Native American History
by Tina Sanchez and David Whiteman, reporters

    Although it took 84 years for the first Americans to receive their official day of recognition, November is National American Indian Heritage Month.

    In the beginning, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state, seeking approval for the celebration of a day in honor of Indians. He presented the approval of such a day from 24 state governments to the White House Dec. 14, 1915. Despite his effort, there is no record of such a national day being proclaimed.

    Over the years many different bills were introduced to Congress, but none passed although several states declared an American Indian Day.

    Since 1976, however, Congress and the presidency recognized and proclaimed different times of the year as Native American Awareness Week.

    With the increased population of Native Americans in 1990, President George Bush approved a Joint Resolution designating the month of November as Native American Heritage Month.

    During the month-long celebrations, several American Indians are honored for contributing to American history.

    Sacajawea was recognized for her place in American history last year when a portrait of her was minted on the golden dollar coin.

    A member of the Shoshone tribe, she is credited with helping the Lewis and Clark expedition establish a rapport and communication with Indians, thus giving the expedition the support it needed to reach the Pacific and to return.

    Also honored for their contribution to American history are Navajo Code Talkers. The Navajo’s unwritten language helped the U.S. Marine Corp transmit information during World War II.

    The complexity of the language with its syntax and tonal qualities made it impossible for the Japanese to translate the codes. Thus the American troops had advantage over the Japanese in several battles, including the one at Iwo Jima.

    A Navajo Code Talker will be at TCC this month.

    Sequoyah, a scholar and linguist developed a alphabet for the 86 syllables in the Cherokee language. Cherokee chiefs approved it in 1821, allowing thousands of his people to learn to read and write.

    Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, a famous warrior, led his people in an attempt to resist the takeover of their lands in the Oregon Territory. In 1877 he was ordered to move to an Idaho reservation. He agreed at first, but fled to Canada with his followers, traveling over 1500 miles through Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana fighting many battles along the way.

    When forced to surrender October 5, 1877, he said, “Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

    Afterwards, he devoted his efforts to helping his people learn peaceful ways.