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The Women Who Support Other Notable Native Women Private Piestewa became the first Native American woman to die in combat on foreign soil. On March 23, 2003, Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa, a Hopi woman from Tuba City, became the first American woman soldier killed in the Iraq war, and the first Native American woman to die in combat in the service of the United States. Only twenty-three years old, Piestewa saw herself as a Hopi warrior, part of a centuries-old tradition developed by a people who once resisted an invasion and occupation by the U.S. military – much as the Iraqis are today. She went to war, but she believed above all in peace, in doing no harm to others. "I’m not trying to be a hero," she told a friend just before the invasion. "I just want to get through this crap and go home." Lori Piestewa didn't have to be in Iraq. Because of a shoulder injury, Piestewa had medical clearance to stay home, but chose to deploy because of her friendship with Jessica Lynch. The two women had roomed together at Fort Bliss, Texas, where they joined the 507th Maintenance Company. The 507th is responsible for repairing trucks, heavy equipment, and missile systems; their motto is "Just Fix It." Four days after the war began, the 507th was part of a convoy driving north through the Iraqi desert near Al Nasiriya when it was ambushed by Iraqi insurgents. The Humvee that Piestewa was driving was riddled with bullets when she pulled up to the the front of the line so the officer she was carrying could confer with the unit's captain. Knowing that she'd be ordered to return to the back of the unit, which was facing the brunt of the ambush, the captain's driver offered to switch places with her. Piestewa responded that she was sticking with her mission and drove back toward the column's rear and into the chaotic battle. According to Lynch, Piestewa navigated through gunfire and debris, circling around twice to help crippled vehicles before a rocket-propelled grenade hit Piestewa's Humvee. The impact of the grenade, sustained on the driver's side, forced the vehicle to swerve into a 5-ton tractor trailer, instantly killing three soldiers. Piestewa and Lynch, both injured badly but still alive, were taken to an Iraqi hospital. Piestewa died shortly after arriving. She and her company were considered MIA. After an attempt to free American prisoners of war it was learned that Lori Piestewa, as well as several other members of her company, did not survive the ambush. After her death, the Army promoted Piestewa from private first class to specialist first class. On Memorial Day, she was remembered with rose petals in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Landmarks in her native Arizona are being re-named in her honor. The American Indian College Fund announced it has established a college fund in honor of Lori Piestewa. The scholarship will go toward any remaining unmet financial needs for college that her children have when they become college age, after taking into account other scholarships that have already been established for them. Any remaining funds will be used to underwrite an annual scholarship to a tribal college or university for a female American Indian military veteran. However, Piestewa’s most lasting
memorial are her children, Brandon and Carla; the two are being raised
by their grandparents. Brandon, the older child, knows his mother is
gone forever: he thinks of her as a guardian angel. Her family believes that the snowfall was the spirit of Piestewa, sending them a message of peace.
Chief Wilma Mankiller
Wilma Pearl Mankiller (Cherokee
military term for a village protector) was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
on November 18, 1945. She came from a large family that spent many years
on the family farm in Oklahoma. Mankiller grew up on her father Charley's
ancestral Oklahoma lands. "Dirt poor" was how she described
her early life. The Mankillers frequently ate suppers of squirrel and
other game. The house had no electricity. Her parents used coal oil
for illumination. However Wilma said later, "As far back as I can
remember there were always books around our house. This love of reading
came from the traditional Cherokee passion for telling and listening
to stories. But it also came from my parents, particularly my father....
A love for books and reading was one of the best gifts he ever gave
his children." Mankiller decided to leave her parents and go to live with her maternal grandmother, Pearl Sitton, on a family ranch inland from San Francisco. The year she spent there restored her confidence and after returning to the Bay Area, she got increasingly involved with the world of the San Francisco Indian Center. "There was something at the Center for everyone. It was a safe place to go, even if we only wanted to hang out." The Center provided entertainment, social and cultural activities for youth, as well as a place for adults to hold powwows and discuss matters of importance with other BIA relocatees. Here, Mankiller became politicized at the same time reinforcing her identity as a Cherokee and her attachments to the Cherokee people, their history and traditions The center became Wilma's after-school refuge. When a group of Native Americans occupied Alcatraz Island in November 1969, in protest of U.S. Government policies, which had, for hundreds of years, deprived them of their lands, Mankiller participated in her first major political action. "It changed me forever," she wrote. "It was on Alcatraz...where at long last some Native Americans, including me, truly began to regain our balance." In the years that followed the "occupation," Mankiller became more active in developing the cultural resources of the Native American community. She helped build a school and an Indian Adult Education Center. She directed the Native American Youth Center in East Oakland, coordinating field trips to tribal functions, hosting music concerts, and giving kids a place to do their homework or just connect with each other. The youth center also gave her the opportunity to pull together Native American adults from around Oakland as volunteers, thus strengthening their ties. She returned to Oklahoma in the
1970s where she worked at the Urban Indian Resource Center and volunteered
in the community. In 1981 she founded and then became director of the
Cherokee Community Development Department, where she orchestrated a
community-based renovation of the water system and was instrumental
in lifting an entire town, Bell, Oklahoma, out of squalor and despair. In 1987, after a landslide victory, Mankiller became the first freely-elected Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Also becoming the first woman to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Mankiller was again elected Chief in 1991, but poor health forced her to retire from that position in 1995. Mankiller brought about important strides for the Cherokees, including improved health care, education, utilities management and tribal government she made them tribal priorities. She raised $20 million to build a much-needed infrastructure for schools and other projects, including an $8 million job-training center. The largest Cherokee health clinic was started under her tenure in Stilwell, Okla., and is now named in her honor. Mankiller also sought to reunite the Eastern Cherokee, a group based in North Carolina, with the larger Western division. She wanted to attract higher-paying industry to the area, improving adult literacy, supporting women returning to school and more. However, Mankiller also lived in the larger world, and was active in civil rights matters, lobbying the federal government and supporting women's activities and issues. She said: "We've had daunting problems in many critical areas, but I believe in the old Cherokee injunction to 'be of a good mind.' Today it's called positive thinking." As the leader of the Cherokee people she represented the second largest tribe in the United States, (the largest being the Dine (Navajo) Tribe) - she was responsible for 139,000 people and a $69 million budget. She was the first female in modern history to lead a major Native American tribe and has become known not only for her community leadership but also for her spiritual presence. A visionary Wilma Mankiller continues to be a political, cultural, and spiritual leader in her community and throughout the United States. Honors and the
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Sadly Wilma Mankiller passed away of Pancreatic Cancer early in 2010. She will be sadly missed. I personally met Wilma Mankiller during the 80's in New Jersey, I found her to be very open, friendly and smart. She was presenting a talk and I was lucky enough to get tickets. She spoke to those who wanted to ask questions afterwards and I was one of those people. She didn't hurry us off or rush away, she patiently waited until all the questions were asked and answered before very humbly thanking us for coming to see her. She then left. I thought at the time what a great leader she was, and how lucky the Cherokee people were to have someone like her as their Chief. She cared and would do what she needed to do to allow them to have the things that were their right. She gained my respect that evening, and so when I decided to make this museum I knew that she would be one of the Exceptional Women that would be featured here. - Gloria These Bios come from a web site I created called Ancient Voices in 2006. It was for a Museum I had made in the Little Feather Center, Pipestone. If you would like more info on any of the women I will be using today and tomorrow, please let me know. |
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Day 14, December 23rd 2019 Prayer for Today Good morning relatives, Creator
we offer prayers and smoke up tobacco down on this beautiful day. We
offer gratitude for the team of volunteers, host, support staff, and
admin team all of whom are providing for our horse nation, brothers,
and sisters who are in prayer for our ancestors. Surround them with
the strength of heart, mind, spirit, and body to continue this journey.
We honour them today and always. It's a great day to ride
Route for Today From Fort Ridgley the Ride head off to Courtland Yesterday, (25 miles) and they will stay the night again in the Courtland Community Center, 300 Railroad St, Courtland. Breakfast will be by with the Chuck Wagon as will lunch, Dinner will be supplied by the Upper Sioux Community The horses will again be at the Courtland Farm
From our Members: Saundra Larsen Regina Jerry Janet Auer Anton
Photos from the Ride
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Dakota 38 + 2 Memorial Ride Supporters group on Facebook Historic photographs courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Website mostly written and Created by Gloria Hazell Derby Dragonfly Dezignz © 2019 to date |
