems plaguing the community. The government has since nixed relocation plans.

During this week in 2005, Hurricane Wilma hit tribes in Florida. Thousands of people on the Seminole reservation were impacted. Many parts of the reservation were without electricity and basic supplies were brought in for tribal members.

On this day in 1979, “Spirit of the Wind” premiered in Fairbanks, Alaska. The film was based on the life of Athabascan dog musher George Attla who is also known as the "Huslia Hustler." The musher set a record in the late 1950’s.

During this week in 1949, the Effigy Mounds in Northeast Iowa were designated as a National Monument. Mounds in the shapes of mammals, birds and reptiles can be found throughout the park and are more than 1,800 years old. The mounds were built by eastern woodland tribes.

During this week in 2002, plaintiffs in the case “Trapp v. DuBois” accepted an offer to institute a sweat lodge in three Massachusetts prisons. The case centered on Native American religious and spiritual freedom in prison.

During this week in 1992, Indian rights activist Rigoberta Menchu from Guatemala won the Nobel Peace Prize.

On this day in 1899, a stolen Tlingit totem pole from Alaska was erected in Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. A group of citizens claimed the village was deserted and took the totem. It was returned nearly 40 years later.

During this week in 1988, The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress. It established standards and federal regulations for gaming.

On this day in 1923, the first Alaska Natives to be trained as ministers in the Presbyterian Church of the Yukon were named. Of the four named, three men were ordained. One minister worked on the translation of the New Testament into Inupiaq.

On this day in 1913, John “Benny” Benson was born in Alaska. At the age of 13, the Aleut boy designed Alaska's flag.

On this day in 1996, KNBA the first urban all-Native radio station located in Anchorage, Alaska went on the air. It’s owned by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation which also owns National Native News.

On this day in 1926, the worst fire in the history of Douglas Island destroyed the eastern part of the town. More than 100 Native people were left homeless in the Southeast Alaska community.

During this week in 1966, Spokane-Coeur d'Alene novelist and poet, Sherman Alexie was born. He recently published his first novel for young adults.

During this week in 1979, the Kenaitze Indian Tribe in Alaska celebrated its first potlatch in 70 years. The Russian Orthodox Church had prohibited the social gathering.

During this week in 1962, the first Athabascan Episcopalian priest was ordained. At the time of his ordination, David Salmon was in charge of St. Timothy’s Mission and the Good Shepherd Mission in Alaska.

During this week in 1920, Alaska Native leader Rika Murphy was born in Kenai. Murphy was the first Chief of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and the first Chief and President of Salamatof Native Association.

On this day in 1985, the Chugach Heritage Foundation was established in Alaska. The organization is dedicated to the preservation of the Chugach people’s heritage.

On this day in 1998, the U.S. Senate approved legislation to build a new road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The road connects the remote Native community of King Cove to the Cold Bay Airport on the Alaska Peninsula.

During this week in 1977, the Alaska Native village corporation for Afognak and Port Lions merged. The Afognak Native Corporation provides services to Alutiiq people of the Kodiak Island Archipelago.

During this week in 1971, Alaska Governor William A. Egan signed a proclamation declaring a week in October “Alaska Native Peoples Week.”

During this week in 1971, the Tanana Chiefs Conference was established. The tribal consortium of the 42 villages of Interior Alaska is based on self-determination and the need for regional Native unity.

On this day in 1985, Congress passed amendments which paved the way for development of the Red Dog Mine in Alaska. It’s the richest zinc mine in the world and operates on land owned by the NANA Regional Corporation, an entity wholly owned by Alaska Natives.

On this day in 1794, eight Russian Orthodox monks arrived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The missionaries brought a new religion and customs which were integrated into the lives of many Alaska Native people.

On this day in 2004, the National Museum of the American Indian opened its doors in Washington, D.C. The museum on the National Mall offers visitors a unique perspective of Native people throughout the western hemisphere.

During this week in 1934, a fire swept through Nome, Alaska. The fire virtually destroyed the community which is home to many Inupiat Eskimos.

On this day in 1948, Janie Leask was born. She was the first woman president of the Alaska Federation of Natives.

On this day in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation for Shishmaref in the Bering Straits Region was established.

On this day in 1980, Sealaksa Timber Corporation made its first ocean shipment of logs. The Alaska Native company is headquartered in Ketchikan . Nearly four billion board feet of timber products have been marketed by the company worldwide.

During this week in 1982, Native radio station KNNB went on the air. The station is located on the White Mountain Apache reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona.

On this day in 1939, Morris Thompson was born in Tanana, Alaska. The Athabascan man played key roles in the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. He also had a long career in public service, including serving as commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

On this day in 1968, Reverend Dr. Roe B. Lewis received the national "Indian Achievement" of the year award. The Native man from Arizona was cited for his accomplishments in educational counseling.

During this week in 1877, Oglala Lakota Chief Crazy Horse died. He was reportedly stabbed in the abdomen by a soldier. The leader fought against the U.S. government in an effort to preserve the traditional way of life of his people.

On this day in 1871, the White Mountain Reservation in east-central Arizona was chosen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for Apache people. Today, the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s reservation consists of more than one-million acres. The land includes some of the richest wildlife habitats in the state and more than 400 miles of streams.

On this day in 1990, the village corporation for Scammon Bay was established in Alaska. The Yupik Eskimo community is located on the south bank of the Kun River, one mile from the Bering Sea.

On this day in 1907, the Principal Chief of the Creek Nation, Pleasant Porter died. Porter was a private in the Confederate Army. He also served as a tribal superintendent of schools.

During this week in 1937, the Reindeer Act was made into law. The act was meant to provide a self-sustaining economy for Alaska Natives through the reindeer industry.

On this day in 1999, the village corporation for False Pass in Alaska made an agreement with a California foundation for migratory bird habitat which was to be donated to a national wildlife refuge. The village corporation was paid more than one-million dollars for wetlands located on the Alaska Peninsula.

On this day in 1973, the village corporation for Chickaloon in the Cook Inlet Region in Alaska was established. The Athabascan community is located northeast of Palmer. Residents are known for advocating for subsistence and sovereignty issues.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 During this week in 1905, Ely Samuel Parker died in New York. The Seneca man was an engineer, a brigadier general in the Civil War and the first Native commissioner of Indian Affairs.

On this day in 1969, a 132-foot totem pole was dedicated in Alaska. The pole was carved in less than three-months by Alaska Natives. The community of Kake commissioned the pole, where more than 40 years earlier missionaries urged villagers to burn all their totem poles.

On this day in 1784, Russian sailors on an expedition attacked Refuge Rock in Alaska. Many Alutiiq people were massacred and others were taken hostage.

On this day in 2000, Glenn Godfrey was named Public Safety Commissioner by Alaska’s governor. He was the first Alaska Native to be named to the state’s highest law enforcement post. The Alutiiq man from Kodiak was instrumental in developing the Village Public Safety Officer program for rural communities in the state.

During this week in 1944, the constitution and bylaws for the Metlakatla Indian Community were approved by the federal government. Metlakatla was founded by a group of Canadian Tsimshians who migrated from British Columbia seeking religious freedom. It is the only Indian reservation in Alaska.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

During this week in 1973, the corporations for the Pribilof Islands communities of St. George and St. Paul were established. Alaska Natives inhabited St. George and St. Paul after Russian fur traders enslaved Aleut people and took them to the uninhabited islands to forcibly hunt fur seals.

During this week in 1869, U.S. Army Sergeant Mad Bear was awarded the Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor. The Pawnee scout was wounded by friendly fire as he pursued an enemy along the Republican River in northeast Kansas.

During this month in 2002, the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma ordered all its flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of the more than 150 tribal members who were slain at the hands of the U.S. military in August of 1832 during the Black Hawk War.

During this week in 1936, the federal government ordered the purchase of land to create the Flandreau Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The reservation is located in the southeastern region of the state and borders Minnesota. .
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

During this week in 1876, President Grant returned Uncompahgre Park and farmland in Colorado to the Ute Reservation. The Utes signed a treaty eight years earlier establishing the original boundaries. But, parts of the reservation were taken away when gold and silver were found on the land.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

During this week in 1990, the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act was passed by Congress. Its purpose is to clarify and strengthen federal law enforcement services and officers in Indian Country.

During this week in 1987, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in honor of Chief Red Cloud. The Oglala Lakota leader won Red Cloud’s War in the 1860’s.

On this day in 1680, the Pueblo Revolt took place in the Southwest. Tewa leader Pope organized the uprising of pueblo people against the Spanish.

During this week in 1978, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act became law. It protects the rights of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians to practice traditional religions.

During this week in 1987, the Aleut Foundation was established in Alaska. The foundation supports the economic and social needs of Aleut people with scholarships for post secondary education and career development.

During this week in 1933, Athabascan musher George Attla was born in Huslia. The Alaska Native became known as the “Huslia Hustler.” He wrote a book about training and racing sled dogs and his life story was the subject of a film. The “Huslia Huslter” won 10 world titles and eight North American titles.

During this week in 1882, the reservation for the Tohono O'odham people was established. It’s located in Arizona, with more than seventy miles of land along the International Border.

On this day in 1948, Native Americans in New Mexico won voting rights in the case Trujillo vs. Garley. Miguel Trujillo from Isleta Pueblo sued after he was denied the right to vote.

On this day in 1956, Congress amended the Native Allotment Act to allow people to choose land in different locations up to 160 acres. The amendment included adding Aleuts in Alaska as eligible applicants.

On this day in 1964, nearly 60 presidents from villages in the Yukon and Kuskokwim area voted to create the Association of Village Council Presidents. Today, the organization provides social services to Alaska Natives.

During this week in 1997, Sealaka Corporation released a study on the economic impacts on Southeast Alaska by the 13 Native corporations in the region. The study showed the Native corporations generated nearly 500-million dollars in annual revenues and provided more than two-thousand jobs year round.

During this week in 1999, Aleut leaders appealed to Congress for help to force the federal government to act on its promise. In the 1970’s, commercial fur sealing was outlawed which impacted Aleut communities in Alaska. The federal government promised to establish an economy and clean up federal property.

On this day in 1868, the United States and Mexico issued a joint resolution outlawing the enslavement of Navajo people. For more than 250 years Navajos were captured and sold into slavery by Spanish and Mexican colonists.

On this day in 1997, President Bill Clinton ordered the protection of the Lake Tahoe Region. The Washoe Tribe's use of the region was also recognized.

During this week in 1977, for the first time, oil through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline from the North Slope reached Valdez. The federal agreement authorizing the pipeline called for recruitment, training and employment of Alaska Natives. Native hire was relatively high during construction but, was virtually ignored until the 1990’s.

During this week in 1996, a skull was found on the banks of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington. The skeleton was named “Kennewick Man.” Northwest tribes fought to rebury him but lost in court to scientist who then studied the remains.

Monday, July 23, 2007

On this day in 1957, Atlantic Richfield Company found oil on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Commercial oil production throughout the state led to the push for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Efforts to secure land for the pipeline put pressure on Alaska Natives and led to the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

On this day in 1972, the village corporation for King Island in the Bering Straits Region was established. The Alaska Island is primarily precipitous rock. The Natives who historically occupied the area lived in walrus-skin dwellings lashed to the face of the cliff.

On this day in 1991, Congress created the Nez Perce Historical Trail Foundation. The foundation helps educate people about the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce from their homelands in Idaho and Oregon while pursued by the U.S. Army.

During this week in 1948, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in the case Harrison v. Laveen. It gave Native Americans in the state the right to vote.

On this day in 1987, Canada and the United States signed an agreement for the conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. The agreement aimed to conserve the herd and its habitat and protect traditional uses of the animal by Native people.

On this day in 1993, the Senate confirmed the presidential nomination of Ada Deer to serve as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. Deer was the first Native woman to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Menominee woman resigned from the job in 1997.

During this week in 1837, the first Mandan to die from smallpox was recorded along the upper Missouri River. The outbreak of this disease spread rapidly and was extremely deadly to the Mandan and others in the area.

During this week annually, Inuit in Canada celebrate Nunavut Day. Nunavut was created after a land claim settlement in the 1990’s between Inuit and the federal government. Nunavut means “our land” in the Inuktitut language.

During this week in 1939, Alaska Native leader Frank Ferguson was born in Kotzebue. Ferguson served in the Alaska Legislature and as President of the Alaska Federation of Natives.

During this week in 1981, The Lakota Times newspaper was first published. The paper was later renamed Indian Country Today and is owned by the Oneida Nation of New York.

On this day in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill to pay Tlingit and Haida Indian claims in Alaska. The tribes received a court judgment of more than seven-million dollars for the loss of Aboriginal lands.

During this week in 1855, Quinault Nation chiefs signed the Quinault treaty. The agreement designated land and the right for the tribe to govern itself.

During this week in 2000, advocates for Hawaiian independence boarded the Boston Tea Party Ship on the Fourth of July dressed in kikepas cast leis made of ti leaves into the Boston Harbor to make known the struggles for Hawaiian sovereignty. The demonstration was named the Hawaiian Ti Party.

On this day in 1838, Black Hawk a Sauk Nation leader delivered a Fourth of July speech, as an invited guest at Fort Madison in Iowa. He urged a crowd of mostly non-Natives to keep the land sacred.

On this day in 1906, Mesa Verde was designated a National Park. The ancient village is located in Colorado and was once home to pueblo people. It's the largest cliff dwelling in North America.

On this day in 1989, the Coquille Restoration Act was passed. It restored the Oregon tribe’s federal recognition status which was stripped under the Termination Act.

During this week in 1938, Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. The Oglala Lakota athlete won the gold medal in the 1964 Olympic Games for the 10,000 meter race.

During this week in 1898, the Dawes Commission was established. It was set up to prepare tribal rolls for the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole tribes. The rolls were used for the allocation of land and money.

On this day in 2003, the Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument was dedicated. It recognizes Plains Indians who fought in the 1876 battle with the U.S. Army that took place at the site in Montana.

On this day in 1980, the Vatican beatified Kateri Tekakwitha. The Mohawk-Algonquin woman was the first Native American to be declared blessed by the Roman Catholic Church.

On this day every year, Canadians celebrate National Aboriginal Day. The achievements and contributions of the country’s Aboriginal people are recognized.

During this week in 1997, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear the Venetie case. It centered on the question of whether or not “Indian Country” existed in the State of Alaska . The following year the justices ruled no in favor of the state.

On this day in 1935, Congress passed a jurisdiction act. It authorized the Tlingit and Haida Indians in Alaska to bring suit against the United States on land and other claims.

On this day in 1953, Robert “Bobby” Kvasnikoff was born. He was chairman of the English Bay Corporation in Alaska. After learning he had AIDS, Kvasnikoff made his diagnosis public and became an advocate for safe sex.

On this day 1799, Seneca religious prophet Handsome Lake had a vision. The vision led to the Code of Handsome Lake. The code promotes traditional values of sobriety, family, and community.

On this day in 2004, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma voted to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, thereby outlawing same-sex marriage. It was in response to a lesbian couple who obtained a marriage license from the tribe.

On this day in 1977, the first Inuit Circumpolar Conference was held in Barrow, Alaska.

During this week in 1944, a fire destroyed much of the Alaska community of Hoonah and many priceless Tlingit cultural objects.

During this week in 1996, the class-action Indian trust lawsuit against the federal government Cobell vs. Kempthorne was filed in U.S. District Court.

On this day in 1946, the Southeast Alaska community of Hoonah was incorporated as a first class city. It is home to many Tlingit people.

On this day in 1914, Abraham Christian was born in Venetie, Alaska. He helped form the Venetie Indian Reservation and was the traditional chief in the 1980’s.

On this day in 1912, a volcano erupted in Alaska. For two days ash fell on Kodiak and some Alutiiq villages on the Alaska Peninsula were destroyed. The eruption created the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

During this week in 1913, Alaska Native Walter Harper became the first person ever to reach the summit of Denali, also known as Mount McKinley in Alaska. It’s the highest mountain peak in North America.

During this week 1984, the U.S. Senate voted to make the Committee on Indian Affairs permanent. The committee has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

On this day in 1868, several Navajo leaders signed a treaty with the U.S. government releasing their people from Fort Sumner in New Mexico . The Navajo were imprisoned at the fort for more than four years.

Thursday, May 31, 2007 During this week in 1962, the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall in Sitka, Alaska became a National Historic Landmark.

During this week in 1924, Alaska Natives became citizens of the United States with the Citizenship Act.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

During this week in 1938, Congress enacted legislation for the Interior Secretary to withdraw more than 600 acres of land for Alaska Native schools, hospitals and other purposes. It was repealed by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

During this week in 1999, the Yute Air program began flight training for Alaska Natives. The owner started the program to help with the shortage of pilots in Alaska.

On this day in 1926, Congress enacted the Alaska Native Townsite Act. It was created to give Natives title to land they were occupying.

During this week in 1933, President Roosevelt abolished the Board of Indian Commissioners. It was created more than 60 years earlier to oversee Indian appropriations.

During this week in 1912, Mohawk Actor Jay Silverheels was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Canada . The actor is widely known for his role as “Tonto” on The Lone Ranger television series.

During this week in 2003, the Voices exhibit opened at the Women's Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. It highlighted contributions made by Native American women to the U.S. Armed Forces. Army Specialist Lori Piestewa was among those honored. She died while serving in Iraq.

During this week in 1996, President Bill Clinton issued the "Indian Sacred Sites" executive order. The order made it mandatory for federal agencies to accommodate and allow Native Americans use of sacred sites.

On this day in 1905, the Supreme Court ruled Eastern Cherokees could receive one-million dollars appropriated by Congress as payment for land claims.

On this day in 1999, Makah whalers in Washington successfully hunted a grey whale. It was the first hunt by the Makah in more than 70 years.

On this day in 1806, two Nez Perce people returned a lost horse to the Lewis and Clark expedition. The foreigners were staying with the tribe in what is now Idaho.

During this week in 1906, Congress passed the Native Allotment Act to allowed Alaska Natives title to land. It aimed to extend the Dawes Act. More than 60 years later, the law was repealed.

During this week in 1995, the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository opened to the public in Alaska . It focuses on the people of Kodiak Island.

During this week in 1992, the corporation for Eklutna Village was established. Eklutna is located northeast of Anchorage, Alaska . The area was the site of many Athabascan villages dating back 800 years ago.

On this day in 1960, Kenai, the largest city on the Kenai Peninsula was incorporated as a First Class City. It’s the headquarters of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.

During this week in 1614, the Viceroy of Mexico found Juan De Onate guilty of atrocities against Native people in New Mexico. He was sentenced to banishment but, was later pardoned.

During this week in 1869, the Central and Union Pacific railroads connected at Promontory Point, Utah completing the first transcontinental railroad in the United States . It was one of the most destructive events that impacted the way of life for Plains tribes.

On this day in 1885, William Paul was born. The Tlingit man was the first Alaska Native attorney and first to be elected to Alaska 's House of Representatives. Paul was also a leader in the Alaska Native Brotherhood.

During this week in 1969, N. Scott Momaday won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel "House Made of Dawn." The Kiowa man has also published plays, essays and a memoir.

On this day in 1889, Jim McKinley was born in Copper Center, Alaska . He was Chief of the Ahtna Region and a spiritual leader. He's remembered for taking care of the land and its resources for his people.

On this day in 1927, the Alaska flag was adopted. The flag was created by a 13-year-old Aleut boy. Its design has eight gold stars on a field of blue. Seven stars represent strength and the "Big Dipper." The eighth symbolizes Alaska as the northernmost state. The blue is for Alaska's sky and state flower.

On this day in 1994, the Alaska Natives Commission issued a report on the status of Alaska Natives. The 18 month study found Natives living in the richest state of the union experienced economic deprivation and social impairment. It blamed the conditions on the control of “outsiders.”

During this week in 1994, President Bill Clinton met with Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller. Mankiller and other Native Americans and Alaska Natives were invited to the White House.

During this week in 1972, Native radio station KTDB went on the air. It was the first Indian owned and controlled radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. For 35-years it has served the Ramah Navajo community in New Mexico.

During this week in 1988, Congress passed amendments to the Indian Education Act. The amendments aimed to improve elementary and secondary education programs, and help shape legislation relating to Indian education.

On this day in 1890, Chief Crowfoot of the Blackfoot First Nation died of tuberculosis on his reserve in Alberta, Canada.

On this day in 1972, Kenai Native Association was established. It is one of four urban corporations representing Alaska Natives.

During this week in 1889, thousands of settlers raced into Oklahoma to claim a parcel of land. This became known as the "Oklahoma Land Rush." It displaced many of the tribes living there.

During this week in 1869, Seneca Chief, Ely Samuel Parker was appointed as the first Native American Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

On this day in 1858 the Yankton Sioux Tribe signed a treaty with the U.S. Government that granted them access to the red pipestone in southwestern Minnesota for religious and other purposes. For centuries the tribe has gathered the smooth red rock to make pipes.

On this day in 1977, American Indian Movement Activist Leonard Peltier was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for killing two FBI agents. He is currently serving two consecutive life terms at the federal prision in Lavenworth, Kansas.

On this day in 1878, the Sheldon Jackson School was founded on Baranof Island in Sitka, Alaska. Presbyterian missionaries started it as an industrial and training school for the Tlingit community.

During this week in 1878, the Sheldon Jackson School was founded in Sitka , Alaska . Presbyterian missionaries started it as an industrial and training school for the Tlingit community.

During this week in 1879, Chief Little Wolf returned home. Little Wolf led his band from Oklahoma Indian Territory back to the Cheyenne traditional homelands of present-day Montana.

On this day in 1614, Pocahontas married colonist John Rolfe in Virginia. Their union created several years of peace between Jamestown colonists and her Powhatan tribe.

During this week in 1621, the Wampanoag Tribe signed a treaty with the pilgrims. It stated either party would not injure or steal from one another, or engage in unjust war.

On this day in 1973, the corporation for the Bering Straits village of Solomon was established. The village is located on the west bank of the Solomon River, about 30 miles east of Nome, Alaska.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

During this week in 1964, a tsunami hit Alaska Native communities following the "Great Alaskan Earthquake." There were many deaths and three Alutiiq villages were destroyed.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

During this week 1871, Dr. William Jones a Meskwaki anthropologist was born. He provided an early collection and account of the Meskwaki language.

Monday, March 26, 2007

On this day in 1958, the "White Alice" communication system began operating in Alaska. Many Alaska Natives particpated in the U.S. Air Force communication system. It was built to improve defense and bring telphone and telegraph service to the public.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

During this week 1975, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe settled a case against a power company for flooding the reservation.

Monday, March 19, 2007

On this day in 1885, Louis Riel, leader of the Metis people, established a provincial government in Saskatchewan, Canada. He sought to preserve their rights and culture.

Friday, March 16, 2007

On this day in 1973, the Lower Muskogee-Creek Tribe East of the Mississippi became state recognized in Georgia.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

On this day in 1978, New Mexico’s Zuni Pueblo won the right to take back their lands by an act of Congress, including Zuni Salt Lake which was being held in trust.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

During this week in 1931, the Bureau of Education transferred all its Alaska affairs, including health care, to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The transfer authorized the BIA to spend federal money for Alaska Natives.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

During this week in 1912, Tlingit leader Judson Lawrence Brown was born in Haines, Alaska. Brown was the first Native mayor of Haines and a secretary of the Alaska Native Brotherhood.

Monday, March 12, 2007

During this week in 1980, the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes in Maine won a land claim. The tribes were suing the state to recover nearly 12-million acres of land taken by settlers. But they dropped the lawsuit in exchange for an 81-point-5 million dollar settlement with the federal government.

Friday, March 9 2007

During this week in 1861, poet Emily Pauline Johnson was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. The Mohawk woman was the first Native poet to have her work published in Canada.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

On this day in 1970, the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation occupied the Fort Lawton Military Base near Seattle, Washington. It was an attempt to establish a land base. As a result, Seattle signed a lease for a site. Today it's known as the Indian Cultural Center.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

During this week in 1970, more than 600 athletes participated in the first Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife, Canada. The participants came from Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. Instead of medals, winners received traditional Inuit knives in gold, silver and copper.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

During this week in 1980, Mohawk actor Jay Silverheels died. He was best known for his role as Tonto in The Lone Ranger television series. Silverheels was the first Indian actor to have a star placed on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Monday, March 5, 2007

On this day in 1948, Native American novelist, poet, and short story writer Leslie Marmon Silko was born. The Laguna writer is widely known for her novel Ceremony.

Friday, March 2, 2007

On this day in 1973, an official corpoartion for the White Mountain Village is established. The Alaska Native community, influenced by the gold rush, is located on the Seward Peninsula.

Thursday, March 7, 2007

On this day in 1920, Army Captain Raymond Harvey was born in Ford City, Pennsylvania. The Chickasaw man earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

During this week in 1961, the Point Hope Village Health Council wrote to President Kennedy. They opposed “Project Chariot,” a proposed plan to use a nuclear blast to build a harbor on the west coast of Alaska. The council said the blast would be too close to hunting and fishing areas.

Monday, February 26, 2007

On this day in 1925, President Calvin Collidge issued a proclamation to create the Glacier Bay National Monument in Alaska. The action was taken without regard for Alaska Natives. Hoonah Natives’ hunting, fishing and gathering grounds extended the full length of Glacier Bay.

Friday, February 23, 2007

During this week in 1924, Carl Ben Eielson made Alaska’s first airmail flight. This impacted many Alaska Native communities not accessible by road. Air transportation was the only people living in isolated and rural areas to get their mail.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

During this week in 1897, long distance runner Lewis “Deerfoot” Bennett died from tuberculosis in Canada. The Seneca man dominated long-distance racing in the mid-19th century.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

On this day in 1828, “Cherokee Phoenix” the first U.S. newspaper in a Native language rolled off the press in Georgia. The newspaper served as a link between Cherokee people and their sovereign government.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

On this day in 1941, award-winning Piapot Cree First Nation musician, artist and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie was born in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Monday, February 19, 2007

During this week in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress to appropriate one million dollars to help Alaska Natives gain exclusive control of the reindeer industry in Alaska.

Friday, February 16, 2007

On this day in 1989, the first “Elizabeth Peratrovich Day” was celebrated in Alaska. The Tlingit a woman was a civil rights leader who helped get an anti-discrimination law passed in the state.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

On this day in 1946, author, poet, musician and political activist John Trudell was born in Omaha, Nebraska. The Santee Sioux man was the national Chairman of the American Indian Movement in the 1970’s.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

During this week in 1909, Geronimo died of pneumonia at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He was a highly respected medicine man among his people the Chiricahua Apache. Geronimo was also a feared warrior by Mexican and American authorities.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

During this week in 1969, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana enacted a resolution prohibiting the hunting or killing of Montana Sheep. The Act made it illegal for non-Natives to hunt the herds on the tribe’s Flathead Reservation.

Monday, February 12, 2007

On this day in 1599, Juan De Onate ordered the punishment of 70 Acoma men who had battled the Spanish. The punishment was cutting off one foot from every man over the age of 25 and 20 years of slavery.

Friday, February 9, 2007

On this day in 2004, the Native American Cultural Center in San Francisco, California announced the "Turn Off CBS" campaign. Native activists claimed the media company portrayed racist stereotypes of American Indians on the "Grammy Awards" during the hip-hop performance by the band "Outkast."

Thursday, February 8, 2007

During this week in 1836, more than a thousand U.S. troops landed in Tampa Bay, Florida to end the Second Seminole War. The engagements that followed resulted in a seven-year-guerilla war led by Chief Osceola.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

On this day in 1907, Oscar Craig was born in Copper Center, Alaska. He served as an officer of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and President of the Copper Native Association.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

On this day in 1840, Maori Chiefs in New Zealand signed a treaty with the British Crown for citizenship and land rights. Because the treaty was never officially ratified it has caused disagreement and conflict between the Crown and the Maori people.

Monday, February 5, 2007

On this day in 1801, Penobscot Chief Joseph Orono died. He was more than 100-years-old. Chief Orono urged his tribe to side with the Americans during the Revolutionary War.

Friday, February 2, 2007

On this day in 1925, diphtheria serum arrived in Nome from Nenana to save people in the Alaska community from an outbreak of the disease. Many Alaska Native mushers helped deliver the medicine in the journey known as the “Great Race of Mercy.”

Thursday, February 1, 2007

During this week in 1848, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed between the United States and Mexico ending the Mexican-American War. As a result Native nations in the lands taken away from Mexico would undergo tremendous changes adjusting to the American government.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

On this day in 1855, leaders of the Makah Nation signed a treaty which ceded much of their traditional land in Washington in exchange for a reservation.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

On this day in 1998, the Governor of Oklahoma proclaimed January 30th as Jim Thorpe Day. The Sac and Fox athlete was recognized state wide for gold medals won in the 1912 Olympic Games.

Monday, January 29, 2007

On this day in 1914, the Juneau Chapter of the Alaska Native Brotherhood was formed. The brotherhood was created two years earlier to preserve Native culture and promote equality.

Friday, January 26, 2007

During this week in 1951, the U.S. government detonated the first series of nuclear bombs at its Nevada test site. Some of the bombs were named after tribes and some medicine men in the area watched the explosion from a sacred site.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

On this day in 1983, The U.S. Court of Appeals reaffirmed the rights of Ojibwe people in Wisconsin. The court ruled tribes could hunt and fish on lands that were ceded to the federal government during their treaty making process a century before.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

During this week in 1949, Glenn Godfrey was born. Godfrey was the first Alaska Native Public Safety Commissioner. He was also instrumental in starting the Village Public Safety Officer Program for rural areas.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

During this week in 2006, Bolivian President Evo Morales was inaugurated. Morales is the first Indigenous leader of the country in nearly 500 years.

Monday, January 22, 2007

During this week in 1907, Charles Curtis became the first Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate. The Republican from Kansas was a member of the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma. While in office, he supported legislation that would expand the rights of self-determination among tribes. He later became vice president.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

On this day in 1958, a raid by 500 Lumbee tribal members on a Ku Klux Klan rally in North Carolina made the New York Times front page. The Lumbee, armed with guns and knives demanded the Klan wizard come forward, but he didn't’t.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

On this day in 1969, Interior Secretary Stewart Udall imposes the “super” freeze on Alaska lands. He initiated the “land Freeze” to protect Alaska Natives from losing more land to state selections until land claims settlement legislation was passed.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

On this day in 1945, Lieutenant Jack Montgomery, a Cherokee man from Oklahoma, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He single-handedly attacked three different enemy positions in Italy during World War II.

Monday, January 15, 2007

During this week in 1935, Chief Simeon Ezi of the Eklutna village died in Anchorage, Alaska. The chief was respected by the Athabascan community.

Friday, January 12, 2007

On this day in 1923, Ira Hayes was born on the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. The Pima man and Marine, was famous for being one of six troops to raise the U.S. flag on Mt. Surabachi during World War II.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

On this day in 1867, Benito Juarez started his fourth term as President of Mexico. He was the first Indigenous person to serve as the country's president. The Zapoteca man served for five terms before he died while working at his desk.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

During this in 1972, Harold Jones, a Sioux man from South Dakota, became the first Native American Bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

On this day in 1994, the village corporation for Pitka’s Point in Alaska became officially incorporated. The Yup’ik Eskimo village is located near the Yukon-Kuskokwin Delta.

Monday, January 8, 2007

During this week in 1949, marathon runner Thomas Longboat from the Six Nations Reserve in Canada died. The Onondaga man won the Boston Marathon in 1907.

On this day in 1975, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act became law. This act increased tribal control over programs and helped fund public school construction on and near reservations.

On this day in 1917, the North Bay Reserve in Alaska was created by executive order with 350,000 acres of land.

During this week in 1999, the Alaska Native Medical Center became Native owned and managed. It was formerly operated by the Indian Health Service. With the change, Alaska became the first state to have all its Native health facilities managed by Native organizations.

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