Women of Native American History: From Nanye-Hi to Sharice Davids
A lot has changed since 1990 when President George W. Bush declared the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month, or commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month. It was intended to recognize, honor, and celebrate people of indigenous descent. During this month, it is important to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and unforgettable contributions of our nation’s first inhabitants.
Native American Female Heroes
Often when we think of the great Native American heroes of the past, we imagine brave male warriors and chief who led their people through war and the long journey into an uncertain future. However, there have been some formidable women who fought fearlessly in battle, served as committed leaders, undertook dangerous journeys and saved lives. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, let’s discuss some of the female heroes.
Naye-Hi: Cherokee Fighter
Nanye-Hi, also known as Nancy Ward, was born into the Cherokee Wolf clan in 1738. In 1755, she aided her husband during a fight against another tribe, the Creeks, by chewing the lead for bullets to use as ammunition. When her husband was fatally shot, Nanye-Hi grabbed his rifle, rallied her fellow fighters, and entered the battle herself[i]. The Cherokee tribe was victorious that day.
Davids and Haalan: Congress Trailblazers
Fast forward 140 years and we have a new kind of Native American female heroes. While there have been Native American congressmen and senators in the past – Charles Cutis, a Kaw-Osage from Kansas, went from the U.S. Senate to serve as the Vice-President under Herbert Hoover – there has never been a Native American woman in Congress, that is, until now.
On November 6, 2018, Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland became the first Native American women to be electedinto Congress. Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk nation, Democrat, and self-proclaimed gay, defeated incumbent Republican Kevin Yoder in Kansas. After receiving a law degree from Cornell University, she focused her “career on bringing equity and opportunity to all communities.” Raised by a single mom, Sharice decided to run for office after completing a year as a White House Fellow in Washington during the Obama-Trump transition.
Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, takes the place of Michelle Lujan Grisham in New Mexico. Like Sharice, Deb has a law degree (University of New Mexico). Deb is the first Native American Woman in the country to chair a state party. As the first Chairwoman elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors, she oversaw business operations of the second largest tribal gaming enterprise in New Mexico. Haaland has successfully advocated for the Laguna Development Corporation to make policies and commitment to earth-friendly business practices. Her focus is on advocating for the underrepresented and advancing progressive values.
Like their ancestors, Davids and Haaland are breaking outdated perceptions, creating opportunities not only for themselves for but others within, and in the case of the new congresswomen, outside their Native American Communities. It is fair to state that the complexities of Native American culture run much deeper than gender lines or roles.
Become an Ally
Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland exemplify what it meant to be an ally for the underrepresented. You, too, can contribute toward the inclusion and support of marginalized groups. Through our workshop Become an Ally, participants gain strategies for reducing biases and becoming effective allies. In a growing global workplace, it is imperative to build culturally competent and inclusive organizations.
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