Today in History ARCHIVES
Understanding the Present by Honoring our Past began November 1, 2002

History Archives 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

2005 JANUARY / FEBRUARY / MARCH / APRIL / MAY / JUNE / JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER

Friday, December 30, 2005

On this day in 1950, Inupiat Eskimo ratified their constitution to create the Native Village of Buckland, Alaska. Their home is located on Alaska's west coast, 75 miles southeast of Kotzebue.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

On this day in 1979, Sandra Lovelace presented her discrimination case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. She was a Maliseet woman from Canada's Tobique Nation. Lovelace claimed Canada's Indian Act deprived Native women of "Indian" status when they married a non-Native. She and her children were denied housing, health care and educational benefits when her marriage to an American non-Native ended. The UN Human Rights committee ruled in her favor four years later ... saying that Canada had broken the International Agreement on Civil and Political Rights.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

On this day in 1890, Sioux Chief Big Foot and his band were captured by the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry. They were detained at a campsite in Wounded Knee, South Dakota. When the soldiers tried to disarm the warriors they fought back. The next morning 128 Sioux were killed. The massacre would be known as the "Wounded Knee Massacre."

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

On this day in 1980, The United States Postal Service issued the Sequoyah stamp in honor of the Cherokee scholar. Sequoyah created the Cherokee syllabary and taught his people how to read and write in their language.

Monday, December 26, 2005

During this week in 1977, the Arctic Education Foundation was established for Northern Alaskan Inupiat People of the Arctic Slope Region. Today, it provides financial support for eligible students pursing a college degree or vocational or technical training. The foundation also helps returning students find summer employment.

Friday, December 23, 2005

During this week in 1892, Afognak Forest and Fish Culture Reserve was established on Afognak Island located south of Anchorage in the Gulf of Alaska. In 1980, part of the reserve was transferred to Native Corporations through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

On this day in 1973, The Menominee Restoration Act was signed by President Richard Nixon. The Wisconsin tribe’s recognition was terminated in 1954 by the government. The tribe celebrates its sovereignty on December 23rd.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

On this day in 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor to the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers. They developed a code in their language to help the U.S. fight the Japanese during World War II. The Navajo Code Talkers were never honored
individually by the U.S. Government until the bill was
passed.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

During this week in 2000, The Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act was passed by Congress. The Act authorizes grants and technical assistance to tribal courts.

Monday, December 19, 2005

On this day in 1980, Chaco Culture National Historic Park was designated in New Mexico. More than 13-thousand acres were added to the site giving it national park status.

Friday, December 16, 2005

On this day in 1987, Congress established the "Trail of Tears" National Historical Trail. It follows the routes taken by some Cherokees who were forcibly removed from North Carolina to Oklahoma. The land and water routes they took stretched more than two-thousand miles across nine states.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

On this day in 1970, President Richard Nixon endorsed the official signing ceremony for the return of Blue Lake to the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. The lake was taken in the early 1900's by the U.S. government and became federal forest land. The Taos Pueblo considers the lake to be sacred and
fought for its return for 64 years. Today access to Blue Lake is restricted to enrolled Taos Pueblo members.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

On this day in 1852, Ned Christie was born in Wauhilla, Oklahoma. The Cherokee citizen was elected as a tribal senator. He was falsely accused of killing a U.S. Marshal and became the most wanted fugitive in the territory. He avoided capture for more than five years before being killed by U.S. Marshals. 18 years later Christie was found
innocent after an eyewitness came forward.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

On this day in 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was finalized by a U.S. Senate-House conference committee. It extinguished all Native claims to land and water in Alaska. As a result, Alaska Natives received
44-million acres of land and about 1-billion dollars in compensation. The Act was signed into law five days later.

Friday, December 9, 2005

On this day in 1924, the Wupatki National Monument was established in Arizona. The village ruins are 80 miles south of the Grand Canyon. It was occupied by the Hopi people in the 12th and 13th century.

Thursday, December 8, 2005

On this day in 1829, President Andrew Jackson gave his first State of the Union Address. In it, he proposed the Indian Removal Act to relocate Indians in the southeastern part of the U.S. to lands west of the Mississippi River. Congress passed the Act five months later.

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

On this day in 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack led to the round up and forced incarceration of all Japanese-Americans nationwide. This included Alaska Natives who were part Japanese. They were placed in internment camps for the duration of World War II. Aleuts from the Aleutian and Pribilof Island villages were also incarcerated.

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

On this day in 1960, the Arctic National Wildlife Range was created in Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. It was renamed the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Today, more than
19-million acres of land are protected.

Monday, December 5, 2005

On this day in 1985, Wilma Mankiller was sworn in as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. She was the first Native women in modern history to lead a major Native American tribe. Mankiller assumed the position as a result of the resignation of the Principal Chief.

Friday, December 2, 2005

On this day in 1980, the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act became law. It set aside 100-million acres of public land in Alaska for conservation. The law protected subsistence hunting and fishing rights of Alaska Natives and included the implementation of the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act.

Thursday, December 1, 2005

On this day in 1958, Alaska Native civil rights leader Elizabeth Peratrovich died. The Tlingit Native helped get the first anti-discrimination law passed after she saw signs saying "No Natives Allowed" displayed throughout Alaska.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

On this day in 1972, the Alaska Native Village of Teller became officially incorporated. The Inupiat village is located on the Seward Peninsula, 72 miles northwest of Nome.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

On this day in 1949, the Alaska Native Medical Center opened in Anchorage. Today it helps care for members of the 229 tribes of Alaska.

Monday, November 28, 2005

On this day in 1922, Stella Martin was born in Kake, Alaska. She became an important Tlingit spokesperson. Martin was a leader of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and the Sealaska Heritage Foundation. She passed away in 2002.

Friday, November 24, 2005

During this week in 1807, Mohawk Chief Joseph Brandt died. He was a spokesman for his people and a British military officer during the American Revolution. Brandt founded the Six Nations Indian Reserve in Ontario, Canada.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

On this day in 1970, the First National Day of Mourning was held in Connecticut by the United American Indians of New England. Every year on Thanksgiving Day Natives gather at the top of Cole's Hill, over looking Plymouth Rock. It's a reminder of genocide of Native people.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

On this day 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 their land back. Today the reservation is nearly 300-square miles.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

During this week in 1989, Congress enacted the National Museum of the American Indian Act. It required the museum to inventory, document, and repatriate culturally affiliated human remains and funerary objects to federally recognized Native American tribes who requested the items.

Monday, November 21, 2005

On this day in 1993, Athabascan Chief Walter Northway died in an Alaskan village. He was well known for hunting and providing for his entire village. It was named in his honor more than 60 years ago. Chief Northway lived to be 117.

Friday, November 18, 2005

On this day in 1945, Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She was the first female Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and served for ten years.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

On this day in 2004, Navajo Code Talker Samuel Billison died in Window Rock, Arizona. Billison transmitted messages in his language during World War II. He received the Silver Medal of Honor. Billison was also a long time president of the Navajo Code Talkers Association.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

On this day in 1907, Oklahoma Territory combined with Indian Territory to become the 46th state. It ended a separate Indian section under tribal government within U.S. borders. Today, there are more than 30 tribes in Oklahoma.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

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

Monday, November 14, 2005

On this day in 1993, sisters Mary and Carrie Dann received the "Right Livelihood Award." For more than forty years they helped their tribe, the Western Shoshone, fight for land rights and sovereignty. The award has become widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." It is presented annually in Stockholm, Sweden.

Friday, November 11, 2005

During this week in 2003, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to honor National Native American Veterans. It was introduced by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Northern Cheyenne. He's also a veteran.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

On this day in 1997, Annie Dodge Wauneka died. She was the first Navajo Nation councilwoman. In 1963 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom award for her service as a health educator.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

On this day in 1969, the second occupation of Alcatraz Island in California took place. It was led by Mohawk Native Richard Oakes. He set out on a chartered boat with a group of Native American college students. They claimed the island for Indians and represented themselves as "Indians of all tribes."

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

On this day in 1978, Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act. It prevents the removal of Native children from their culture and sets standards for foster care and adoptive homes.

Monday, November 7, 2005

During this week in 1868, the Lakota signed the second Treaty of Fort Laramie in Wyoming. The agreement was made to keep settlers out of Indian Territory. It also guaranteed Sioux rights to the Black Hills and hunting rights beyond the reservation. But, federal authorities focused on protecting white miners in the area.


Friday, November 4, 2005

On this day in 1924, William L. Paul became the first Alaska Native to be elected to the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives. He was a lawyer with more than forty years of experience fighting for Native land rights.

Thursday, November 3, 2005

On this day in 1992, Ben Nighthorse Campbell became the first Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate in more than 60-years. The Northern Cheyenne tribal member represented the State of Colorado. He served three terms and retired in 2004.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

On this day in 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted to the Union as the 39th and 40th states. At the time at least eight tribes lived in the area, including the Mandan, Arikara, Hidatsa and Assiniboine.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

On this day in 1986, the National War Monument was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery. It's the first national memorial honoring Native Americans who served in the military. A cottonwood tree is at the base of the memorial to honor those who served during the Vietnam Era.

Monday, October 31, 2005

During this week 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.

Friday, October 28, 2005

During this week in 1998, President Bill Clinton designated November as National American Indian Heritage Month. In his proclamation the president highlighted the contributions of past, present and future Native Americans.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

On this day in 1993, the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina regained their federal recognition status.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

On this day in 1882, a harpoon from a trading company ship accidentally misfired and exploded near the Tlingit village of Angoon in Alaska. It killed a Tlingit medicine man. When villagers demanded payment of 200 blankets for his death, company officials say they felt threatened and asked for help from the U.S. Navy. The man's village and a summer camp were then bombed and destroyed by the Navy.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

On this day in 1949, the Effigy Mounds in Northeast Iowa were designated a National Monument. There are mounds found throughout the park that are more than 1,800 years old. The mounds were built from eastern woodland tribes. They're in the shapes of mammals, birds and reptiles.

Monday, October 24, 2005

During this week in 1986, the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Act was passed. The Act gives tribes an opportunity to develop and implement programs for substance abuse.

Friday, October 21, 2005

On this day in 1867, Kiowa, Comanche, and Plains-Apache leaders signed "The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek" with the U.S. government. It was signed near Fort Learned in Southern Kansas. The purpose of the treaty was to end hostilities on the southern plains. U.S. government negotiators persuaded the tribes to give up land in exchange for secure reservations.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

During this week in 1983, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation received its federal recognition status. The Connecticut tribe's recognition was made possible when President Ronald Reagan amended their Indian Land Claims Settlement Act.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

During this week in 1992, Rigoberta Menchu, was awarded the Nobel peace prize. Menchu, a Quiche Maya Indian, was recognized for her work gainst human rights abuses in Guatemala.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

On this day in 1899, a stolen Tlingit totem pole was erected in Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. The totem was from a village in Alaska. A group of Seattle citizens stole the totem claiming the village was deserted. Nearly 40 years later the totem was returned.

Monday, October 17, 2005

On this day in 1988, The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress. It established standards and federal regulations for gaming. The Act also protects gaming as a means of generating tribal revenue. It still governs Indian gaming today.

Friday, October 14, 2005

During this week in 1918, the Native American Church incorporated itself in the State of Oklahoma. Its first President was Frank Eagle from the Ponca Tribe. Today in America there are 27 states with church chapters.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

During this week in 1891, the first Native American woman to publish a book in English Sarah Winnemucca, a Paiute, died.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

On this day in 1964, Oglala Lakota athlete Billy Mills stunned the world with his Olympic victory. He won the 10-thousand meter race. His breathtaking "come-from-behind-finish" has been called the most sensational race in Olympic history by several news accounts. Mills currently serves as the national spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

On this day in 1996, the first urban all-native radio station went on the air. KNBA can be found on 90.3 on the FM dial in Anchorage, Alaska. The station is owned by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, a Native non-profit organization that also produces National Native News.

Monday, October 10, 2005

On this day in 1894, dozens of Hopi men defied U.S. government agents by planting wheat in fields they claimed as their aboriginal lands. Nineteen of the men were found guilty of rebelling against the U.S. government. They were sent to prison on Alcatraz Island for close to one year.

Friday, October 7, 2005

On this day in 1966, Spokane-Coeur d'Alene novelist and poet, Sherman Alexie was born. He's gained national attention for his writings about contemporary reservation life.

Thursday, October 6, 2005

During this week in 1979, the Kenaitze Indian Tribe of Alaska celebrated its first potlatch in 70 years. Prior to that, the Russian Orthodox Church had prohibited the social gathering. The reintroduction of the event brought together more than 300 people to honor elders and those who had passed away. It also served as an opportunity to share tribal traditions with the youth.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

On this day in 1877, Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Army in Montana. For three months he fled with 800 of his people through Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. After their surrender, they were forced onto a reservation away from their homelands.

Tuesday,October 4, 2005

On this day in 1944, Van T. Barfoot, a Choctaw, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. During World War II he knocked out two machine gun nests, which led to the capture of 17 German soldiers. He also carried two wounded commanders to safety.

Monday,October 3, 2005

On this day in 1873, Modoc Chief “Captain Jack” was hanged in Klamath, Oregon. The Modoc leader killed a Civil War General in order to keep his people from relocating to a reservation. Many Modocs later died of famine and disease. They were moved to a reservation in Oklahoma from their Southern Oregon and Northern California homelands.

Friday, September 30, 2005

On this day in1973, a well-known Inuit photographer, artist and historian died in Northern Canada. Peter Pitseolak is best known for capturing traditional Inuit life.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

On this day in 1839, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma passed a law allowing intermarriage between Cherokee women and white men. The law protected a Cherokee woman's assets. It stated that no white man could claim his wife's property if the marriage ended.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

During this week 1973, the U.S. House Interior Committee approved the Menominee Restoration Bill. The legislation aimed to reestablish federal recognition of the Menominee Indians of Wisconsin.

Monday, September 26, 2005

On this day in 1844, the first issue of the “Cherokee Advocate” rolled off the presses in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This was the second newspaper published by the Cherokee Nation.

Friday, September 23, 2005

During this week in 1819, the Chippewa signed a treaty where they gave up a large section of land. In return they received $1000 a year, the services of a blacksmith, and provisions.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

On this day in 1877, the Blackfoot Confederacy signed “Treaty Number 7.” It relinquished 50,000 square miles of their land in Southwest Alberta, Canada. Questions remain, today, on whether the chiefs who signed the treaty knew what they were giving up.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

During this week in 1906, the first Sioux to serve in Congress was born. Benjamin Reifel was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Reifel served five terms as a U-S Republican representative.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

On this day in 1987, Pope John Paul II visited Canada's First Nations people in the Northwest Territories. His service was translated into different Native languages.

Monday, September 19, 2005

On this day in 2004, the Lummi Nation of Washington State presented two totem poles titled “Liberty and Freedom” to the Pentagon.

Friday, September 16, 2005

During this week in 1948, the first woman president of the Alaska Federation of Natives was born. Janie Leask a
Haida-Tsimshian Native became president of AFN in 1982. She won several awards for her work in rural communities.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

On this day in 1903, the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation was established in Arizona. More than 24-thousand acres were set aside for the Yavapai. Today their economy includes farming, sand and gravel operations and a casino.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

On this day in 1958, Chickasaw tribal member John Herrington was born. Harrington is the first Native American to travel to space.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

On this day on 1984, Ojibwe activist Dennis Banks surrendered to law enforcement officials in South Dakota. Eleven years earlier, he helped lead an AIM protest in Custer, South Dakota. Banks was arrested for his involvment and faced trial. He was convicted of riot and assault. But fled the state to avoid a prison term. After his surrender he served 18 months in prison.

Monday, September 12, 2005

On this day in 1851, a warrior named Conquering Bear was chosen to represent the Lakota people. He was picked after the Americans insisted each tribe name a head chief who could sign treaties on behalf their people. Conquering Bear signed the Fort Laramie treaty

Friday, September 9, 2005

On this day in 1989, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma changed its tribal flag. A seven-pointed black star was added as a reminder of the Cherokees who lost their lives on the Trail of Tears.

Thursday, September 8, 2005

On this day in 1883, Chief Sitting Bull delivered a scathing speech in his Native language to dignitaries in North Dakota. He called them liars and thieves and smiled throughout the entire speech. His speech was not interpreted in English and he received a standing ovation.

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

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

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

On this day in 1877, Oglala Sioux Chief Crazy Horse died. He was reportedly stabbed in the abdomen by a soldier. Crazy Horse was born in South Dakota around 1845.

Monday, September 5, 2005

During this week in 1886, Geronimo surrendered to the U.S. army at Skeleton Canyon, Arizona. For more than 18 months Geronimo and a small band of Apache had been living in the southwest wilderness after escaping internment from the San Carlos reservation.

Friday, September 2, 2005

On this day in 1838, Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani was born. She was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. She tried to preserve the islands for the native residents. But, she was dethroned when the U.S. annexed the land in 1898.

Thursday, September 1, 2005

On this day in 1866, Chief Manuelito and 23 of his Navajo followers surrendered to the U.S. army at Fort Wingate in New Mexico. The army forced Manuelito to march under guard so the public could witness the defeat of the Navajo leader.



Wednesday, August 31, 2005

On this day in 1862, Cherokee people chose which side to fight on in the American Civil War. Three-thousand Cherokees signed up to serve with the Confederacy
and one-thousand aligned with the Union.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

On this day in 1876, one of the first Native physicians was born. Mohawk Lillie Rose Minoka-Hill was born on the St. Regis reservation in New York. She married an Oneida man and practiced medicine for the Oneidas of Wisconsin until her death. Minoka-Hill was known for using both Western and Native medicine.

Monday, August 29, 2005

On this day in 1974, Navajo Nation members testifd before the U.S. Civil Rights Commission in New Mexico. Tribal members spoke of various abuses suffered by Natives when traveling off-reservation to towns in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.

Friday, August 26, 2005

On this day in 1858, "The Battle of Four Lakes" took place near Spokane, Washington. The Coeur d'Alene, Columbia River, Colville, Kalispel, and Spokane tribes were defeated by U.S. forces. The tribes were placed on reservations following their defeat.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

During this week in 2004, the last surviving Meskwaki Code Talker died. Frank Sanache was one of eight Meskwakis who used their language as a secret code in World War Two. Sanache was captured by German forces and spent 28 months as a prisoner of war.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

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

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

During this week in 1987, Clayton Lonetree became the first U.S. Marine to be convicted of spying against the United States. The Ho-chunk and Navajo Marine sergeant was convicted for passing secrets to the KGB after he become romantically involved with a Soviet woman. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. After several sentence reductions, Lonetree served less than 10 years.

Monday, August 22, 2005

On this day in 1877, Chief Joseph led nearly 800 Nez Perce through Yellowstone National Park. This was part of a 1,500-mile journey from central Idaho to Canada. It was known as the “Nez Perce Trail.” They eventually surrendered and were forced onto a reservation in the United States.

Friday, August 19, 2005

During this week in 1971, Betty Ivanoff Menard became the first Native woman to reach Denali Peak. Also known as Mt. McKinley, the peak is located in Alaska and is the highest point in North America. Menard who is Inupiaq, reached the summit in 17 days.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

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

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

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

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

During this week in 1936, the federal government purchased land in South Dakota, to create the Flandreau tribe’s reservation. Today, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation is located in the southeastern part of the state.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

On this day in 1680, Tewa leader Pope lead the Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish. Pope organized the uprising of Pueblo people in the southwest. The Natives expelled the Spaniards from their homes.

Tuesday, August 9, 2005

On this day in 1946, Congress passed an Act to authorize the leasing of tribal lands in Washington State. The Act was for business and other purposes and was for a period of 25 years.

Monday, August 8, 2005

On this day in 1865, the first written use of the name "Sitting Bull," was used in the English language. Sioux leader Tatanka Yotanka from the Grand River region in South Dakota, became known as "Sitting Bull." He led several tribes in the "Battle of the Little Bighorn" and defeated the U.S.
Cavalry.

Friday, August 5, 2005

On this day in 1882, the Papago Indian Reserve
was established in Arizona. More than 27 thousand acres were set aside for the tribe in San Xavier del Bac,
west of Tuscon. Today, the tribe is known as the
Tohono O'odham Nation.

Thursday, August 4, 2005

On this day in 1898, an Indian Congress was created in Omaha, Nebraska. It brought together more than 500 Natives 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.

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain in search of a route to India. His voyage and landing in the Americas forever changed the lives of Indigenous peoples living on the continent.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

On this day in 1865, General Philip Sheridan was ordered to report to President Ulysses Grant on the number of Natives being held captive at Ft. Sumner. His report showed 417 Apaches and more than seven thousand Navajos were being held at the fort in New Mexico.

Monday, August 1, 2005

On this day in 1838, the Cherokee Council held a meeting in Aquohee prison camp during their forced removal from their lands east of the Mississippi. In a resolution the Cherokee Nation stated their rights to exist as a nation cannot be dissolved by the American Government.

Friday, July 29, 2005

On this day in 1968, the American Indian Movement was founded. It encouraged self-determination among Native people. The organization is still active today and has chapters across the country.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

On this day in 1978, the Ak-chin Water Settlement Act was passed for two tribes in southern Arizona. The act provided water rights for the Tohono O’odhams and Pimas.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

During this week in 1862, Fort Bowie was established on the Apache Pass, in southeastern Arizona territory. The fort played a key role in the pursuit of Geronimo and his band. Geronimo eventually surrendered at the fort and the Chiricahua Apaches were banished from the area.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

On this day in 1997, President Bill Clinton ordered the protection of the Lake Tahoe Region. Federal agencies were ordered to protect the natrual, recreational and ecological resources in the area. The Washoe Tribe's use of the region was also recognized.

Monday, July 25, 2005

On this day in 1863, Kit Carson ordered the destruction of food supply for the Navajos along the Bonito River, in Arizona territory. All livestock and crops were seized. Anything that could not be hauled was burned. Carson’s order was part of the Canyon de Chelly campaign to force the Navajos to surrender.

Friday, July 22, 2005

On this day in 1967, the Inupiat-Cree Actress Irene Bedard is born. She is known for her roles in “Smoke Signals” and “Pocahontas.” One of Irene’s latest roles is playing Margaret Light Shines on TNT’s television miniseries “Into the West.”

Thursday, July 21, 2005

During this week in 1979, Jay Silverheels received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. He was the first Indian actor to have a star placed along Hollywood Boulevard in California. The Mohawk actor is best known for playing “Tonto” on the Lone Ranger television series.

Friday July 1, 2005

On this day in 1955 the Indian Health Act was passed. It transferred Indian health service from the Interior Department to the Public Health Service’s Indian Health Agency. Two decades later it was moved into the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.

Thursday, June 30, 2005

On this day in 1938, Olympic Gold Medallist Billy Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. The Oglala Lakota athlete won a gold medal in the 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan. He out ran his opponents in the 10,000-meter race.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

During this week in 2003, Arizona state lawmakers banned the word "squaw" from all political subdivisions in the state. The law prohibits using the word in geographic names, parks, streets and other publicly funded facilities.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

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

Monday, June 27, 2005

During this week in 1876, Lakota, Dakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors defeated General George Armstrong Custer and his soldiers in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Friday, June 24, 2005

During this week in 2003, the first Indian Memorial was dedicated at the Little Bighorn National Monument in Montana. The June 25, 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn or Custer’s Last Stand, was between the U.S. Army and the combined forces of Lakota and Cheyenne. It is the most famous battle in the Indian Wars and a victory for Natives.

Friday, June 17, 2005

On this day in 1865, the first Native American woman doctor, Susan LaFlesch Picotte, was born. The Omaha tribal member graduated from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

On this day in 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated the Indian Sacred Sites Protection Amendment. It would have defined sacred sites. And also put an end to federal funding of projects that adversely affect the physical integrity of Indian sacred sites on federal lands.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

During this week in 2004, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal council unanimously voted to ban same-sex marriages. The legislation was introduced and voted on quietly without any tribal membership input. The law is now being challenged in the tribe’s highest court.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

On this day in 1971, fifty activists, including American Indian Movement leader John Trudell, occupied a deserted missile site near Richmond, California.

Monday, June 13, 2005

On this day in 1979, the Sioux were awarded more than $100 Million for the seizure of the Black Hills. The Sioux declined the money and they continue to fight for the return of the land.

Friday, June 10, 2005

On this day in 1996, the largest lawsuit against the federal government was filed. The Individual Indian Trust Fund lawsuit, also known as Cobell vs. Norton, aims to force the federal government to account for billions of dollars belonging to approximately 500,000 American Indians and their heirs, and held in trust since the late 19th century.

Thursday, June 9, 2005

On this day in 1958, the Atomic Energy Commission officially created Project Chariot, a plan to conduct a nuclear blast in the Arctic. But it was dropped in 1962 after public opposition. It would have affected Point Hope, an Inupiaq Eskimo village.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005

On this day in 1874, Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise died. After his death, the government broke the historic treaty they signed with Cochise and moved the Chiricahua to the Arizona desert.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005

On this day in 1866 Chief Seattle died. He was the leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. Controversy surrounds whether he authored a famous speech about the environment. The city of Seattle was named in his honor.

Monday, June 6, 2005

On this day in 1984 the U.S. Senate voted to make the Committee on Indian Affairs permanent. Bills introduced by Senators that specifically pertain to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives, is under the jurisdiction of the Committee.

Friday, June 3, 2005

On this day in 1830, the governor of Georgia declared a law that extended the state’s sovereignty over Cherokee land valid. The law turned gold mines on Cherokee land over to the state and abolished all Cherokee laws.

Thursday, June 2, 2005

On this day in 1924, Congressed passed the Indian Citizenship Act. The Act granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans, which included the right to vote in national elections.

Wednesday, June 1, 2005

On this day in 1868, several Navajo chiefs, including Manuelito and Barboncito, signed a treaty that released the Navajo from Fort Sumner in New Mexico. The Navajo were imprisoned at the fort, also known as Bosque Redondo, for more than 4 years.

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

On this day in 1796, the Treaty of the Seven Tribes of Canada was signed in New York City. The tribes gave up all claims to lands in New York except for six square miles in Saint Regis.

Monday, May 30, 2005

During this week in 1888, Sauk and Fox Native, Jim Thorpe, was born. He’s one of the most accomplished all-around athletes in history. Thorpe was selected as the greatest American athlete and the greatest football player of the first half of the 20th century.

Friday, May 27, 2005

During this week in 1890, Charles Hyde, a citizen 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. Prior to his letter, federal agents were not concerned about the Ghost Dance, but soon after, they feared the ceremony.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

On this day in 1912, Mohawk Actor Jay Silverheels was born. The actor most known for his role as “Tonto” on the TV show The Lone Ranger was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Canada.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

On this day in 1933, the Board of Indian Commissions was abolished by President Franklin Roosevelt. The commission was created in 1869 to oversee the appropriations of money to tribes.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

On this day in 1996, President Bill Clinton issued the “Indian Sacred Sites” executive order. It made it mandatory for federal agencies to accommodate access to sacred sites and allow Native Americans ceremonial use of the land. It also pledged to protect sacred sites.

Monday, May 23, 2005

On this day in 1838, the first group of Cherokees was rounded up for the "Trail of Tears." The one-thousand mile trail from Georgia to Oklahoma was conducted by the United States Army. More than 4,000 Cherokees died on the forced march.

Friday, May 20, 2005

On this day in 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act. It allowed settlers to buy land that formerly belonged to tribes for a dollar-25 and acre. It also brought a new wave of settlers into the West.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

On this day in 1939, Pope Pius the twelfth approved the beatification of Kateritekawitha. The Mohawk was a devout Catholic. This designation brings her one step closer to be named a Saint in the Catholic Church.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

On this day in 1905, the Supreme Court ruled Eastern Cherokees could receive $1 Million appropriated by Congress. The money was for payment of land claims.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

On this day in 1906, congress passed the Native Allotment Act. It allowed individual Alaska Natives to gain title to land. It also aimed to extend the Dawes General Allotment Act, which allotted portions of reservation lands to individual tribal members. In 1971 the law was repealed with the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Monday, May 16, 2005

On this day in 1704, a Susquehanna Chief addressed Philadelphia residents about the damaging effects of alcohol on his people. A Pennsylvania law prohibited the sale of rum to local Natives, but rum traders ignored the law.

Friday, May 13, 2005

On this day in 1614, The Viceroy of 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, but that was pardoned ten years later.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

On this day in 1903, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the removal and relocation of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, to the Luiseno reservation. They called the three-day journey their "Trail of Tears."

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

On this day in 1854, Paiute Chief Walkara met with Utah Governor Brigham Young. They negotiated to end the battle known as the "Walker War." The meeting put a temporary end to the fighting, but it flared up again later. The war finally ended when the Paiutes were put on a reservation.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

On this day in 1864, Stand Watie of the Cherokee Nation, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. He was the first Indian to reach that rank. He was also the last Confederate General to surrender at the end of the Civil War.

Monday, May 9, 2005

On this day in 1907, the last chief of the Lemhis Tribe died. 73-year-old Chief Tendoy fell off a horse while crossing a cold mountain stream in Idaho. Chief Tendoy was the nephew of Sacagawea.

Friday, May 6, 2005

On this day in 1626, a Dutchman bought Manhattan Island from the Canarsee Indians. The island was purchased for less than 30-dollars at today’s rate. The Canarsies thought they were only letting the Dutch use the land to hunt and farm.

Thursday, May 5, 2005

On this day in 1877, Chief Sitting Bull led his tribe into Canada. They abandoned their traditional homeland in Montana to escape the U.S. cavalry. The Hunkpapa Lakota chief feared retaliation from the U.S. after the Battle of Little Big Horn, where General George Armstrong Custer was killed.

Wednesday, May 4, 2005

On this day in 1863, the Flandreau Santee Sioux were forced to move from their traditional homeland in Minnesota. Their new home and reservation was in a desolate part of South Dakota. More than 1,300 were taken and many died within the first year.

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

During this week in 1973, the occupation of Wounded Knee ended in South Dakota. The 71-day siege came after American Indians stood against government atrocities. They surrendered after White House officials promised to investigate their complaints.

Monday, May 2, 2005

During this month in 1883, Lakota Chief Sitting Bull was released from prison. He rejoined his tribe in Standing Rock, South Dakota, where he encouraged them not to sell their land. Sitting Bull is considered the last Sioux to surrender to the U.S. government.

Friday, April 29, 2005

On this day in 1868, the Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed. Under the treaty, the United States recognized the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Nation. They set it aside for exclusive use by the Sioux people.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

On this day in 1763, Chief Pontiac and his Ottawa tribe held a council with the Ojibwa, Wyandot and Potawatomi Nations. The tribes made plans to attack Fort Detroit in Michigan in order to save their traditional ways. This period was part of the French and Indian Wars.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

On this day in 1915, Alaska’s Native Citizenship Bill became law. It granted citizenship to Native people who agreed to stop living a cultural and traditional lifestyle. It also required them to learn to read and write English.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

During this month in 1998, Chickasaw tribal member… Commander John Herrington graduated from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 2002. He’s the first Native American astronaut to fly in space.

Monday, April 25, 2005

On this day in 1951, Mitchell Red Cloud, Junior posthumously received the Medal of Honor. The Ho-Chunk from Wisconsin 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.

Friday, April 22, 2005

During this week in 1858, the Yankton Sioux signed a treaty that granted them access to the red pipestone quarry in southwestern Minnesota. The quarry is now called Pipestone National Monument. The Yankton reserve the right to excavate the pipestone for religious and other purposes.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

On this day in 1869, Seneca Chief, Ely Samuel Parker was appointed the first Native American Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He was responsible for the federal government’s relations between whites and Indians. His attempts to bring justice to various tribes over land deals and treaties, earned him many enemies, which ultimately led to his resignation.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

On this day in 1907, Tom Longboat, an Onondaga from the First Nations of Canada, won the 11th Boston Marathon. He ran in snow, slush and rain before setting a record time of 2:24.

Monday, April 18, 2005

On this day in 1977, American Indian Movement Activist Lenoard Peltier was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for killing two F-B-I agents. He is currently serving two consecutive life terms at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. More than 100 thousand documents in his case have never been released.

Friday, April 15, 2005

During this week in 1934, the Johnson O-Malley Act was passed. It provided funds to states with Indian students attending public schools. Prior to the act, Indian students didn’t attend public schools because their parents didn’t pay property taxes on reservation lands.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

On this day in 1990, the Pawnee, Wichita and Arikara Tribes held a reburial ceremony for 152 tribal ancestors. It was held at the Salina Burial Pit in Salina, Kansas. For many years it was a tourist attraction, but under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, it was returned to the tribes.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

On this day in 1946, Congress created the Indian Claims Commission Act. It was established to hear and decide claims made by Indians based on land losses from treaties. The tribes litigated more than 500 claims and were awarded more than a half a billion dollars before the commission expired nearly 33 years later.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

On this day in 1968, the U.S. government officially recognized the Tigua Indians of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso, Texas. The Tigua are refugee descendants from the mid Rio Grande pueblos, who fled from New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt in the 1600’s.

Monday, April 11, 2005

During this week in 1980, Comanche tribal member LaDonna Harris became the first Native American to run for U.S. Vice President. The Citizens’ Party candidate ran on a platform of progressive policies to support the rights of those with little political power, including children and the mentally ill.

Friday, April 8, 2005

On this day in 1944, Ernest Childers, a Creek from Oklahoma was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II. Although he suffered a broken foot in an assault, Childers single-handedly killed two snipers, silenced two machine gun strongholds and captured an enemy mortar observer.

Thursday, April 7, 2005

On this day in 1984, North Carolina’s Eastern Band of Cherokees and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma met in a joint council session for the first time in nearly 150 years. They discussed tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation and reaffirmed their common ancestry.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005

On this day in 1832, the “Black Hawk War” began. The war started when Black Hawk, a Sauk warrior, and his people tried to surrender, but before that happened one of his truce bearers was killed. A large army of soldiers confronted the Sauks while trying to move them back to their old homeland in northern Illinois.

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

On this day in 1614, Pocahontas married colonist John Rolfe in Virginia. Their marriage was not formally recognized until she converted to Christianity. Their union was also a political alliance creating several years of peace between Jamestown colonists and her Powhatan tribe.

Monday, April 4, 2005

On this day in 1981, the American Indian Movement founded “Camp Yellow Thunder” in an effort to reclaim the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. The site was supposed to be a place to practice Native religion but the U.S. Supreme Court denied them a permit for the camp.

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