Wednesday, December 30, 2009

On this day in 1835, the Second Seminole War - also known as the Florida War - began. One acclaimed Seminole leader, Chief Osceola led his forces into battle against the United States; the war lasted more than seven years.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

During this month in 2007, the Ontario government announced it was returning the Ipperwash Provincial Park to the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. During the Second World War, the Canadian government took the land to build a military training camp and never returned it to Aboriginal people.

Monday, December 28, 2009

On this day in 1890, Lakota Chief Big Foot and his band were captured by the U.S. Army's 7th Calvary. They were detained at a campsitein Wounded Knee, South Dakota. When the soliders 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."

Friday, December 25, 2009

On this day in 1916, Evelyn Alexander was born in Minto, Alaska. For more than 30 years, she worked for free as a health aide and midwife in the area. The Athabascan woman won many awards, including the Alaska Federation of Natives Elder of the Year.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

During this week in 2007, the Ontario government returned the Ipperwash Provincial Park to the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. The move settled a long-standing grievance and came more than ten years after a Native protester was killed in the park by police. The First Nation claimed the land was illegally taken by the Canadian government for use during World War II.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

On this day in 1898, President William McKinley established the Hualapai Indian School Reserve. The reserve was set aside for the purpose of educating the Hualapai people in Arizona Territory.

Monday, December 21, 2009

On this day in 1919, Alaska Native leader Walter Noden was born. The Bristol Bay leader formed the Southwestern Alaska Native Association and fought for land rights.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

During this week in 2007, Diane Humetewa was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Arizona. The Hopi woman is believed to be the first Native American to hold such a position. Humetewa worked to enhance collaboration with tribes and enforce justice in Indian Country. She resigned from the position this year.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

On this day in 2007, a ceremony was held in Lead, South Dakota for the return of personal items of Sitting Bull. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History returned a pair of leggings and a lock of hair to descendants of the Lakota leader. More than 40 people gathered for the ceremony to cleanse the items.

Monday, December 14, 2009

During this week in 2008, Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy. The University of Oklahoma quarterback's win inspired Native students across the country. Bradford is the first enrolled Cherokee Nation citizen to win the award that is given out annually to the most outstanding college football player in the U.S.

Friday, December 11, 2009

During this week in 1924, the Wupatki National Monument was established in Arizona. The pueblos were occupied by Native people in the 12 century. The area was thought to have been a meeting place of different cultures and and important center for trade.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

During this week in 2004, Cecilia Fire Thunder took the oath of office as the first woman president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She was later impeached for her stand on women's right to choose. The tribe currently has a female leader, President Theresa Two Bulls.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

During this week in 1991, the Custer Battlefield Monument was renamed the Little Bighorn Battlefield Monument. It is located in Montana at the site of the 1876 battle between the U.S. Army and Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

During this week in 1997, the Kake Cannery in Alaska was designated as a National Historic Landmark to commemorate and illustrate its history. Alaska Native people had a part in the salmon canning industry at the site.

Monday, December 7, 2009

During this week in 2008, a group of Navajo and Hopi people traveled to Colorado to pressure the federal government to stop coal mining on ancestral and sacred land in Black Mesa, Arizona. Residents say decades of coal mining has depleted and contaminated their water source.

Friday, December 4, 2009

On this day in 1972, the Alaska Native village corporation for Golovin in the Bering Straits Region was officially incorporated. The village was a supply point for gold fields after the precious metal was discovered in Council, Alaska in the late 1800's.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

During this month 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.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

During this week in 1960, the Arctic National Wildlife Range was created in Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. It was renamed the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge also called ANWR. More than 19 million acres of land are protected. Opening up oil development in ANWR continues to be a hot topic among many Alaska Native people.



Monday, November 30, 2009

On this day in 1972, the Alaska Native village corporation for Teller in the Bering Straits Region was officially incorporated. Located northwest of Nome, Teller was established in 1900 as a mining town.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

During this week in 1880, the Havasupai Reservation was established in the western part of the Grand Canyon. The reservation was initially 60-square miles. Two years later it was reduced to less than 1-square mile to accommodate mining interests in the area. It took more than 90 years for the tribe to get its land back.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

During this week in 1900, Alaska Native leader Nick Gray was born in Council City. He helped found the Cook Inlet Native Association and was instrumental in unifying Alaska Natives into statewide organizations.

Monday, November 23, 2009

On this day in 2005, the Canadian government announced its two billion dollar compensation plan to former students of Indian residential schools for the abuses they suffered. The government sent out checks, made an official apology and established a commission to document the experiences of students. The commission has been rocky with the turnover in members and day school students are now seeking a settlement.

Friday, November 20, 2009

During this week in 1945, Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She was the first Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

During this week 2008, more than ten thousand Indigenous people marched to Colombia’s capital to demand land reforms and human rights.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

During this week in 2008, the North Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union honored Dr. David Gipp. Gipp is the President of United Tribes Technical College. He received the North Dakota Champion of Liberty award for his lifelong commitment to the work of racial justice.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

During this week in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians was established. The organization monitors federal policy and includes member tribes from across the country.

Monday, November 16, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Consul General of Israel to the Southwest signed a proclamation. The proclamation acknowledged the cultural exchange and was a step to explore future economic development initiatives. Tribal, local and state officials attended the event at the tribal headquarters in Elton, Louisiana.

Friday, November 13, 2009

During this week in 2008, Joseph Boyden, a Canadian Aboriginal, received the Giller Prize for Fiction, one of Canada's most prestigious book awards. He won the award for his book "Through Black Spruce." It's the story of a Cree woman's search for her missing sister and life on a northern Canadian reserve.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

On this day in 1912, Native rights leaders Peter Simpon and Frank Mercer along with three teachers sent a letter to the Commissioner of Education. The letter requested citizenship for Alaska Native people and recommended mandatory education. It also protested the use of fish traps in Southeast Alaska.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

During this week 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.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

On this day in 1912, the Alaska Native Brotherhood met for the first time in Juneau, voting and adopting rules governing its purpose and membership requirements. Peter Simpson was elected president and Frank Mercer, who is credited with creating the name, was elected secretary.



Friday, October 30, 2009

During this week in 2007, Native baseball player Jacoby Ellsbury helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series. During the playoff with the Colorado Rockies in Denver, Colorado the then-rookie shined both in the outfield and at the plate batting. He's believed to be the first person of Navajo descent to play in the major leagues and has become an inspiration to Native youth across the country.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

On this day in 1918, the town of Juneau was quarantined to help prevent the spread of Spanish influenza. The flu killed millions of people around the world. In Alaska, many Native people were hit by the epidemic and in some cases entire villages were killed.

Tuesday, October 28, 2009

On this day in 1988, two stranded gray whales in Barrow, Alaska were rescued after an international effort that drew a media frenzy. Alaska Native people were instrumental in the rescue.

Monday, October 26, 2009

On this day in 1809, a treaty was signed between the United States and the Wea Tribe at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. gave the tribe $1500 and promised to make annual payments of $300. In return, the Tribe agreed to cede lands along the Wabash River.

Friday, October 16, 2009

During this week in 2007, an Indigenous summit was held in the Mexican state of Sonora. The Zapatista National Liberation Army and other groups called for unity among the world's Indigenous people. Native people from the U.S., Canada and other countries talked about ways to strengthen their cultures.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

During this week in 1900, Peter John a traditional chief of Interior Athabascans was born in Rampart, Alaska. He was known as a spiritual and moral leader among his people. In 1999, John demanded his name be removed from a Fairbanks tribal hall named in his honor because alcohol was served there.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

During this week in 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress. It established federal regulations for gaming and protects gaming as a means of generating tribal revenue.

Monday, October 12, 2009

During this week in 1996, KNBA the first urban all-Native radio station located in Anchorage, Alaska went on the air. Koahnic Broadcast Corporation owns KNBA and National Native News.

Friday, October 9, 2009

During this week in 1969, the Alaska Federation of Natives adopted new changes. The changes made the AFN officially incorporated. It is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska representing nearly 180 villages.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

During this week in 1966, award winning author Sherman Alexie was born. The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene man has a new book making its way across the country. "War Dances" is a collection of short stories from the male perspective looking at Native America today.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

On this day 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy called for a White House conference on Indian issues. The Massachusetts Senator was known for supporting Indian education and health care. Native organizations released statements after his recent death calling him a champion and friend.

Monday, October 5, 2009

During this week in 1944, Van T. Barfoot was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. During World War II, the Choctaw man knocked out two machines gun nests that led to the capture of 17 German soldiers. He also carried two wounded commanders to safety.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

During this week in 1873, Modoc Chief Captain Jack was hanged in Klamath, Oregon. The tribal leader killed a Civil War general in order to keep his people from relocating to a reservation in Oklahoma.




Wednesday, September 30, 2009

During this week in 1940, Emmitt Peters was born in Ruby, Alaska. The Athabascan man won the third ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1975 and held the record until 1980.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

During this week 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.

Monday, September 28, 2009

On this day in 1971, Alaska Governor William Egan signed a proclamation declaring October third through ninth Alaska Native Peoples Week to recognize their contributions to the state.

Friday, September 25, 2009

On this day in 2008, the U.S. House approved a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to every tribe that had code talkers. Navajo Code Talkers were recognized for their military service by Congress in 2001.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

During this week in 1985, Congress passed amendments that 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 Native people.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

On this day in 1839, the Cherokee Nation's Supreme Court was established. It is the oldest building in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and has become a popular tourist site.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

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

Monday, September 21, 2009

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.

Friday, September 18, 2009

On this day in 1899, an Athabascan chief and his Upper Kuskokwim people rescued a Cavalry lieutenant and eight men near Telida, Alaska. The men in the military expedition were attempting to travel the region by horse.

Monday, September 14, 2009

On this day in 1989, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 28-cent stamp honoring Sitting Bull. The portrait of the Lakota leader was based on photographs from Smithsonian Institution archives.

Friday, September 11, 2009

During this week in 1851, Conquering Bear was chosen to represent the Lakota people. The U.S. insisted each tribe name a leader who could sign treaties on behalf of their people. Conquering Bear signed the Fort Laramie Treaty.

Friday, September 4, 2009

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

Thursday, September 3, 2009

On this day in 1964, the Wilderness Act was approved to establish a National Wilderness Preservation System. Under the Act, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is designated as wilderness. Opening ANWR up to oil exploration continues to be a hot topic among many Alaska Native people.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

During this week in 1871, a reservation was chosen by the federal government for Apache people in east-central Arizona. The White Mountain Reservation today consists of more than a million acres that includes rich wildlife habitats and more than 400 miles of streams.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

On this day in 1937, the Reindeer Act was made into law to provide the means of a self-sustaining economy for Alaska Native people through the reindeer industry.



Monday, August 31, 2009

During this week in 2007, Maori people from New Zealand traveled to Illinois to repatriate human remains that included bones and a preserved head with facial tattoos. Chicago's Field Museum bought the remains in the late 1800's. A repatriation ceremony was held a week later in Wellington, New Zealand.

Friday, August 28, 2009

During this week in 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the United Houma Nation in Louisiana. Less than a month later, Hurricane Rita hit the tribe. The tribe estimates 7,000 citizens were directly impacted by the hurricanes, nearly half were displaced. Rebuilding efforts continue today.

Thursday, August 27, 2009


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

During this month in 1832, more than 150 Sac and Fox members were slain by the U.S. military in the Black Hawk War. The Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma has remembered the event by ordering flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of those killed.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Interior Department announced that more than 100 Indian Affairs locations were reconnected to the Internet. For more than six years, offices nationwide that worked with trust data were offline by court order because of the historic Indian trust lawsuit now called Cobell v. Salazar.

Monday, August 24, 2009

During this week in 1784, Russian sailors on an expedition attacked Refuge Rock, Alaska. Many Alutiiq people were massacred and others were taken hostage. According to a historical timeline, the event represented the loss of sovereignty of the Alutiiq people.

Friday, August 21, 2009

During this week in 2008, rising water caused flooding on the Grand Canyon floor and devastated the Havasupai Tribe. Campers and residents had to be airlifted to safety. For nearly a year, tourism, the tribe's main economic base, was shut down.

Friday, August 14, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians celebrated its water rights settlement with the federal government and three California water districts. Tribal leaders, federal, state and local officials took part in a ceremony. The Southern California tribe fought for its water rights for more than 70 years.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs marked its 20th anniversary as an organization in Canada. Chiefs from 64 bands in the province gathered on the Brokenhead First Nation to discuss economic and social issues, treaties and governance.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

On this day in 1972, a use permit was issued for the fall term for the Native Student Boarding School Program of the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Wildwood Air Force Station in Alaska. The plan was developed by the Kenai Natives Association, which proposed that Wildwood Station be considered as part of their Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act withdrawal.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

During this week in 1680, Pueblo people of the Southwest staged the first revolution of the Americas. The Natives organized their uprising through secret meetings and were able to expel Spanish conquistadors for 12 years before their return and an eventual peaceful existence.

Monday, August 10, 2009

On this day in 1987, the Aleut Foundation was established in Alaska to enhance the life and culture of Aleut people.

Friday, August 7, 2009

During this month in 2008, North Dakota U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan announced for the first time in 10 years, the Higher Education and College Opportunity Act wa

Friday, November 13, 2009

During this week in 2008, Joseph Boyden, a Canadian Aboriginal, received the Giller Prize for Fiction, one of Canada's most prestigious book awards. He won the award for his book "Through Black Spruce." It's the story of a Cree woman's search for her missing sister and life on a northern Canadian reserve. s reauthorized. It nearly doubled the Pell Grant award and included funding for tribal colleges.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

During this week in 1882, the reservation for the Tohono O'odham people was established. It is located in Arizona with more than 70 miles of land along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

On this day in 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced it would shut what it considered "hostile" and "abusive" Indian nicknames and images out of postseason tournaments. Many NCAA schools have dropped their Indian mascots or received tribal approval. The Indian mascot issue continues to be a hot topic between Native people and the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

During this in 1933, George Attla was born in Huslia, Alaska. He became known as the "Huslia Hustler," one of the state's top mushers. Attla first won a championship dog sled race in the state in 1958. The Athabascan man has numerous world and North American titles and is part of Alaska's Sports Hall of Fame.

Monday, August 3, 2009

During this week in 2006, international tribal leaders gathered at Bear Butte to form international peace agreements, address treaty rights and discuss sacred site protections. Tribal leaders traveled to South Dakota from as far as Ecuador to share their struggles with other leaders at the meeting.



Friday, July 31, 2009

During this week in During this week in 2008, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a ruling in the Cherokee Freedmen lawsuit the court ruled that the tribe cannot be sued without consent but, that individual tribal officials were not protected by sovereign immunity. At the time both the sides of the case claimed victory.

.Thursday, July 30, 2009

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

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

On this day in 1999, Aleut leaders appealed to Congress for help to force the federal government to act on its promise. Commercial fur sealing was outlawed in the 1970's. The ban impacted Aleut communities in Alaska. The federal government promised to establish an economy and clean up federal property.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

During this week in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation for Perryville in the Bristol Bay Region was established. Located southwest of Kodiak, the community was founded as a refuge for Aleut people driven away from their villages by the eruption of Mt. Katmai.

Monday, July 27, 2009

On this day in 2008, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama told journalists he would consult with tribes about an apology to Native people if elected president of the United States. Obama made the comments at the UNITY: Journalists of Color Convention in Chicago, Illinois. To this day, President Obama has not made an official government apology.

Friday, July 24, 2009

During this week in 2007, the Tsawwassen First Nation voted in favor of the first modern urban treaty in British Columbia, Canada. The historic agreement with the federal and provincial governments included land and money. The treaty ended more than a decade of negotiations and land claims.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

During this week in 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a speech to the Aboriginal community in support of recognizing their rights in the country's constitution. Aboriginal leaders asked Rudd to abandon federal intervention in remote Aboriginal lands which, over the years has created disparities. The meeting was held months after the historic government apology to Aboriginal people.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

During this week in 1987, the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Center officially opened in Canada. Located in Alberta, the site is considered to be one of the world's oldest and largest preserved buffalo jump sites. The interpretive center teaches people about the custom of Aboriginal people chasing bison over the cliff and butchering them below.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

During this week 2007, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs welcomed its new vice chair. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski told the committee Indian health care was one of her top priorities. Murkowski became the first woman and first Alaska senator to serve as vice chair.

Monday, July 20, 2009

During this week 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 being pursued by the U.S. Army.

Friday, July 17, 2009

During this week in 2004, the inauguration ceremony for the first female leader of the White Earth Band of Chippewa was held. Erma Vizenor took office after successfully defeating two legal challenges to her election to lead the Minnesota tribe.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

During this week in 2008, Navajo and federal officials announced a bootlegging operation on the Navajo Nation nabbed 12 people. Arrests were made in Window Rock and Chinle, Arizona after a four month investigation. Officials said alcohol contributes to violent crime in Indian Country.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

During this week 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

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

During this week in 1993, the Senate confirmed the presidential nomination of Ada Deer to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Deer was the first Native woman in the top Interior Department position. The Menominee woman resigned in 1997.

Monday, July 13, 2009

During this week in 1931, Chief Thomas, the last of the old-time chiefs of the Nenana area in Alaska, died. Chief Thomas was photographed in a famous photo in the early 1900's with seven Interior Alaska chiefs.

Friday, July 10, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Longest Walk II ended in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of people from across the country participated in the months-long journey from California to Capitol Hill to raise awareness of Native and environmental issues.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

On this day in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill to pay more than $7 million for Tlingit and Haida Indian land claims in Southeastern Alaska.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

During this week in 1943, Robbie Robertson, a Mohawk was born in Toronto, Canada. The musician composed the soundtrack for "Raging Bull." He also played in the rock and roll group "The Band" in the 1960's and 1970's.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

On this day in 1958, the Alaska Statehood Act was made into law. Alaska Native people were already politically active and organized before statehood. As Alaska was admitted into the union, Native people were working on civil rights, land and subsistence issues.

Monday, July 6, 2009

During this week in 2002, the Rodeo-Chediski fire was finally controlled. The fires started on the Fort Apache reservation and merged to become the worst fire in Arizona history, consuming nearly 470,000 acres of land.

Friday, July 3, 2009

On this day in 1990, President George Bush issued a proclamation in observance of Idaho Centennial Day. The Kootenai, Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene and Shoshoni tribes were acknowledged.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

During this week in 1955, the Indian Health Act was passed. It transferred the Indian Health Service from the Interior Department to the Public Health Service. It was later moved to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Grand Council Assembly of the Anishinabek Nation in Canada voted to eliminate the word "Aboriginal" from business documents. Many chiefs said the term is offensive and it was never part of Native languages. They also hoped the change would help improve relationships with the Canadian government.



Tuesday, June 30, 2009

During this week in 1906, Mesa Verde was designated as a National Park. Located in southwestern Colorado, the ancient village was once home to pueblo people and is the largest cliff dwelling in North America.

Monday, June 29, 2009

During this week in 2008, 90.1 FM KILI Radio, also known as the "Voice of the Lakota People" located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota, made moves to go green. A single wind turbine installation was dedicated as a move to entirely power the station through renewable energy.

Friday, June 26, 2009

During this week in 1972, the Indian Education Act was passed by Congress to fund educational services for Native Americans.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

On this day in 2008, Joe Medicine Crow received the Bronze Star and French Legion of Honor. The Crow tribal member was honored for his service during World War II. A ceremony was held in Montana for the then-94-year-old, the tribe's oldest living veteran.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

During this week in 2003, the Indian Memorial at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana was dedicated. It recognizes Native people who fought in the 1876 battle with the U.S. Army at the site.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

During this month in 2007, Oklahoma tribal leaders watched President Bush sign a bill in Washington, D.C. to reauthorize the Native American Home Ownership Opportunity Act. It encouraged homeownership among Native people by guaranteeing mortgages.

Monday, June 22, 2009

On this day in 2006, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs released its final report on disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The nearly 400 pages named six tribes involved in the Indian lobbying scandal. Abramoff and his associates bilked the tribes out of millions of dollars. The committee held five hearings on the matter and gave a number of recommendations for the court and tribes. Abramoff is currently in prison serving a sentence for his involvement.
Friday, June 19, 2009

On this day in 2008, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes agreed to co-manage a Montana bison range with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tribal leaders and federal officials signed the National Bison Range agreement in Washington, D.C. The more than 18,000 acre national wildlife refuge is entirely within the borders of the Flathead Reservation. Its management was disputed for years.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

On this day in 1953, Robert "Bobby" Kvasnikoff was born. The Alaska Native leader learned he had AIDS in the 1990's. He chose to make his diagnosis public and became an advocate for safe sex. Kvasnikoff, who died in 1997, was also known as lead guitarist and singer for the English Bay Band.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

During this week in 2008, a 26-foot Tlingit canoe was launched into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The Raven Canoe was a gift from Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It's on display in the museum's ocean hall.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

On this day in 1938, boundaries of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Reservation were established in Washington State. The more than 13-hundred acres receive about 20 inches of rain per year due to its location in the Olympic Mountain rain shadow.

Monday, June 15, 2009

On this day in 1995, the Alaska Federation of Natives Board of Directors passed a resolution in favor of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. The issue is a hot topic among Alaska Natives. Gwitch'in Athabascans strongly oppose it and advocate for preservation over economic development.

Friday, June 12, 2009

During this week in 2008, the Southern Baptist Convention, with more than 16 million U.S. members, elected a Lumbee man as president. Dr. Johnny Hunt said his Lumbee roots may help the overwhelmingly white denomination reach more minorities.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

During this week in 1913, Walter Harper reached the summit of Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley in Alaska. The Athabascan man was the first person to reach the summit, the highest mountain peak in North America.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

On this day in 2008, the historic Indian trust case now named Cobell v. Salazar entered the remedies phase. The more than a decade old class action lawsuit is far from over, as plaintiffs continue to seek fair resolution for the federal government's admitted mismanagement of oil, gas and other royalties.

Monday, June 8, 2009

During this week 1977, the first ever Inuit Circumpolar Conference was held in Barrow, Alaska. Inuit people from Alaska, Canada and Greenland addressed their issues.

Friday, June 5, 2009

During this week 2007, the provincial inquiry into the 1995 police shooting death of Native protester Dudley George at a provincial park was released in Ontario, Canada. The inquiry was conducted for more than two years and found blame on the police and the Canadian government. Last week, the Ipperwash Provincial Park was formally transferred to Native control.

Thusday, June 4, 2009

During this week in 1986, the Northwest Arctic Borough was created. Located in Northwestern Alaska on the Chukchi Sea, there are 11 villages throughout the borough.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

On this day in 2008, Joba Chamberlain made his first Major League start at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Winnebago pitcher had a rough year in his personal life. He took a leave of absence to be with his sick father and was arrested for drunken driving. Yet, Chamberlain has done well on the baseball field. In his last start Monday, he pitched eight strong innings to lead the Yankees to a 5-2 win against the Cleveland Indians.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

On this day in 2008, funeral services for Paula Gunn Allen were held in California. The award-winning Native novelist, poet and scholar passed away after battling lung cancer. Her mixed heritage is credited for shaping her work in Native American literature and Native women's feminism.

Monday, June 1 , 2009

During this week in 1962, the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall became a National Historic Landmark. The nationally designated site is located in Sitka. The Alaska Native Brotherhood organization was founded in 1912 to represent teh rights of Native people.

Friday, May 29, 2009

On this day in 2008, thousands of First Nations people participated in the Day of Action. Rallies and demonstrations were held across Canada to raise awareness on issues such as poverty, contaminated water, health care, housing and education.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

During this week in 2006, then-Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne met with National Congress of American Indians representatives on his first day in office. Kempthorne talked about government-to-government relationships, settling the historic Indian trust lawsuit and Indian education.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

During this week in 2008, then-presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton campaigned on reservations in Montana and South Dakota. She made stops on the Flathead Reservation and the Pine Ridge Reservation. Clinton and her husband former President Bill Clinton campaigned hard for votes in Indian Country during the primary season.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

On this day in 1919, Native leader George Miller, Jr. was born in Kenai, Alaska. He was the first president of the Alaska Native Corporation for the Cook Inlet Region.

Monday, May 25, 2009

On this day in 1926, Congress enacted the Alaska Native Townsite Act.  It allowed Native people in Alaska to acquire restricted deeds to lots in certain town sites.

Friday, May 22, 2009

During this week in 1873, the Northwest Mounted Police was founded in Canada to help regulate the flow of alcohol to Native people. The organization is now the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It serves Aboriginal communities across the country despite current tensions.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

On this day in 2008, a Southern California tribe's water settlement bill passed the U.S. House. The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians Settlement Act was introduced in Congress in 2007. The bill resolved decades of litigation over tribal water rights and was later signed into law.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

During this week in 2008, a new white marble headstone from the Veterans Affairs Department was unveiled at a South Dakota cemetery for a Native American war hero. Family members were among those at the ceremony to honor Woodrow Wilson Keeble. The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate man received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

On this day in 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama was adopted into the Crow Nation. A ceremony was held in Montana and he was given the Crow name "One Who Helps People Throughout the Land." The tribe showed support for Mr. Obama during the campaign season and participated in the Presidential Inauguration.

Monday, May 18, 2009

During this week in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was ratified by the Mexican government. The treaty impacted many tribes. It removed Mexican claim on Shoshone land and confirmed title on pueblo land.

Friday, May 15, 2009

On this day in 1876, the Cabazon Reservation for the Cahuilla Indians was established. The Southern California tribe moved many times due to the Southern Pacific Railroad's claim to water rights.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

During this week in 1995, the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository opened to the public in Kodiak, Alaska. It preserves the prehistoric and historic cultural traditions of Alutiiq people and educates the public.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

On this day in 1614, Mexico found Juan De Onate guilty of atrocities against Native people in New Mexico. Onate is notorious for cutting off the hands and feet of Acoma men and for enslaving the tribe's women and children. His sentence was banishment from New Mexico. It was later pardoned.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

On this day in 1992, the Alaska Native village corporation for Eklutna was established. It is located about 25 miles northeast of Anchorage and is within the boundaries of the city. The Eklutna area was the site of many Athabascan villages more than 800 years ago.

Monday, May 11, 2009

During this week in 1903, the U.S. government evicted the people known as the Cupeños from their homeland in Southern California. They were forced to leave their village and medicinal hot springs to share a reservation with a band of Luiseño Indians. The 40-mile journey from Cupa to Pala took three days and the Cupeños called it their "Trail of Tears."

Friday, May 8, 2009

During this week in 1863, the Flandreau Santee Sioux people were forced to move from their traditional homeland in Minnesota. They were taken to a reservation in a desolate part of South Dakota.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

During this week in 1851, the Cherokee Nation Male and Female Seminaries opened in present-day Oklahoma. The boarding schools were operated and funded by the tribe. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Civil War impacted the schools. They were used as warehouses, hospitals and stables. The schools were not reopened until the 1870's.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

During this month in 2007, Virginia tribal leaders met Queen Elizabeth during the commemoration of Jamestown's 400th Anniversary. The queen mentioned Native Americans during her address at the State Capitol, but she didn't apologize for the impacts the English settlement had on Native people.

Monday, May 4, 2009

During this week in 1993, the Alaska Native Justice Center was established to meet the unmet needs of the Alaska Native community in the criminal and civil justice systems. The center works to reduce the number of incarcerated Alaska Native people through advocacy, outreach, education and innovation.



Tuesday, April 21, 2009

On this day in 1869, Ely Samuel Parker was appointed as the first American Indian to be Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The Seneca man was a civil engineer, lawyer and officer during the Civil War.

Monday, April 20, 2009

During this week in 1945, Aleuts returned to Unalaska after being evacuated from their homes during World War Two.  The forced evacuation from Alaska Native resulted in many deaths.  They were housed in inadequate and unsanitary conditions in former canneries in Southeast Alaska.

Friday, April 17, 2009

On this day in 2008, a youth group from the Spirit Lake Reservation traveled to Washington, D.C. in hopes of seeing Catholic Pope Benedict the XVI. Eleven youth from the North Dakota group were among the tens of thousands of people to attend mass given by the Pope.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

During this week in 1985, the federal government increased the Cocopah Indian Reservation from nearly 2,000 acres to more than 6,000. The reservation is located south of Yuma, Arizona. It also borders California and Mexico.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

During this week in 1878, the Sheldon Jackson School was founded in Sitka, Alaska. It was first established as an industrial and training school for Tlingit boys. The school later became a private college. It closed after a history of financial and retention issues.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

During this week in 1974, Eskimos Inc. was established in Alaska. The Native owned company distributes fuel to Barrow residents and airlines.

Monday, April 13, 2009

During this week in 1934, the Johnson-O’Malley Act was made into law to provide funds to states with Indian students attending public schools.

Friday, April 10, 2009

During this week in 2008, hundreds of people gathered at North Carolina's state capitol to discuss comments aired on a Raleigh radio station about Indians. Native people were outraged after remarks were made on G105 FM about Lumbees being lazy and inbred, along with derogatory comments about Pocahontas and Sacagawea. The station apologized and the host was suspended but, Native people wanted to see more action taken. 

Thursday, April 9, 2009

On this day in 1884, a 100-year-old woman identified as Sacajawea died on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. During most of the 20th century, several Americans believed the theory that this woman was Sacagawea of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Researchers with the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation believe this woman was mistakenly identified. They say Sacagawea died at the age of 25 in present-day South Dakota.

Wedensday, April 8, 2009

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

During this week in 1968, the Indian Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress to protect federally recognized tribal members. Under the act, tribes could enforce their own rights, jurisdiction and religious freedom.

Monday, April 6, 2009

During this week in 2007, Montana's governor signed a bill for the state recognized Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. The bill gave the tribe control of a town site near Great Falls for 10 years. When the lease is up, the tribe can renew it or the state can permanently transfer a building and surrounding land to the tribe. The tribe has been seeking federal recognition status for more than a century.

Friday, April 3, 2009

On this day in 1975, accomplished artist Gerald Tailfeathers died on the Blood Reserve in Alberta, Canada. At 10-years-old he began formal art training in the U.S.  The visual artist, illustrator and sculptor rose to international prominence before his death at age 50.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

During this week in 1963, Alaska Native people successfully stopped the Interior Department from oil leasing 25,000 acres of Tyonek land located southwest of Anchorage. The villagers argued that they own the land and were entitled to bonus bids.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

During this week in 1910, Congress passed an act that forever waived tuition for Native American students at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. More than 650 Native students enrolled at the college in recent terms, representing about 122 tribes.



Tuesday, March 31, 2009

On this day in 1882, the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona lost nearly 90 percent of its land after the government modified the reservation boundaries. The loss had an economic impact on the Grand Canyon tribe. Congress later reallocated 185,000 acres.

Monday, March 28, 2009

On this day in 1934, Native leader Janet McCloud was born on the Tulalip reservation in Washington. She was a prominent figure in the fight for Indigenous women and for Native fishing rights.

Friday, March 27, 2009

On this day in On this day in 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose taxes on Indians who live and work on a reservation. The decision was a result of the historic case McClanahan v. Arizona State.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

On this day in 1933, the late Standing Rock Sioux member, Vine Deloria Jr. was born in Martin, South Dakota. Deloria authored numerous acclaimed books and was instrumental in the field of Native repatriation.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

On this day in 1916, Ishi, known as the last survivor of his tribe, the Yahi, died of tuberculosis. His remains were returned to his California decedents in 2000, after being housed at the Smithsonian Institution for close to 80 years this day million.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

On this day in 1989, the Exxon Valdez spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The spill had devastating effects on subsistence resources for Alaska Native people and commercial fishers. Victims of the oil spill started receiving settlement checks from Exxon late last year. They were originally awarded $5 billion in punitive damages, but courts reduced the amount to 507 million.

Monday, March 23, 2009

On this day in 2003, Army Private First Class Lori Piestewa and her convoy were ambushed in Iraq. The Hopi woman from Arizona is the first Native American woman believed to ever die in combat while serving in the U.S. military. She has received many posthumous awards and honors, including the renaming of a Phoenix mountain in her honor.

Friday, March 20, 2009

During this week in 1931, the Bureau of Education transferred all its functions in Alaska, including health, to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The BIA had established an office in Juneau about six months before the transfer.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

During this week in 1909, Navajo National Monument was established in Northern Arizona. Three 13th century intact cliff dwellings are preserved at the site.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

During this week in 2008, a memorial service was held for the first Alaska Native woman bush pilot. Ellen Paneok, 48, died after fighting an illness. The Alaska aviation pioneer was also a youth mentor and artist. Her memorial service included a fly-by of a Gull Wing Stinson.

Monday, March 16, 2009

During this week in 1978, the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico won the right to take back its lands by an act of Congress, including Zuni Salt Lake which was being held in trust.

Friday, March 13, 2009

On this day 1948, one of the first Indian Army Nurses died. Sister Bridget Pleets was one of four Lakota nuns from the Congregation of American Sisters from South Dakota. This group helped nurse soldiers back to health during the Spanish-American War in the late 1800’s.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

During this week in 1970, more than 600 athletes participated in the first Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife, Canada. Participants in the circumpolar sports came from Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. Last year, the event celebrated its 20th anniversary and included people from Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.