CONTENTS* A Message from the Director of DEI Who Are Considered Native American? The History of Native American Heritage Month Missing Indigenous Women An Actual Day of Mourning Notable Native Americans *All article banner images are clickable and will take you to the image source or a link that will provide more information about the the topic. A Message from Patrick Orciani, Director of DEI Colleagues,  Happy Native American Heritage Month! November celebrates the rich histories and cultures of Native Americans known and unknown. In this newsletter, you will find insightful information about Indigenous communities, the history, and matters that uniquely affect them. You will also be introduced to a diverse group of Native Americans and learn more about them. Everyone continue to be safe and well! Best Regards,  Patrick Orciani

Who Are Considered Native American?

The very definition of ‘native’ as defined by ‘Webster’s Dictionary’ is, “a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth, whether subsequently resident there or not.” So when the term “Native American” is used, who is being referred to? You should keep in mind there are hundreds of Nations and Tribes that make up the diaspora of the Native American community. This article provides detailed information about the diversity that makes up the Indigenous community.

The History of Native American Heritage Month

As with many cultural celebration months, many started off as a day of celebration later taking on more importance (as they should) and turning into either official holidays or proclamations. Here is a brief overview of how Native American Heritage Month got its start.

Missing Indigenous Women

Following the murder of George Floyd as stories hit the news, people have started to point out the inequities in fairness - - be it media coverage, opportunities and access to resources. The same happened following the mass media coverage of Gabby Petito. Many (including news outlets) pointed out the lack of coverage of Black and Brown persons vs. stories involving white women. The very place where Gabby’s remains were found has a vast amount of missing Indigenous women. However, this issue is not something new and actually dates back years ago regarding the unfair attention on missing Indigenous women. This article provides insight on why this community feels the unequal treatment is happening.

An Actual Day of Mourning

While many will sit around the table with their families, friends and loved ones as is tradition for Thanksgiving, many view this holiday as an actual Day of Mourning. It is never wrong to sit and break bread with your loved ones, but one way celebrating is understanding the real history and how what was thought to be a joyous event, turned into a day of mourning. This article explains how it came about.

Notable Native Americans

Wilma Mankiller (Cherokee) - Activist Wilma Mankiller is honored and recognized as the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She is also the first woman elected as chief of a major Native tribe. She spent her remarkable life fighting for the rights of American Indians.

Russell Means (Lakota) - Actor Russell Means was born an Oglala/Lakota Sioux Indian. He was the first national director of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in which role he became prominent during the 1973 standoff with the U.S. government at Wounded Knee.

D'Arcy McNickle (Salish Kootenai) - Author D’Arcy McNickle grew up on the Flathead Reservation in western Montana. The reservation was created with the Treaty of Hellgate in 1855 in which the Flathead, the Pend d’Oreille, and the Kootenai gave up millions of acres of their land.

Kyrie Irving (Lakota) - Athlete Born in 1992 in Melbourne, Australia, Kyrie Irving became a high school basketball star in New Jersey before briefly playing for Duke University. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and in 2016, he teamed with LeBron James to give the Cavaliers their first championship in franchise history.

Bertha Parker (Seneca/Abenaki) - Arche Bertha “Bertie” Parker Cody is widely considered to be the first female Native American archaeologist. She contributed decades of dedicated work to both the field of archaeology and Hollywood, all the while advancing representation of Native Americans in the United States.

Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) - U.S. Representative Sharice Davids was raised by a single mom who spent more than 20 years serving in the US Army. A proud graduate of Leavenworth High School, Sharice was the first person in her family to attend college. She worked her way from Johnson County Community College to Cornell Law School, juggling multiple jobs to put herself through school.

Jacoby Ellsbury (Navajo) - Athlete Ellsbury was born on September 11, 1983 to Jim and Margie Ellsbury. He is the eldest of four children. The Ellsburys lived on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation until they moved to Madras, Oregon when Jacoby was in kindergarten. He was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Minnie Two Shoes (Assiniboine) - Journalist Born Minnie Eder in Poplar in 1950, Two Shoes began her career in 1970 as a publicist for the American Indian Movement.

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