From November 1st to November 30th, Native American Heritage Month is celebrated across the United States. This month was dedicated to celebrating Native Americans in 1990, when Congress and President George H.W. Bush signed into law an agreement to make the month of November the Native American Heritage Month. This month is a time to commemorate the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of Native people and recognize the many great contributions Native Americans have made in our country. This article will shine a light on Native Americans who forged a path for themselves despite the challenges they faced.
Maria Tallchief
Maria Tallchief became the first Native American prima ballerina in a professional ballet company. From an Oklahoma oil family who grew up on an Indian reservation, she had always loved to dance. Her mother placed her in dance classes when she was just three years old.
Maria loved to move, and she is famous as a ballerina for being energetic and swift on her pointe shoes. She moved to New York City when she was 17 years old, trying to find a job in a major ballet company. She was unsuccessful in the beginning, because companies judged her based on her ethnicity. Maria did not stop; she kept auditioning, and finally received stage presence as a soloist when a dancer was unable to perform. Not only was her performance dazzling, but the critics also thought she was amazing.
From then on, Maria was featured in major ballet companies such as New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. She danced in major solo roles, such as The Firebird, Swan Lake, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. Recently, Maria Tallchief was recognized in the 2023 American Women Quarters Program. Her face will be featured on a $1 coin. Maria Tallchief died on April 11, 2013. Her dance legacy will be remembered forever.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe is one of the most accomplished athletes in history. He became the first Native American to win an Olympic Gold medal for the U.S., winning gold in the pentathlon and decathlon at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. Later, he played professional baseball for teams like the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, and Cincinnati Reds. Not only a professional baseball player, Thorpe also played football professionally. He played for six teams in the NFL and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
As a kid, Thorpe grew up in the Sac and Fox Nation in Indian Territory. From a young age, he was athletically gifted. Thorpe began his athletic career as a member of his school’s football team. Jim died on March 28, 1953 from heart failure. His athleticism and contributions to the American world of sports will forever go down in history.
John Herrington
John Herrington was the first Native American in space on the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s STS-113 mission. While on his 13-day trip to space, he carried the Chickasaw Nation flag. He was born in 1958 in Wetumka, Oklahoma, a part of the Chickasaw Nation. From his youth, Herrington had a strong desire to explore space and be a part of something as monumental as going to space. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 1983. As well as being an astronaut, he loyally served his country in the U.S. Navy and was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1985.
He has received many awards for his time in the military, including the Navy Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and more. He is proud to be a part of the Chickasaw Nation and currently spends his time sharing his love of space and excellence in education to young people in his community and other surroundings.
Sources
Maria Tallchief - Britannica
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