Discover 10 key facts about Native American women, from leadership in their communities to cultural resilience through art. Learn about their contributions and the rising awareness of their vital roles in Indian Country.
American Indian women are often overlooked in media coverage, history books, and educational discussions. However, there’s a growing effort to change that, particularly among educators and journalism professionals in Nebraska. By shining a light on the significant contributions of Native women to their communities, tribes, and the nation, these efforts aim to fill the gaps in our understanding of their vital roles.
1. Facts About Native American Women: The Heart of the Nation
“A lot of people think that we women are not leaders, but we are the heart of the nation. We are the center of our home, and it is us who decide how it will be.” – Philomine Lakota, Lakota language teacher, Red Cloud High School, Pine Ridge, S.D.
2. Cultural Resilience Through Art
The art forms practiced by Native women are powerful symbols of cultural resilience. As Christina DeVries writes in Native Daughters, “Their crafts survived the Greasy Grass (Battle of Little Big Horn), Wounded Knee One (1890) and Two (1973). Their spirits endured the Trail of Tears, the Relocation and Termination programs, and ongoing struggles against cultural erasure.”
3. A Trailblazing Activist
In 1997, Ms. Magazine honored Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabeg) as Woman of the Year. That same year, this influential activist also published her first novel, Last Standing Woman.
4. Serving in the Military
Among the nearly 2 million women serving in the U.S. armed forces, 18,000 are American Indian. Their representation in the military is disproportionately high, yet Native women face higher rates of sexual harassment, increasing their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
5. Rising Medical School Applications
The number of Native American Women applying to medical school has been on the rise since 2003, peaking in 2007 with 77 applicants nationwide.
6. Breaking Barriers in Academia
Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet (Diné) made history in 2007 when she became the first American Indian woman to serve as president of a mainstream university—Antioch University. Today, nearly half of the nation’s tribal colleges are led by Native women presidents.
7. A Champion for Women’s Rights
Cecelia Fire Thunder (Lakota) became the first woman president of the Oglala Lakota Tribe. An outspoken advocate against domestic abuse and for women’s reproductive rights, Fire Thunder took a stand in 2006 against South Dakota’s state legislature’s abortion ban by proposing a women’s clinic on the reservation, beyond state jurisdiction. Her bold action led to her impeachment by the tribal council, who argued she had overstepped her presidential duties.
8. Leadership in Tribal Governance
Native American Women lead nearly one-quarter of the 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States, underscoring their critical role in tribal governance.
9. Empowering Women in Cherokee History
“Through the late 1700s, Cherokee women were civically engaged. They owned land and had a voice during wartime,” writes Astrid Munn in Native Daughters. However, this changed after the tribe ceded large tracts of land to the U.S. government in 1795. Since the mid-1980s, a new generation of Native women activists, lawmakers, and attorneys has been working to reclaim and empower Native American Women’s roles in their communities.
10. The Backbone of Indian Country
Native American Women are the backbone of Indian Country, providing essential strength and leadership that ensures the survival and prosperity of their communities.