NATIVE AMERICANS THAT HELPED DEFINE THE PAST

HIAWATHA

Hiawatha was a pre-historical Native American leader and

co-founder of the Iroquois confederacy. Depending on the

source of the narrative he was a leader of the Onondaga,

the Mohawk, or both. According to some sources he was

born an Onondaga, but adopted into the Mohawk.

HAKADAH (CHARLES EASTMAN)

Hakadah, better known as Charles Eastman, was one of the

first Native Americans to become certified as a medical doctor,

after he graduated from Boston University. In the early twentieth

century, he was considered one of the most prolific authors

and speakers on Sioux ethno-history and American Indian affairs.

Additionally, he is considered the first Native American author

to write American history from the native point of view.

BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL

On November 3, 1992, Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado

made history by becoming the first Native American to serve in

the US Senate in more than sixty years. A member of the

Northern Cheyenne tribe, Campbell was also a world-famous

athlete and captain of the US judo team for the

1964 Tokyo Olympics.

CRAZY HORSE

Born sometime between 1840 – 1845, Crazy Horse was an

Oglala Sioux Indian chief who took part in the Battle of

Little Big Horn. In 1877, Crazy Horse surrendered but was

killed in a scuffle with soldiers. Long after his death

Crazy Horse is still revered as a visionary leader who fought

hard to preserve his people’s traditions and way of life.

COCHISE

Leader of the Chiricahua , Chief Cochise was one of the

great Apache Indian leaders who fought against Anglo-Americans.

He led an uprising against the American government in

1861 and died in 1872. Cochise County, Arizona, is named after him.

SEQUOYAH

Sequoyah was a half-Cherokee inventor who after being injured

in a hunting accident became a silversmith. In 1809, he started

creating a simple Cherokee alphabet consisting of eighty-six

symbols and in 1821 introduced it to the Cherokee council.

For the next twenty years, he travelled and taught his

language until his death in 1843.

BLACK HAWK

Born in 1767 in the Virginia Colony, Black Hawk was the leader

of a faction of Sauk and Fox Indians. He joined the British in

several battles in the War of 1812 and in 1832 he led his

people across the Mississippi to resist further white

settler encroachment.

GERONIMO

Geronimo, arguably one of the most famous Native Americans

in history, was born in June 1829, in No-Doyohn Canyon, Mexico.

He fought European colonization in the Southwest by

participating in raids into Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico.

After years of war Geronimo finally surrendered to American

troops in 1886 and spent the last two decades of his life

as a prisoner of war.