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Today in History ARCHIVES
Understanding the Present by Honoring our Past began November 1, 2002
Friday, December 31, 2010
During this week in 1889, Paiute religious leader Wovoka also known as Jack Wilson is credited with receiving his vision during a solar eclipse that set the foundation for the Ghost Dance movement. Practices of this ceremony are connected to many Native nations including the Lakota and the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
On this day in 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred where more than 100 Lakota people were killed by the United States Seventh Cavalry. This event would go on to symbolize the wrongs inflicted on Native Americans by the U.S. Government. The site would also come into play during the 1973 Siege at Wounded Knee.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
On this day in 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred where more than 100 Lakota people were killed by the United States Seventh Cavalry. This event would go on to symbolize the wrongs inflicted on Native Americans by the U.S. Government. The site would also come into play during the 1973 Siege at Wounded Knee.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
On this day in 1985, Congress passed the Quarter Blood Amendment Act to determine eligibility to Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools as well as, Indian education programs.
Monday, December 27, 2010
During this week in 1854, tribal leaders signed the Treaty of Medicine Creek with the U.S. government. The treaty granted the territory of Washington more than 2-million acres of tribal land.
Friday, December 24, 2010
During this month in 2008, Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy. Then-University of Oklahoma quarterback inspired Native students across the country. He's the first enrolled Cherokee Nation citizen to win the award given to the most outstanding college football player in the U.S..
Thursday, December 23, 2010
During this week in 1953, a tribe from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula got its official name, the “Sugar Island Group of Chippewa Indians and Their Descendants.” They eventually became the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians with federal recognition in 1972.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
On this day in 1973, the Menominee Restoration Act was signed by President Richard Nixon. The Wisconsin tribe's recognition was terminated by the federal government nearly 20 years earlier.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
During this week in 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men where hanged in Mankato, Minnesota. President Abraham Lincoln ordered the mass execution, one of the largest in American history.
Monday, December 20, 2010
During this week 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.
Friday, December 17, 2010
During this week in 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act into law to settle aboriginal land claims by Native people and Native groups in Alaska.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
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 World War II, the Canadian government took the land to build a military training camp.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
During this week in 1974, the Cook Inlet Housing Authority was established in Alaska to provide housing assistance to low-income Alaska Natives and American Indians in the Cook Inlet region. The assistance includes elders, youth, families in crisis and transitional housing for those in alcohol recovery.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
During this week in 2007, a ceremony was held in South Dakota to cleanse 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.
Monday, December 13, 2010
During this week in 1882, the Hopi Reservation was established. Located in Northern Arizona, the reservation spans more than a million acres. It includes three mesas which rise up more than seven thousand feet.
Friday, December 10, 2010
On this day in 1991, the name of the Custer Monument was changed to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Located in Montana, it’s the site of the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn between Native people and the U.S.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
On this day in 1924, the Wupatki National Monument was established in Arizona. The pueblos were occupied by Native people in the 12th century. The area was thought to have been a meeting place of different cultures and and important center for trade.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
On this day in 2009, the 3.4 billion dollar settlement in the Indian trust lawsuit Cobell v. Salazar was announced. Lead plaintiff Eloise Cobell and federal officials held a press conference at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C. The more than a decade old lawsuit was filed against the federal government for mismanagement of individual Indian trust accounts.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
During this month in 2008, Kelly Jackson was one of four people to receive a national award from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Lac du Flambeau tribal member was recognized for her work as a historic preservation officer for her Wisconsin tribe.
Monday, December 6, 2010
During this week in 1969, the Choctaw Community News was first published. It is a tribal publication of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Friday, December 3, 2010
On this day in 1973, the federal government named Morris Thompson Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The Athabascan man from Interior Alaska was also a Native leader and Alaska Native corporation leader. A cultural and visitors center is named in honor of him in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
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 1, 2010
During this week in 1991, the Navajo-Hopi Settlement Act was amended by Congress to authorize appropriations for the Navajo-Hopi Relocation Housing Program for four years.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
On this day in 1952, Army Private First Class Charles George sacrificed himself to save the lives of his fellow soldiers by jumping on a grenade during battle in Korea. The Cherokee man was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Monday, November 29, 2010
During this week in 1900, members of a Haida village organized the first local Native government. They adopted a constitution providing for a city council, street commissioner, school board, village police and a village clerk. More than a decade later, three Haida villages combined at the present site of Hydaburg, Alaska for their children to attend school.
Friday, November 26, 2010
On this day in 1900, Nick Gray was born in Council City, Alaska. He was one of the key Native leaders who helped found the Cook Inlet Native Association. He was known for urging Alaska Native people to work together to fight for Native rights.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
During this month in 2008, United Tribes Technical College President Dr. David Gipp was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union for his lifelong commitment to the work of racial justice.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
On this day in 1945, Commander Ernest Evans was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The Native American man from Oklahoma was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was killed in October 1944 in a battle against the Japanese during World War II.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
During this month in 2009, Sweden returned 22 skulls to Native Hawaiians. A ceremony was held at Stockholm's Museum of National Antiquities. 15 of the skulls were believed to be taken from a burial cave in the 1800s and brought to Sweden by a scientist. Five were donated to the museum.
Monday, November 22, 2010
During this week in 1993, Chief Walter Northway died at his home in Northway, Alaska. He was believed to be 117 years old and was one of the last Athabascan elders who recalled what life was like before contact with non-Native people.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
During this month in 2008, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest signed a proclamation to acknowledge a cultural exchange and explore economic development initiatives.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
During this week in 2004, Navajo Code Talker Samuel Billison died in Window Rock, Arizona. Navajo Code Talkers used their language to transmit messages during World War II.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
On this day in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act was signed into law. NAGPRA provides a process for museums and federal agencies to return certain Native American sacred items, human remains, and cultural and funerary objects to tribes.
Monday, November 15, 2010
During this week in 1874, President Grant, by executive order, expanded the Colorado River Indian Reserve to include part of California. The reservation spans the Colorado River and has land in Arizona.
Friday, November 12, 2010
During this month in 2009, President Obama and his cabinet met with tribal leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C. Obama directed all executive departments and agencies to consult with tribes.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
During this week in 1997, Annie Dodge Wauneka died. She was the first woman elected to the Navajo Nation tribal council and a health educator who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
On this day in 1998, American Indian and Alaska Native veterans were honored by the U.S. Department of Defense. The ceremony featured performances by military veterans from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and a special tribute to Navajo Code Talkers.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
During this week in 1975, First Nations reached an agreement with Canadian federal and provincial governments on the administration of First Nations matters in Quebec. They took considerable control over local affairs including schools and land.
Monday, November 8, 2010
During this week in 1871, President Grant established the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in southeastern Arizona Territory. Today the reservation spans more than a million acres.
Friday, November 5, 2010
On this day in 2005, Link Wray died in Copenhagen, Denmark. The guitarist, singer-songwriter expressed pride of his Shawnee roots. Some of his most acclaimed work appeared in movies like "Pulp Fiction" and "Desperado."
Thursday, November 4, 2010
On this day in 1968, the U.S. Post Office issued a Chief Joseph stamp. The six cent stamp was in honor of the Nez Perce leader. He’s known for leading his people on a flight from their homelands while being pursued by the U.S. Army to avoid being forced onto a reservation in Idaho.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
During this month in 2005, the Canadian government announced its two billion dollar compensation plan to former students of Indian residential schools for abuses they suffered. The government sent out checks, made an official apology and established a commission to document the experiences of students.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
During this month 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 1, 2010
During this month in 1877, Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Army in Montana after fleeing them for three months with his people to avoid being forced onto a reservation.
Friday, October 29, 2010
During this month in 1877, Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Army in Montana after fleeing them for three months with his people to avoid being forced onto a reservation.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
During this month in 1986, the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Act was passed for tribes to develop and implement programs for the prevention and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
On this day in 2009, the federal government informed Montana’s Little Shell Chippewa Tribe the Interior Department issued a final determination not to acknowledged it as a federally recognized Indian tribe because there was not enough evidence to meet the legal requirements for federal recognition status.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
During this month in 1990, the Native American Languages Act was passed by Congress. It discarded past government policy aimed at suppressing the traditional languages of Indigenous peoples.
Monday, October 25, 2010
During this month in 1949, the Effigy Mounds in Iowa were designated as a National Monument. More than a thousand year old mounds, built by eastern woodland tribes in the shapes of mammals, birds and reptiles can be found throughout the park.
Friday, October 22, 2010
During this week in 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulation Act was passed by Congress to provide a statutory basis of tribal gaming as a means of promoting economic development and self-sufficiency. It also established federal standards and regulatory authority.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
On this day in 1996, President Bill Clinton issued an executive order to address Indian education. It established the President’s Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities in the Department of Eduction.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
During this month in 1987, Seminole Chief James E. Billie was acquitted of state charges for killing an endangered panther he skinned and ate in Florida. He argued religious freedom and treaty rights.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
During this week in 1978, Congress passed the Tribal Controlled Community College Assistance Act to provide grants to tribal colleges and expand educational opportunities for Indian students.
Monday, October 18, 2010
During this month in 2007, a world Indigenous summit was held in Mexico. The Zapatista National Liberation Army and other groups called for unity among the world's Indigenous people.
Friday, October 15, 2010
During this week in 1869, Metis people created the National Council of the Metis. The group was charged with representing the Metis in negotiations with the Canadian government.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
During this week in 1900, Peter John was born. He became the traditional chief of the Interior Athabascan people in Alaska. He was a spiritual and moral force among his people.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
During this month in 1969, the Alaska Federation of Natives adopted new changes. The changes made the AFN officially incorporated. It's the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
On this day in 1913, "Benny" Benson was born in Alaska. When Benson was 13 he designed the Alaska Flag - eight starts of gold on a field of blue. The flag depicts the Big Dipper and the North Star.
Monday, October 11, 2010
On this day in 1996, KNBA the first urban all-Native radio station went on the air. The station is located in Anchorage, Alaska. Koahnic Broadcast Corporation owns KNBA and National Native News.
Friday, October 8, 2010
During this week in 2002, the coast to coast run for tribal sovereignty was completed in Washington D.C. The run began September 11th on the Quinault reservation in Washington State and ended on October 7th to coincide with the opening of the Supreme Court's new term.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
During this week in 2009, the U.S. Senate issued a resolution calling for a formal apology for historic injustices… inflicted upon Native Americans by the federal government. The Native American Apology Resolution was as added to the Defense Appropriations Act as an amendment.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
During this week in 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.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
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.
Monday, October 4, 2010
During this week in 1986, Congress designated the Nez Perce National Historical Trail. It stretches from Oregon to Montana and covers the path the Nez Perce took in their flight from the army in 1877. Nez Perce people covered more than a thousand miles on the trip that lasted from June to October.
Friday, October 1, 2010
On this day in 1962, the Institute of American Indian Arts opened in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The fine arts college offers four-year degrees in Studio Arts, Visual Communication, Creative Writing and Museum Studies. The Institute has graduated more than 3,000 students representing 90 percent of the more than 500 federally recognized tribes in the United States.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
During this week in 1962, the first issue of the Tundra Times was published in Alaska. The weekly newspaper was the first statewide vehicle for Alaska Native people to communicate about their issues like land claims.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
During this week in 1962, the Mi’kmaq Bear River First Nation Reserve was established. Bear River First Nation is one of 13 First Nation communities in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
On this day in 1971, Alaska’s Governor William Egan signed a proclamation declaring Alaska Native Peoples Week for the first week of October. The week was to recognize their contributions to the state.
Monday, September 27, 2010
On this day in 1917, the Cocopah Indian Reservation was established by executive order. More than a thousand acres were set aside for the reservation south of Yuma, Arizona. According to the Cocopah Indian Tribe, today the reservation comprises about 6,500 acres. About 1,000 tribal members live and work on or near the reservation.
Friday, September 24, 2010
On this day in 1794, eight monks from the Russian Orthodox Church arrived in Kodiak, Alaska. They taught the Orthodox faith to Native people in the region. A church was established in Kodiak and later other parts of Alaska. The religion is still practiced among many Alaska Native people.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
During this month in 1730, seven Cherokee leaders signed Articles of Agreement with Lords Commissioners in London, England. The formal alliance included peace and the return of captives.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
On this day in 1866, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation in Washington State was established by executive order. According to the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, there were holdouts who refused to relocate to other reservations. The reservation was set aside with the intent that those last holdouts would have their own reserved lands for fishing, shellfish harvesting and potato farming.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
During this week month in 1971, the Tanana Chiefs Conference was officially incorporated in Alaska. It’s purpose includes advancing tribal government, economic and social development and protecting traditional and cultural values.
Monday, September 20, 2010
On this day in 1987, John Paul II of the Roman Catholic Church visited Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories where Native people gathered to greet him. His service was translated into different Native languages. The pope attempted to visit the remote Canadian region three years earlier. A dense fog prevented the pope’s plane from landing.
Friday, September 17, 2010
During this week in 1978, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona became federally recognized and the Indian reservation was established. The tribe’s annual September recognition celebration includes speakers and cultural activities.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
During this week in 1884, the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas was dedicated for educating Indian youth. Today, Haskell Indian Nations University serves more than a thousand students each semester.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
During this week in 1903, the Fort McDowell reservation was established by executive order. The 40-square mile reservation is located northeast of Phoenix. The land was formerly the ancestral territory of the once nomadic Yavapai people who hunted and gathered food in Arizona’s deserts and mountains.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
During this week in 1903, the Fort McDowell reservation was established by executive order. The 40-square mile reservation is located northeast of Phoenix. The land was formerly the ancestral territory of the once nomadic Yavapai people who hunted and gathered food in Arizona’s deserts and mountains.
Monday, September 13, 2010
On this day in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation for Old Harbor was established. Old Harbor is located on Kodiak Island. The area is thought to have been inhabited for nearly two thousand years. People living there today are Alutiiq.
Friday, September 10, 2010
During this month 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.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
On this day in 1972, the Bureau of Indian Affairs was ordered to send a high school teacher to Emmonak, Alaska, after a lawsuit filed by students and parents. The case eventually led to a requirement that high schools be built in rural Alaska so students wouldn’t have to leave home to go to school.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
During this week 1871, the Bureau of Indian Affairs selected the White Mountain Reservation in east-central Arizona for Apache people. The reservation now has more than one million acres which includes some of the richest wildlife habitats in the state and more than 400 miles of streams.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
On this day in 1924, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye was born in Hawaii. He has supported Native Hawaiian issues like education and health care. For more than a decade, he’s worked with Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka on a bill to grant Native Hawaiians similar federal treatment as Alaska Native and American Indian tribes.
Monday, September 6, 2010
On this day in 1978, Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park which contains ancestral pueblo ruins was declared a World Heritage Site.
Friday, September 3, 2010
On this day in 1907, Pleasant Porter suffered a stroke and died. He was a rancher, businessman and the Creek Nation’s principal chief. He served the Oklahoma tribe as educator, diplomat and elected official.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
On this day in 1838, Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning queen of Hawaii, was born. She ascended to the throne in 1891 and tried to restore the traditional monarchy but was dethroned in 1893. She was also a musician and songwriter.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
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.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
During this week in 1970, about two dozen Native people occupied Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. They camped out for three months to draw attention to Native issues like sovereignty, treaty rights and poverty.
Monday, August 30, 2010
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 with nearly half displaced. Rebuilding efforts continue today and the tribe faces new threats from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Friday, August 27, 2010
During this week in 2009, officials announced a task force to review cases of murdered and missing women in Manitoba. The deaths of two Aboriginal teens in Winnipeg led to demands for more police action. Manitoba, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Winnipeg Police agreed to review dozens of cases dating back to the 1960's. It's estimated there are more than 500 cases of murdered or missing Aboriginal women in Canada.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
On this day in 1915, Andrew Gronholdt was born in Sand Point, Alaska. He is credited for reviving the tradition of Aleut bentwood hat making. His hats have been displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
During this week in 2009, services were held in New Mexico for U.S. Army Specialist Troy Tom. The 21-year-old Navajo soldier was killed in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. According to the Navajo Nation, 12 Navajo military service members have been killed in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
During this week in 1935, the Indian Arts and Crafts Act was passed by Congress. Its purpose was to promote the economic welfare of tribes and individuals through the development of Indian arts and crafts and to expand the market.
Monday, August 23, 2010
During this week in 1905, Chief Joseph Friday was born. He was the traditional chief and leader of the Alaska Native community of Chevak. Friday was said to be an important cultural leader who spoke about traditional values and often led traditional dancing.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
During this month 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.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
During this week in 1965, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indians was organized by an act of Congress. The act recognized the non-profit organization's role as the governing body of the Tlingit and Haida people. It limited the role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to preparing a list of Tlingit and Haida people living in the United States and Canada.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
On this day in 1876, President Grant issued an executive order to correct a survey mistake. It returned Uncompahgre Park and some farmland to the Ute Reservation in Colorado.
Monday, August 16, 2010
During this month in 2009, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow received the Medal of Freedom. The Crow man received America's highest civilian honor from President Obama during a White House ceremony. Medicine Crow was awarded for his service in World War II and his many cultural contributions.
Friday, August 13, 2010
On this day in 1971, Betty Ivanoff Menard became the first Alaska Native woman to summit Denali, North America's highest peak. Also known as Mt. McKinley, the peak is located in Alaska.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
During this week in 1987, the Aleut Foundation was officially incorporated. The foundation provides scholarships to Aleut people for post secondary education and career development.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
During this month in 1987, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in honor of Chief Red Cloud. The Oglala Sioux leader won Red Cloud’s War in the 1860’s.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
On this day 1972, Senate and House conferees compromised on an ocean mammal bill to allow Alaska Native people to hunt all marine species for subsistence and commercial purposes. It included the harvest of bowhead whales.
Monday, August 9, 2010
During this week in 1978, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed by Congress. It included the protection of access to sites and the use and possession of sacred objects.
Friday, August 6, 2010
During this week in 1898, an Indian Congress was created in Omaha, Nebraska. It brought together more than 500 Native people representing 35 tribes. The congress was part of the TransMississippi Exposition. Its purpose was to illustrate life, industries and ethnic traits of the different tribes.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
This day in 1894 marks the first church service attended by Alaska Native people at the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Mission at Teller in the Bering Straits Region of Alaska. According to church record, more than 500 Inupiaq Eskimos gathered to hear the teaching of the church.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
During this week in 1965, more than 500 leaders gathered at the University of Oklahoma. They formed the organization Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity. The group's first initiatives included job training and leadership programs for youth.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
On this day in 1948, a federal court ruled Indians in New Mexico could vote. More than a month earlier, Miguel Trujillo Sr. from Isleta Pueblo attempted to register to vote in a near by town. He was refused and sued the state. He's credited for making it possible for New Mexico tribes to vote in state and national elections.
Monday, August 2 , 2010
During this week in 1964, 57 presidents of villages in Alaska's Yukon and Kuskokwim areas voted to create the Association of Village Council Presidents. It was established to benefit tribal governments and the people.
Friday, July 30, 2010
During this week in 2009, Elsie Meeks was sworn in as Director of Rural Development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Oglala Lakota woman is the first Native American to serve on the commission. She oversees more than 70 employees and 40 programs serving rural South Dakota residents.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
On this day in 1959, the Indian Claims Commission recognized eleven bands of Indians in northern California. The bands became the federally recognized Pit River Tribe. Many of the people were fishers and gatherers. Their lives were changed by the California Gold Rush and the occupation of the valley by white settlers.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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 and impacted Aleut communities in Alaska. The federal government promised to establish an economy and clean up federal property to make it habitable.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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. Monday, July 26, 2010
During this week in 1973, the Alaska Native village corporation of Oceanside was officially incorporated for Perryville in the Bristol Bay Region. The village, located on the south coast of the Alaska Peninsula, was founded as a refuge for Aleut people driven away from their villages by a volcanic eruption.
Friday, July 23, 2010
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. The meeting was held months after the historic government apology to Aboriginal people.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
On this day in 1979 Jay Silverheels became the first American Indian actor to have a star placed on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard. The Mohawk actor, born Harold J. Smith, played “Tonto”, in the Lone Ranger television series.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
On this day in 1991 Congress created the Nez Perce Historical Trail Foundation. It was established to mark their 1877 flight from the U.S. military which pushed them from their homelands of Idaho and Oregon.
Monday, July 19, 2010
On this day in 1991 Congress created the Nez Perce Historical Trail Foundation. It was established to mark their 1877 flight from the U.S. military which pushed them from their homelands of Idaho and Oregon.
Friday, July 16, 2010
On this day in 2009, a prayer walk and other events were held in the Navajo community of Church Rock, New Mexico to commemorate the 30th anniversary of a uranium mine spill. Radioactive fluids spilled into the Puerco River and traveled downstream to Arizona. It is said to be the largest release of radioactive waste in U.S. history.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
During this week in 2009, Remember the Removal bicycle ride concluded in Oklahoma. Cherokee Nation students and tribal officials including Principal Chief Chad Smith set out on bike from Georgia, retracing the steps of their ancestors on the Trail of Tears.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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 coserve the herd and its habitat and protect traditional uses of the animal by Native people.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
During this week in 1994, the first season opened for Dig Afognak archaeological research in the Kodiak Archipelago. Archaeologists worked side by side with the Native landowners to promote sensitive handling of culturally significant material. Artifacts and information were then housed in the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository in Kodiak, Alaska.
Monday, July 12, 2010
On this day in 1775, part of a legislative bill allocated 500 dollars to Dartmouth College to help educate Indian youth. A Mohegan preacher raised funds for the New Hampshire college and it was established in 1769 with the mission of educating Indian students.
Friday, July 9, 2010
During this week in 1862, the Central Pacific Railroad started construction of what became a massive railroad empire and changed the lives of Indigenous people in the West. It brought white settlers and contributed to the depletion of wild game.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
During this month in 1955, the Indian Health Act was passed. It transferred the Indian Health Service from the Interior Department to the Public Health Service. Under the Department of Health and Human Services, the IHS currently serves nearly two million people.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
On this day in 2009, the Yakama Nation in Washington celebrated the return of sockeye salmon. The tribe trapped, transported and reintroduced sockeye into the Yakima Basin. Sockeye had not been seen in more than 100 years after dams were built.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
During this week in 2009, Scott Frazier, a Santee and Crow man, participated in the Eurasia Foundation's Civil Society Summit Environmental Panel. He traveled from Montana to Russia to testify about environmental and human rights. He was part of a group making recommendations to the United States and Russia for future collaborations between the two countries.
Monday, July 5, 2010
During this week in 1883, the Yuma Reserve was established by executive order. It covered nearly 75 square miles in California for the Yuma Apache Tribe. The reservation was later modified.
Friday, July 2, 2010
On this day in 1908, an executive order created the Chugach and Tongass National Forests in Alaska. Their creation impacted Alaska Native people in the regions. Many lost their traditional lands as a result.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
During this month in 2007, a ruling by the South Dakota Supreme Court requiring the State Bar exam to include an essay question on Indian law went into effect. The question could include jurisdiction, civil rights, child welfare or gaming.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
During this week in 1990, Petroglyph National Monument was established in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It includes more than 20,000 carved images. Most were made hundreds of years ago by Indigenous people who etched images like animals and people into stone.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
On this day in 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was established in Colorado. The park contains 600 cliff dwellings inhabited by pueblo people who lived in the Four Corners region more than a thousand years ago.
Friday, June 25, 2010
On this day in 2008, Joe Medicine Crow received the Bronze Star and French Legion of Honor. The Crow tribal member was honored during a ceremony in Montana for his service in World War II. Medicine Crow was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama a year later.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
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 against the U.S. Army. Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his men died fighting Cheyenne, Sioux and Arapaho warriors.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
On this day in 1972, the Indian Education Act was passed to address the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students. Aspects of it include recognizing cultural and language needs. It deals with Indian education from pre-school to graduate level.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
On this day in 1972, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation was officially incorporated. Formed under the Alaska Native settlement Act, the private, for profit Native corporation represents the business interests of people in the Arctic Slope.
Monday, June 21, 2010
On this day annually, Canada celebrates National Aboriginal Day. Events take place across the country to recognize the contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Friday, June 18, 2010
On this day in 2009, Indigenous people in Peru called off highway and river blockades after Congress revoked two laws that allowed for development in the Amazon forest. Up to 20,000 Indigenous people participated in a deadly 10-week protest. Indigenous groups had demanded the removal of nine decrees saying they threatened their people's rights to land and natural resources.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
On this day in 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed Hilary Tompkins as the Department of the Interior's top legal officer. The Navajo woman was the first Native American and second woman to be nominated by the president to be solicitor.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
During this week in 1977, the first Inuit Circumpolar Conference was held in Barrow, Alaska. Inuit people from Alaska, Canada and Greenland attended the gathering.
Monday, June 14, 2010
During this week in 2008, the Federal Bureau of Investigation returned stolen artifacts to the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. Pottery, baskets and other items were taken from the California tribe's museum and sold more than three years earlier.
Friday, June 11, 2010
During this week in 2008, Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Marcus Levings and North Dakota Governor John Hoeven signed a historic tribal-state tax agreement. The agreement encouraged the production of oil and gas on the Fort Berthold Reservation and combined two separate tax systems into one.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
During this week in 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to Aboriginal people. He spoke from the Canadian Parliament and expressed regret for the abuses former students suffered at Indian residential schools.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
During this week in 2009, the Supreme Court turned down an appeal from tribes seeking to block expansion of a ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks. The decision cleared the way for the Arizona Snowbowl to use treated wastewater to make artificial snow. Navajo, Hopi and other tribes consider the mountain sacred. Native people continue to fight to protect the Peaks.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
During this week in 1914, Abraham Christian was born in Venetie, Alaska. He helped form the Venetie Indian Reservation. Christian was the village traditional chief in the 1980's and was an advocate of tribal sovereignty.
Monday, June 7, 2010
On this day in 1913, Athabascan Walter Harper reached the summit of Denali also known as Mt. McKinley in Alaska. He was the first Alaska Native to reach the summit.
Friday, June 4, 2010
On this day in 1793, Pierre Falcon was born in Manitoba, Canada. The Métis singer and songwriter was known for putting adventures of voyagers and hunters into his work.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
On this day in 2008, Joba Chamberlain made his first Major League start at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Winnebago pitcher had a tough game Saturday allowing four runs in just one-third of an inning. Sports experts have said when Chamberlain's on, he can be unhittable.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
On this day in 1962, the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall in Sitka, Alaska was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Interior Department to commemorate and illustrate the history and prehistory of the United States. The Alaska Native Brotherhood and its counterpart the Alaska Native Sisterhood are civil rights organizations.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
On this day in 2009, the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona reopened its reservation to tourists after being closed for nearly a year due to a devastating flood. The tribe, located on the Grand Canyon floor, took a big financial hit because tourism is its main economic base.
Monday, May 31, 2010
On this day in 1796, the Treaty of Seven Tribes of Canada was signed by three chiefs in New York City. They gave up claims to land in New York except for an area in Saint Regis.
Friday, May 28, 2010
On this day in 1887, Sac and Fox athlete Jim Thorpe was born. This 1912 Gold Medal Olympian is noted as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th Century.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
During this month in 1993, the Alaska Native Justice Center was established to serve the unmet needs of Alaska Native people in the civil and criminal justice systems.
Monday, May 24, 2010
On this day in 1996, President Bill Clinton issued an executive order to protect sacred sites and allow access to them by Indian religious practitioners.
Friday, May 21, 2010
During this week in 2009, one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers died. John Brown, Jr. was one of the Navajo Marines who used his language in military conversations during World War II. He lived to be 88-years-old and served in four battles during the war.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
On this day in 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed Larry Echo Hawk as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. Echo Hawk is a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and the Interior Department's 11th Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
On this day in 1961, the Mi'kmaq Pictou Landing First Nation Reserve of Boat Harbour was established in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Monday, May 17, 2010
During this week 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.
Friday, May 14, 2010
During this week in 1995, the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository opened to the public in Kodiak, Alaska. The museum houses the cultural artifacts and resources of the Alutiiq people of Kodiak Island.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
On this day in 1916, the Society of American Indians held Indian Day. The day was to honor and recognize the plight of Native people. The group was formed in 1911 with influential Native people and non-Native supporters.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
On this day in 1992, the Eklutna Village Tribal Council became officially incorporated. The non-profit Native corporation for the community of Eklutna is located 25 miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska.
Monday, May 10, 2010
During this week in 1999, a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Alaska Native Heritage Center took place in Anchorage, Alaska. The center shares the rich heritage of Alaska Native people.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
During this week in 1903, the U.S. government evicted the people known as the Cupeños from their homelands 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 to Pala took three days and is known as their Trial of Tears.
Friday, April 23, 2010
During this month in 1951, Army Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. posthumously received the Medal of Honor. The Ho-Chunk man served in the Korean War. He fired at the advancing enemy while his company secured its defense and evacuated the wounded. Red Cloud maintained his position until he was killed.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
On this day in 1945, Aleuts returned to Unalaska after being evacuated from their homes during World War II. The forced evacuations from the Aleutian Islands and the Pribilof Islands led to the deaths of many Aleut people. They were housed in inadequate and unsanitary conditions in former canneries in Southeast Alaska.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
On this day in 1936, the Interior Department ordered land within the Flathead reservation in Montana to be returned to tribal ownership. The land had been set aside by the federal government to establish the townsite of Blue Bay. According to the department, since there was no demand for town lots at the site, the land was to be restored for use and benefit of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
During this week in 1858, the Yankton Sioux people signed a treaty to grant them access to red pipestone quarries in what is now the Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota. The Yankton reserved the right to excavate the pipestone for religious and other purposes.
Monday, April 19, 2010
During this week in 1939, President Roosevelt signed a proclamation that increased the size of Alaska's Glacier Bay National Monument by transferring more than 1,000 square miles of land from the Tongass National Forest to the monument. The action was taken without regard of Native people, who used the area for hunting, fishing and gathering.
Friday, April 16, 2010
On this day in 1934, the Johnson-O'Malley Act was passed. It provided the Interior Secretary with the authority to arrange with states and territories education and other services for Indians.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
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 Tlingit boys. It later became the Sheldon Jackson College. The institution closed its doors in 2007.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
During this week in 1974, Eskimos Inc. was officially incorporated. The company distributes fuel to residents in Barrow, Alaska and to airlines serving Barrow. It's a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Eskimos Inc. also orders and delivers fuel to North Slope coastal villages. The communities receive their fuel by barge during the brief ice-free summer months.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
On this day in 1946, Congress created the Indian Claims Commission. The commission was established to hear and decide claims made by Indians based on land losses and treaties.
Monday, April 12, 2010
On this day in 1976, students from Nome won the Native Youth Olympics in Anchorage, Alaska. The event was organized by the Boarding Home Program School and the first games were held in 1971. Students competed in traditional games like the Alaskan High Kick, the Wrist Carry and the Scissor Board Jump.
Friday, April 9, 2010
During this week in 2009, the Seminole Tribe of Florida announced its museum earned national accreditation. The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum was the first tribally governed museum in the U.S. to receive official certification from the American Association of Museums. Located on the Big Cypress reservation, north of Miami, the museum is comprised of three buildings, a nature trail and a living village.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
On this day in 1969, a group of Native carvers near Haines, Alaska were contracted to carve the world's largest authentic totem pole. They turned a 150-foot log into a 132-foot totem pole. The pole was commissioned to be part of the Alaska display in Japan's 1970 Expo.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
On this day in 1984, the first meeting in more than 100 years between the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee was held. The Oklahoma tribe and the North Carolina tribe reunited for a second time in 2009 in Tennessee. The Cherokee people were divided by the U.S. government's forced removal in the 1800's with the Trail of Tears.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
During this month in 2009, the Australian government adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Australia, Canada and the U.S. voted against the non-binding UN declaration in 2007.
Monday, April 5, 2010
During this week in 1974, the National Park Service terminated a nearly 30 year old agreement allowing Alaska Native people to hunt seal in Glacier Bay National Park. The National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs later renewed the agreement with some modifications.
Friday, April 2, 2010
During this mont in 1910, Congress passed an act to forever waive tuition for Native American students at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Students recently initiated a stance against a proposed bill challenging the waiver. They gained support from politicians, community members and thousands of people online. The bill was killed.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
During this week in 1975, the three-day National Conference on Indian Water Rights was held in Washington, D.C. Representatives from nearly 200 tribes attended the meeting.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
During this week in 1871, the first Native person to receive a PhD in anthropology was born. Dr. William Jones was known to provide the best early collection and account of the Meskwaki language. He practiced in the field of ethnography and curated many exhibits for the Smithsonian Museum.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
On this day in 1867, the United States obtained Alaska from Russia. Under the treaty, Alaska Native people were subject to laws and regulations of the U.S. Alaska commemorates the event annually on the last Monday of March.
Monday, March 29, 2010
During this week 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.
Friday, March 26, 2010
On this day in 1958, the White Alice or the frozen north ALaska Integrated Communications and Electronic system began operating. Alaska Native people participated in the U.S. Air Force project that was built to enhance defense and provide telephone and telegraph service to the Alaskan public.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
During this week in 2009, the White House announced President Obama intended to nominate Dr. Yvette Roubideaux as leader of the Indian Health Service. The Rosebud Sioux member was nominated and confirmed as Director of the IHS and currently oversees the agency that serves nearly two million people across the country.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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 impacts on subsistence resources for Alaska Native people and commercial fishers. Court battles led to compensation for victims nearly two decades after the spill.
Monday, March 22, 2010
During this month in 1909, the Navajo National Monument was established. Three intact cliff dwellings are preserved at the site in Arizona. Various groups have lived in the Four Corners region for thousands of years. Most of the remains date between 700 and 1500 years ago.
Friday, March 19, 2010
During this week in 2007, Arizona's Hualapi Tribe opened its 30-million-dollar Skywalk. In a ceremonial opening, invited guests ventured onto the glass-bottom walkway for the first time.
Thrusday, March 18, 2010
During this week in 1973, the Muskogee-Creek Indian Tribe East of the Mississippi River was given sovereign recognition by the state of Georgia which allowed them to set up a tribal constitution
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
During this week in 2005, The Illinois Native American Bar Association filled a lawsuit in Chicago Circuit Court against the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The case was filed in an attempt to force the institution to abolish the controversial mascot which was officially retired in 2007.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
On this day in 2005, The General Services Administration announced it would begin a review of six murals deemed offensive to Native Americans. Despite protest the GSA issued its decision four years later to keep the murals on display at the Ariel Rios Building in Washington D.C.
Monday, March 15, 2010
During this week in 1890, Jesse Walter Fewks three-day recording session of Passamaquoddy tribal members Noel Josephs and Peter Selmore began. These first field recording in history contain tribal songs and stories and are now housed in the Library of Congress.
Friday, March 12, 2010
During this week in 1907, Chaco Canyon was designated as a National Monument to preserve and protect the pueblo ruins in northwestern New Mexico. It was later designated a National Historical Park.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
On this day in 1907, 253 acres were added to the Pechanga Indian Reservation in California. The people petitioned the federal government for farming land because most of the reservation was hilly and brushy.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
On this day in 1861, one of Canada's most well-known poets was born on the Six Nations Reserve. Emily Pauline Johnson's work often included her Mohawk heritage.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
On this day in 1951, Army Captain Raymond Harvey led an attack during the Korean War. The Chickasaw man charged through enemy fire taking down machine gun nests when his company was pinned down. Though wounded, he refused evacuation until the mission was complete. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Monday, March 8, 2010
On this day in 1991, the Bering Straits Foundation became officially incorporated. Located in Alaska, the foundation promotes the cultural enhancement and administers scholarships for Alaska Native people in the Bering Strait region.
Friday, March 5, 2010
During this week in 2007, Cherokee Nation Citizens in Oklahoma voted to clarify tribal citizenship. The vote removed descendants of black slaves, known as Freedmen. The issue is in the courts, as Freedmen seek Congressional resolution.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
During this week in 2008, Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble posthumously received the Medal of Honor. His family, lawmakers and others attended a ceremony at the White House. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate man received the nation's highest military award for his actions in the Korean War.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
On this day in 1891, Congress set aside 86,000 acres for the Annette Island Reserve in Southeast Alaska. The reservation was for Tsimshian people who immigrated to Alaska from Canada a few years earlier.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
On this day in 2008, Aboriginal and church leaders in Canada started a multi-city tour in Ottawa to promote the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian residential schools. Participants set out to raise awareness and educate people about the schools and their impact on Aboriginal people. The commission was part of the government's settlement with former students who were abused at the schools.
Monday, March 1, 2010
During this week in 1865, the Colorado River Indian Reservation was established. The reservation spans the Colorado River and has land in Arizona and California. It is home to four different tribes with about 3,500 tribal members.
Friday, February 26, 2010
During this week in 2009, Native youth from North Dakota traveled to Washington, D.C. for an event that called for legislation to reduce carbon emissions, create green jobs and transition to clean energy. At Power Shift 09 the group drew attention to green efforts on the Fort Berthold reservation like planting trees, recycling and alternative energy projects. It was the first time many of the Native youth traveled out of state.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
On this day in 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Native village of Venetie tribal government. The high court ruled that Venetie was not "Indian Country." The ruling was a win for the state of Alaska. The Venetie Tribe was told it did not have authority to levy taxes on its land. The ruling reversed an appeals court decision.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
On this day in 1897, Canadian Blackfoot long distance runner Deerfoot died after contracting tuberculosis. He started running as a messenger for the Blackfoot Confederacy in the 1800's, racing between camps in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana. Deerfoot drew attention from sports promoters in Calgary and eventually started racing runners from around the world.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
On this day in 1972, the Alaska Local Boundary Commission certified the North Slope Borough petition that opened the path for residents, most Alaska Native, for its creation. The vast and remote land includes the villages of Barrow and Point Hope.
Monday, February 22, 2010
During this week in 2007, Chief Illiniwek danced his last dance during the University of Illinois men's basketball game. The school's controversial mascot was dropped more than two years after being named "hostile and abusive" by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Friday, February 19, 2010
On this day in 1889, the Quileute reservation was established. The Washington tribe has become widely known due to the young adult vampire books and movies "Twilight," set on Quileute land.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
On this day in 1939, President Roosevelt asked Congress to appropriate one million dollars to purchase non-Native owned reindeer to give Alaska Native people exclusive control of the reindeer industry in the state. At the time, Alaska Native people owned about a third of the reindeer.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
On this day in 1909, Geronimo died of pneumonia at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His great-grandson in New Mexico is fighting for the Apache leader's bones to rebury them in a traditional Native American way.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
On this day in 1989, the first Elizabeth Peratrovich Day was celebrated in Alaska. The Alaska Native civil rights leader was instrumental in the passage of the state's Anti-Discrimination Bill of 1945.
Monday, February 15, 2010
On this day in 2007, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts gained federal recognition status. The tribe fought for the status for 31 years. The Mashpee people are looking to build a casino and are fighting a wind farm project off Cape Cod.
Friday, February 12, 2010
During this week in 1885, North Carolina recognized the Lumbee Indians as an official American Indian tribe. With the recognition came separate schools for Indian students.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
On this day in 1978, Native people started a walk from California to Washington, D.C. Known as the Longest Walk, its purpose was to raise awareness of Indian issues. On the 30th anniversary, the Longest Walk 2 was held.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
During this week in 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to the country's Aboriginal people for past wrongs caused by the government. Aboriginal leaders recently called on Rudd to back the apology up with efforts to improve Indigenous communities. The prime minister is reportedly set to announce millions of dollars to improve health care for Aboriginal mothers and babies.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
On this day in 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Interior Department. She told Indian Affairs employees that they have a partner in the White House. The event included a honor song played by an inter-tribal drum group. The First Lady was also presented a shawl.
Monday, February 8, 2010
During this week in 1983, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference was granted international status by the United Nations. Since its founding in the 1970's, the ICC has grown into a major international organization representing Inuit people from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia.
Friday, February 5, 2010
During this week in 1854, Texas passed a law to allow the United States to pick sites for reservations in the state. There are three reservations in Texas today. The Alabama-Coushatta reservation in East Texas, the Ysleta del Sur reservation in El Paso and the Kickapoo reservation along the Rio Grande River on the US-Mexico border.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
During this week in 2007, then-13-year-old Akina Shirt made history at a National Hockey League game in Canada by singing O Canada in the Cree language. Shirt first started singing the anthem at Saddle Lake First Nation games before singing to the sold-out crowd and hundreds of thousands of TV viewers.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
During this week in 1917, the reservation for the Papago Indians, known today as the Tohono O'odham, was established in Sells, Arizona on the US-Mexico border. People live on four separate pieces of land that make up the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
On this day in 1925, the "mercy race" to get diphtheria serum to Nome, Alaska by dogsled in time to save the community from an outbreak of the disease ends. Native dog mushers participated in the run from Nenana.
Monday, February 1, 2010
On this day in 1834, the state of Georgia had begun the process of seizing Cherokee property. Many Cherokee people were forced out at gunpoint. They were sent to eastern Tennessee to be moved to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma.
Friday, January 29, 2010
During this week in 1838, Seminole leader Osceola died in a South Carolina prison. Known for non-surrender, the Seminole Tribe of Florida says Osceola masterminded successful battles against five U.S. generals and punished anyone who cooperated with the white man.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
During this week in 1925, Maria Tallchief, the first American prima ballerina was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma. The Osage woman started ballet at 15. She was the prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet in the late 1940's.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
During this week in 1863, hundreds of Northwestern Shoshone men, women and children died in the Bear River Massacre. U.S. forces slaughtered them at a site in present day Franklin County, Idaho. The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation has acquired the massacre site and surrounding lands.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
On this day in 1949, Glenn Godfrey was born in Kodiak, Alaska. He was the first Alaska Native to rise to high ranking posts in law enforcement. He was a sergeant in the Alaska State Troopers and Public Safety Commissioner. The Aleut man was instrumental in the development of the Village Public Safety Officer program for rural Alaska.
Monday, January 25, 2010
During this month in 2009, the State-Tribal Collaboration Act was introduced in the New Mexico legislature. The bill's purpose was to improve the government-to-government relationship with the state's 22 tribes by appointing a tribal liaison to every cabinet level agency and requiring the governor to hold an annual summit with tribes. The bill was signed into law less than two months later.
Friday, January 22, 2010
During this week in 1907, Charles Curtis became the first Native American to serve in the U.S. Congress. The Republican from Kansas was a member of the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma. He fought for the rights of self-determination among tribes and later became Vice President to Herbert Hoover.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
During this week in 2007, Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan was elected Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chairman. Dorgan has been a strong voice for Indian Country, especially in his work to improve health care. The North Dakota Senator recently announced he will not run for re-election this fall.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
During this week in 2008, the last traditional speaker of the Eyak language died. Honorary Chief Marie Smith Jones passed away in her sleep in Anchorage, Alaska. The 89-year-old was the last full-blooded person of the Eyak Nation. According to language experts, the Eyak language became extinct with her death.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
On this day in 2009, the first-known Native American conjoined twins were separated by doctors in Oklahoma. The twins were born joined at the chest. The operation took three hours to separate Preslee Faith and Kylee Hope Wells. About 15 doctors and medical staff took part in the surgery. The girls were nearly three-months-old at the time.
Monday, January 18, 2010
On this day in 1958, hundreds of Lumbee tribal members crashed a Ku Klux Klan rally in North Carolina. Armed with weapons, they chased the KKK from Lumbee country and stopped them from spreading their message of hate. The event made national headlines.
Friday, January 15, 2010
During this week 1972, Reverend Harold Jones was consecrated as suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was the first American Indian bishop of the church and worked in several tribal communities. He died at the age of 92.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
During this week 1945, Lieutenant Jack Montgomery was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Cherokee man was recognized for his actions in Italy during World War II.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
During this week in 1867, Benito Juarez started his fourth term as President of Mexico. He was the first full-blooded Indian to serve as the country's president. The Zapoteca man is considered one of Mexico's greatest heroes.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
On this day in 1923, Ira Hayes was born on the Gila River reservation in Arizona. The Pima man became famous after he helped raise the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima during World War II.
Monday, January 11, 2010
During this week in 2008, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe announced it filed suit against then-Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne for rejecting its land into trust application. The tribe said the Interior Department could not apply new requirements to the tribe's long-standing application without fair notice and opportunity to comment. The New York tribe was one of some 20 tribes whose off-reservation gaming plans were squashed.
Friday, January 8, 2010
On this day in 1970, the Alaska Federation of Natives received its certificate of incorporation. The organization's mission is to enhance and promote the cultural, economic and political voice of the Alaska Native community.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
During this week in 2001, the Chinook tribe in Washington State gained federal recognition status under the Clinton administration. A few months later, the Bush administration denied the status saying the tribe did not meet all the criteria. The Chinooks continue to fight for federal recognition.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
During this month in 1975, President Gerald Ford signed legislation creating the American Indian Policy Review Commission. Its purpose was to review all aspects of policy, law and administration relating to affairs of the U.S. and tribes. One crucial recommendation by the Commission established the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
On this day in 1987, National Native News signed on the air in Anchorage, Alaska. It was the first nationally syndicated daily radio newscast to focus on the Native angle in every story. The show is produced today in Albuquerque, New Mexico. National Native News is carried by tribal and public radio stations across the U.S. and Canada.
Monday, January 4, 2010
On this day in 1974, Goldbelt Inc. became officially incorporated. The corporation was formed for urban Alaska Native shareholders in Juneau.
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