Native American Heritage Month

Susette, a Native American writer, lecturer, interpreter, and artist of the Omaha tribe, was a progressive who spoke for Native American rights. In 1983, she was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame and in 1994, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Vine Deloria, an author, theologian, historian, and activist for the Native American rights, is widely known for his book Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto. He served from 1964 to 1967 as the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. As of 1977, he joined as a board member of the National Museum of the American Indian.

Rachel was believed to be the first Native American woman from Oklahoma to be awarded a Ph.D..

Po’pay, a Tewa religious leader from Ohkay Owingeh, led the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 against Spanish colonial rule leading to the Pueblo expelling the colonists and kept them out of the territory for twelve years.

Ada, an American scholar and civil servant and a Native American advocate, opposed the federal termination of tribes from the 1950s. In 2010, she was recognized as a social work pioneer by the National Associate of Social Workers.

Pushmataha, one of three regional cheifs of the Choctaw, was highly regarded among people for his skills and cunning in both war and diplomacy for his negotiation and petition.

Jaune, a Native American visual artist and curator, is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and is also of Métis and Shoshone descent. She is an educator, storyteller, art advocate, and political activist. Her work draws from a Native worldview and comments on American Indian identity, histories of oppression, and environmental issues.

Attakullakulla, an influential Cherokee leader serving from 1761 to around 1775, was one of the signatories of an early Cherokee treaty with Great Britain through his hope for a peaceful resolution to problems.

Marie Watt, a contemporary artist living and working in Portland, Oregon, enrolled in the Seneca Nation of Indians. She has created work primarily with textile arts and community collaboration centered on diverse Native American themes.

Roger, an Ojibwe civic leader who served as chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa from 1959 to 1990, is credited with protecting Red Lake's extensive tribal sovereignty and improving tribal infrastructure during his tenure in office.

Wes, a Native American actor and film producer, received awards throughout his career particularly for his portrayal of Native Americans in film. He also received an Academy Honorary Award for becoming the first Native American and first Indigenous person from North America to be honored by the academy.

Charles Curtis, an American attorney and Republican politician, served as the 31st vice president of the United States under Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933. He was the first Native American and first person of a racial minority group to reach either of the highest offices in the federal executive branch.

Louis Sockalexis, an American baseball player, played professional baseball in the National league for three seasons as an outfielder for the Cleveland Spiders. He is also identified as the first person of Native American ancestry to play in the National League and Major League Baseball.

Nancy Ward, a beloved woman and political leader of the Cherokee, was an advocate for peaceful coexistence with European Americans and spoke out for Cherokee retention of tribal hunting lands.

Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States on the Native American lands, promoted intertribal unity