Friday, June 20, 2008

During this week in 1890, parkland near Sitka was dedicated by President Benjamin Harrison. The park, located in Southeast Alaska, commemorates historical and cultural sites and artifacts of the 1804 Battle of Sitka. When Russians expanded into the area to take control of the Northwest Coast fur trade, Tlingit people resisted and two historic battles took place.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

On this day in 1953, Congress passed a jurisdiction act. It authorized the Tlingit and Haida Indians in Alaska to bring suit against the U.S. on land and other claims.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

On this day in 1953, Robert "Bobby" Kvasnikoff was born. After learning he had AIDS, the Alaska Native leader chose to make his diagnosis public and became an advocate for safe sex. Kvasnikoff died of complications resulting from AIDS in 1997.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

During this week in 1799, Seneca religious leader Handsome Lake had a vision. The vision led to the Code of Handsome Lake. The code promotes traditional values of sobriety, family, and community.

Monday, June 16, 2008

During this week in 1920, Calvin John was born in Cold Spring, New York. The Seneca man was a decorated World War II veteran. He later served as president of the Seneca Nation for four terms.

Friday, June 13, 2008

On this day 1977, the first Inuit Circumpolar Conference was held in Barrow, Alaska. Inuit people from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Siberia addressed Inuit issues.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

During this week in 1942, federal officials received orders to evacuate St. George and St. Paul Islands within 24 hours during World War II. Aleuts were taken to an abandoned cannery and an old mine site in Southeast Alaska. Many people became ill and died in the unsanitary conditions.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

During this week in 1996, the historic Indian trust lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. Cobell v. Kempthorne was filed to force the federal government to account for billions of dollars belonging to thousands of Indian beneficiaries, held in trust since the late 19th century. Today, the case is in the remedies phase. The trial is expected to conclude this summer.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

During this week in 1951, Canada's House of Commons amended the Indian Act. It allowed bands to reinstate Aboriginal women as members. In the original Act women had to have an Aboriginal husband in order to receive the status of a legal Indian in Canada. If she married a non-Aboriginal, she was stripped of her Native rights.

Monday, June 9, 2008

During this week in 1988, Alaska Natives, politicians and journalists took a 45-minute Friendship Flight from Alaska to Russia. The flight across the Bering Strait marked the first official opening of the border in decades. Alaska Natives were reunited with relatives and friends they had been separated from.

Friday, June 6, 2008

On this day in 1984, the U.S. Senate voted to make the Committee on Indian Affairs permanent. The committee studies Native issues and proposes legislation. The committee played a key role in the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act by the Senate. The legislation, passed earlier this year, modernizes the Indian health care system and invests in programs from Native people.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

On this day in 1958, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Lewis Strauss requested a 1,600-square mile withdrawal of land and water from the Cape Thompson area in Alaska. Plans were to use the area to blast out an artificial harbor with nuclear weapons. Alaska Natives were opposed to the plan and eventually succeeded in halting the project.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

During this week in 1913, Walter Harper an Athabascan, became the first person ever to reach the main or southern summit of Denali. Denali, also known as Mount McKinley is located in Alaska.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

During this week in 1868, Navajo leaders signed a treaty with the U.S. government to release their people from Ft. Sumner in New Mexico. The Navajos were imprisoned at the fort for more than four years.

Monday, June 2, 2008

On this day in 1924, Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act. It granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans, which included voting rights.

Friday, May 30, 2008

During this week in 1890, Charles Hyde of Pierre, South Dakota wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Interior saying the Ghost Dance was leading to a possible uprising by the Sioux people. Federal agents were not concerned about the Ghost Dance until the letter was written.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

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

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

On this day in 1888, Jim Thorpe was born in Oklahoma. The Sac and Fox man is considered one of the most accomplished all-around athletes in history.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

During this week in 1912, Mohawk actor Jay Silverheels was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Canada. The actor was well known for his role as Tonto on the television show "The Lone Ranger."

Monday, May 26, 2008

On this day in 2003, the Voices exhibit opened at the Women's Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. It highlighted the contributions of Native American Women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Friday, May 23, 2008

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

Thursday, May 22, 2008

During this week in 2002, Gordon’s Island in Princeton, Maine was returned to the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The island was a burial site for many of the tribe’s ancestors who died of small pox in the mid 1800’s.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

During this week in 2004, members of the Hopi Tribe in Arizona voted down gaming for the second time in less than 10 years. When it comes to gaming, the Hopi people have pitting economic benefits against the survival of Hopi culture. Today, the tribe is considering what to do with its estimated 900 slot machines.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

During this week in 1944, Army 2nd Lt. Van Barfoot took out two machine gun nests and captured 17 German soldiers near Carano, Italy, during World War II. The Mississippi Choctaw man also repelled a German tank assault, destroyed a Nazi fieldpiece and while returning to camp carried two wounded commanders to safety. Barfoot later received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery.

Monday, May 19, 2008