Native American/American Indian
Susan La Flesche (1865–1915)
Susan La Flesche was born in 1865 on an Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. As a child she witnessed the death of a sick Native American / American Indian woman because a white doctor refused to treat her. This inspired Susan to train to become a physician. Susan began her education with several years of homeschooling, then attended Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies, and then returned home to teach at the Quaker Mission School. With some encouragement from others she moved out East to earn a medical degree. She attended Hampton Institute and then applied for Woman’s Medical College. She received scholarships from the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs and the Connecticut Indian Association. She graduated in 1889 at the top of her class after only 2 years in the three-year program. After becoming married, she returned to Nebraska where Susan gave medical care to people of all races. Susan was the first Native American woman in the United States to become a doctor. In 1915, Susan died after struggling with an illness for three years.
Susan La Flesche (1865–1915)
Susan La Flesche was born in 1865 on an Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. As a child she witnessed the death of a sick Native American / American Indian woman because a white doctor refused to treat her. This inspired Susan to train to become a physician. Susan began her education with several years of homeschooling, then attended Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies, and then returned home to teach at the Quaker Mission School. With some encouragement from others she moved out East to earn a medical degree. She attended Hampton Institute and then applied for Woman’s Medical College. She received scholarships from the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs and the Connecticut Indian Association. She graduated in 1889 at the top of her class after only 2 years in the three-year program. After becoming married, she returned to Nebraska where Susan gave medical care to people of all races. Susan was the first Native American woman in the United States to become a doctor. In 1915, Susan died after struggling with an illness for three years.
Navarre Scott Momaday (1934–Present)
Navarre was born in 1934 in Oklahoma where he lived on the Kiowa Indian reservation. As a boy, both his mother and father were teachers on the Indian Reservation. These life expereinces helped Navarre to develop and early interest in literature. He had a special interest in poetry. After attending the Univeristy of New Mexico and a year of teaching on the Apache reservation, Nacarre won a poetry fellowship to Standford University. This led Navarre to a doctorate in English literature. In 1969 he wrote his first novel, House Made of Dawn. For this he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. He was the first Native American / American Indian to receive this prestigious award. In addition to this he had other writings including the essay “The American Land Ethic” which helped to draw people to the traditions of the native people. He had many other writings that depicted native life, and for this he received the National Medal of Arts from George W. Bush.
Navarre was born in 1934 in Oklahoma where he lived on the Kiowa Indian reservation. As a boy, both his mother and father were teachers on the Indian Reservation. These life expereinces helped Navarre to develop and early interest in literature. He had a special interest in poetry. After attending the Univeristy of New Mexico and a year of teaching on the Apache reservation, Nacarre won a poetry fellowship to Standford University. This led Navarre to a doctorate in English literature. In 1969 he wrote his first novel, House Made of Dawn. For this he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. He was the first Native American / American Indian to receive this prestigious award. In addition to this he had other writings including the essay “The American Land Ethic” which helped to draw people to the traditions of the native people. He had many other writings that depicted native life, and for this he received the National Medal of Arts from George W. Bush.
Corbin Harney (1920–2007)
Corbin Harney was born in 1920 as a member of the Western Shoshone Tribe (Newe). Given the choice as a young boy to go to boarding school or learn to live off the land, Corbin learned quickly how to survive of the earth. It was through this that Corbin grew to develop an understanding of how sacred the earth and life itself is. The land that his tribe occupies is known for the many nuclear testing sites, which lie nearby. As Corbin grew older and became a spiritual leader for the tribe, he became a strong activist against the destruction of the environment. Corbin traveled the world to spread a message of taking care of what the earth has provided us. Corbin also was an author: The Way it is: One Air, One Water, One Mother Earth and The Nature of Way. Another of Corbin’s many achievements was the establishment of Poo-Ha-Bah. This was a native healing center in Tecopa Springs, California. Corbin’s actions were extremely humble and for the betterment of the earth for all. In 2007, Corbin died of cancer. “The Mother Earth provides us with food, provides us with air, provides us with water. We, the people, are going to have to put our thoughts together, to save our planet here. We’ve only got one water, one air, one Mother Earth.”
Corbin Harney was born in 1920 as a member of the Western Shoshone Tribe (Newe). Given the choice as a young boy to go to boarding school or learn to live off the land, Corbin learned quickly how to survive of the earth. It was through this that Corbin grew to develop an understanding of how sacred the earth and life itself is. The land that his tribe occupies is known for the many nuclear testing sites, which lie nearby. As Corbin grew older and became a spiritual leader for the tribe, he became a strong activist against the destruction of the environment. Corbin traveled the world to spread a message of taking care of what the earth has provided us. Corbin also was an author: The Way it is: One Air, One Water, One Mother Earth and The Nature of Way. Another of Corbin’s many achievements was the establishment of Poo-Ha-Bah. This was a native healing center in Tecopa Springs, California. Corbin’s actions were extremely humble and for the betterment of the earth for all. In 2007, Corbin died of cancer. “The Mother Earth provides us with food, provides us with air, provides us with water. We, the people, are going to have to put our thoughts together, to save our planet here. We’ve only got one water, one air, one Mother Earth.”
Tumua Anae (1988-Present)
Tumua Anae was born in 1988 and is a Native Hawaiian. For college Anae moved to Southern California and went to school at USC. There she was a key player for the water polo team. She received many awards including NCAA Champion, 1st Team All-American, NCAA Tournament 1st Team (2008 and 2009), and MPSF All-Tournament 1st Team (2008 and 2009). Anae plays goalkeeper for the teams she has played for. This continued for her when she joined the National Team in 2010. The team attended the 2012 Olympic games in London. Anae helped the team to take the gold medal. This was the first time that the United States had won the gold in women’s water polo. When asked she said that the best thing about water polo is, “being part of a team that’s striving to achieve something much bigger than any one individual.”
Tumua Anae was born in 1988 and is a Native Hawaiian. For college Anae moved to Southern California and went to school at USC. There she was a key player for the water polo team. She received many awards including NCAA Champion, 1st Team All-American, NCAA Tournament 1st Team (2008 and 2009), and MPSF All-Tournament 1st Team (2008 and 2009). Anae plays goalkeeper for the teams she has played for. This continued for her when she joined the National Team in 2010. The team attended the 2012 Olympic games in London. Anae helped the team to take the gold medal. This was the first time that the United States had won the gold in women’s water polo. When asked she said that the best thing about water polo is, “being part of a team that’s striving to achieve something much bigger than any one individual.”
Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich (1911–1958)
Elizabeth Peratrovich was born in 1911 and was a Tlingit Native Alaskan. She had left Alaska for college, but returned ten years later. When she returned she was extremely discouraged by the racism against the Native Alaskans. The discrimination included signs banning the Native Alaskans from stores and businesses and discrimination in employment. As a representative of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, Elizabeth spoke at a committee meeting discussing native rights. She spoke of the hardships the natives were experiencing, and condemning the attitude of superiority. After her speech, the Alaskan Civil Rights Act was passed by a vote of 11 to 5 in 1945. After these laws were passed, Elizabeth continued to push for improvement for the Native people. She had a special interest in improving heath care. In 1958, Elizabeth died from cancer and was buried in Juneau, Alaska.
Elizabeth Peratrovich was born in 1911 and was a Tlingit Native Alaskan. She had left Alaska for college, but returned ten years later. When she returned she was extremely discouraged by the racism against the Native Alaskans. The discrimination included signs banning the Native Alaskans from stores and businesses and discrimination in employment. As a representative of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, Elizabeth spoke at a committee meeting discussing native rights. She spoke of the hardships the natives were experiencing, and condemning the attitude of superiority. After her speech, the Alaskan Civil Rights Act was passed by a vote of 11 to 5 in 1945. After these laws were passed, Elizabeth continued to push for improvement for the Native people. She had a special interest in improving heath care. In 1958, Elizabeth died from cancer and was buried in Juneau, Alaska.
John Herrington (1958-Present)
John Herrington was born in 1958 and comes from the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma. Since childhood, John and his brother had dreams of going into space. This was apparent, as he would pretend a cardboard box was his spaceship. Growing up was not that easy for John; he had moved fourteen times by his senior year in high school. John went to college, but flunked out after just two semesters because he did not know what he wanted to study. He did return to college in 1983 and received a degree in applied math. This led John to dreams of becoming a pilot, which he pursued by joining the navy. After many logged hours of flight time, John got a job with NASA. He began his career getting space shuttles ready for launches and landings, but on November 11, 2002 John was on the 16th Shuttle flight to visit the International Space Station. With these actions, John became the first tribally registered Native American astronaut.
John Herrington was born in 1958 and comes from the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma. Since childhood, John and his brother had dreams of going into space. This was apparent, as he would pretend a cardboard box was his spaceship. Growing up was not that easy for John; he had moved fourteen times by his senior year in high school. John went to college, but flunked out after just two semesters because he did not know what he wanted to study. He did return to college in 1983 and received a degree in applied math. This led John to dreams of becoming a pilot, which he pursued by joining the navy. After many logged hours of flight time, John got a job with NASA. He began his career getting space shuttles ready for launches and landings, but on November 11, 2002 John was on the 16th Shuttle flight to visit the International Space Station. With these actions, John became the first tribally registered Native American astronaut.
Wilma Mankiller (1945–2010)
Wilma Mankiller was born in 1943 in Oklahoma. Wilma attended Skyline College and San Francisco University. Early signs of leadership were noticed in the 1960s when she became a tribal planner and program developer for the Cherokee Nation. She continued on her way to the top in 1983 when she became the deputy chief for the Cherokee people. In the year 1985, she became the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. As chief she worked to improve health care, the education system, and government. She remained as the nation’s leader until 1995 when she became ill. Even though she was no longer principal chief, she continued to as an activist for Native American / American Indians as well as for women. Wilma also spent her time authoring both Mankiller: A Chief and Her People and Every Day Is a Good Day: Reflections Contemporary Indigenous Women. She received many awards for her leadership and activism. In 2010 Wilma died at 64-years-old.
Wilma Mankiller was born in 1943 in Oklahoma. Wilma attended Skyline College and San Francisco University. Early signs of leadership were noticed in the 1960s when she became a tribal planner and program developer for the Cherokee Nation. She continued on her way to the top in 1983 when she became the deputy chief for the Cherokee people. In the year 1985, she became the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. As chief she worked to improve health care, the education system, and government. She remained as the nation’s leader until 1995 when she became ill. Even though she was no longer principal chief, she continued to as an activist for Native American / American Indians as well as for women. Wilma also spent her time authoring both Mankiller: A Chief and Her People and Every Day Is a Good Day: Reflections Contemporary Indigenous Women. She received many awards for her leadership and activism. In 2010 Wilma died at 64-years-old.