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American Indian Education Program

March, 2023

American IndianEducation ProgramMarch, 2023

March

March is Woman's History Month. This issue will celebrate the Native American Women of past and present.


March

Ista wicayazan Wi (Dakota Tribal Language word for March)

Sore eyes moon. It was described as a time the sun was very bright reflecting off the snow, which caused snow blindness or sore eyes.


Onaabani-giizis (Ojibwe Tribal Language word for March)

March is the month of crust on the snow moon.

Strength and Power

Traditionally, Native American women played an essential role in their tribal communities. In the past, Native American women had the role of parent, teacher, gatherer, organizer and defender. The women were the source of life and for providing a feeling of fortitude, balance, and harmony to the lives of their community.


The Native American women of the past and present have continued to hold important roles in their community as caretakers, healers, defenders and leaders. Native American women of the past and present can be described as individuals of strength and power.

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First Native American Woman Physician

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (Bright Eyes) was of the Omaha Tribe and became the first female Native American physician in the United States. Not only was she a champion for improving healthcare for Native people but also for Native American civil rights.


https://heritageletter.com/blogs/lessonplans/dr-susan-la-flesche-picotte-lesson-plans

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Native American Woman Prima Ballerina

Maria Tallchief, Osage, moved to New York City at 17 and became America's first prima ballerina. She is best known for her work with the New York City Ballet from 1949-1965. She starred in many famous ballets; in fact, "she was the first Sugar Plum Fairy in Balanchine’s 1952 original production of 'The Nutcracker.'"


https://nativehalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LP-Maria-Tallchief-v1.1.pdf

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Native American Woman Author and Composer

Zitkála-Šá (Red Bird), Yankton Dakota, advocated and fought for women's and Native American voting rights. Between 1911-1918, she lectured across the country criticizing assimilation and promoting Native culture. Zitkála-Šá wrote the first Native American opera The Sun Dance Opera in 1913 produced by Brigham Young University.


https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Language%20Arts/American%20Indian%20Stories.pdf

Native American Women of the Past

Winyan (Dakota Language for woman)

Ikwe (Ojibwe language for woman)



Sarah Winnemucca, a Northern Paiute, learned several languages including English and Spanish, which made her a valuable interpreter and advocate for her people.

Lozen, an Apache, fought alongside her male counterparts: Victorio and Geronimo. She died in imprisonment,

Marcella LaBeau, Cheyenne River Lakota. She was a nurse serving 80 years of service that included WWII.

Wilma Mankiller, Cherokee and the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee

Elouise Peplon Cobell, Blackfoot and founder of the first American Indian Owned National bank.


These are just to name a few but there are many more names that are part of this list.

Native American Women of 2023

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Lieutenant Governor

Peggy Flanagan is Minnesota's 50th Lieutenant Governor, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She has a bachelors degree in child psychology and American Indian studies from the University of Minnesota.

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National News Anchor

Hattie Kauffman was the first Native American woman to report on a national news broadcast. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, school of Journalism and is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe.
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Astronaut

Nicole A. Mann, (Col, U.S. Marine Corps) NASA Astronaut. She is the first indigenous woman from NASA to go to space. She is registered with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann/biography

STRENGTH

Native American women are strong in their identity. They are proud of who they are and proud of what they wear. In the past, Native American women were responsible for creating clothing for the family, household artifacts, and footwear. Historically, the Native American woman would create and design the clothing with beads, quills or plant dyes. They would put designs that were either a family or tribal specific design. The designs and materials reflected the geographic area that the individuals lived such as the buckskin dress of the Northern plains or the fur coat of the Inuit of Alaska.


Today, museums and books feature the unique traditional clothing. In 2023, the same mindset of decorating clothing is apparent in the contemporary Native American clothing designers. The designer incorporate tribal designs, colors and shapes in their clothings. Designers have beaded high top converse shoes or decorating a denim jacket with shells. The clothing is more than just clothing with design, the design is a visual of identity and strength.


Classroom Resources:

https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/NMAI_lifeinbeads.pdf

https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/edu/alh/beaded-high-tops-teri-greeves

https://visionmakermedia.org/seven-native-fashion-designers

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POWER

POWER

Native American women demonstrate physical power in the way they tan hides, butcher buffalo or move camps from area to area. They also show power in their thinking by planning, and not giving up. Today, that mental power is evident in many of our Native American woman. They lead by action. Currently, the Native American woman serving in elected positions are one example as they are involved in voicing their perspective on policies or actions that impact the lives of Native Americans.


Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna and Pueblo of New Mexico. Ms. Haaland served in U.S. House of Representatives for the state of New Mexico and was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as Secretary of the Department of Interior. She is the first Native American woman to do so, is a significant historical milestone.

Classroom Resources:

https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Social%20Studies/9-12/Tribal_Nations_and_Dept_of_the_Interior.pdf?ver=2021-03-31-153322-703

https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/teach-about-native-american-women-leaders

196 American Indian Education Program

Thank You!


Miigwetch! (Ojibwe)

Wophida! (Dakota)