Native Blood

On this date in history, October 5, 1877, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce surrendered after an incredible 1,700-mile retreat through the American West. 🏔️

This event marked the end of the Nez Perce War, a conflict that began when the U.S. government tried to force the tribe from their ancestral lands in Oregon onto a much smaller reservation in Idaho.

Rather than submit, Chief Joseph led nearly 800 of his people—many of them women, children, and the elderly—on a desperate quest for freedom.

For over three months, they traveled through treacherous terrain, evading and outmaneuvering a pursuing U.S. Army that outnumbered them.

Their journey was a remarkable display of strategy and endurance, as they hoped to find safety and asylum in Canada.

They were finally cornered just 40 miles from the Canadian border at the Battle of the Bear Paw in Montana. After a five-day siege in freezing conditions, the fight was over.

Exhausted, starving, and mourning his losses, Chief Joseph delivered one of the most poignant surrender speeches in American history.

He famously declared, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." 🕊️

His words and his struggle have become an enduring symbol of dignity, leadership, and the tragic cost of conflict.

Janee' Kassanavoid, born January 19, 1995, is a Native American track and field athlete renowned for her achievements in the hammer throw. A proud member of the Comanche Nation, Kassanavoid has become a trailblazer in the world of athletics, setting records and breaking barriers.Professional Career Highlights:
Personal Best: Kassanavoid achieved her personal best throw of 78.00 meters (255 feet, 10 inches) on April 30, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. This remarkable feat solidified her as one of the top hammer throwers globally.
World Athletics Championships 2022: On July 17, 2022, at the prestigious World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Kassanavoid made history by winning the bronze medal with a throw of 74.86 meters. This accomplishment marked her as the first Native American woman to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships.

She stands where rivers meet the dawn,
Braids woven with the songs of ages gone.
Paint upon her cheeks — not war, but pride,
A promise whispered by those who died.

Her spirit walks with eagle’s grace,
Through storm and silence, she finds her place.
Not most women — her heart’s the flame,
That carries her people’s sacred name.

The drumbeat echoes beneath her skin,
Each pulse a prayer, a voice within.
For she was born of earth and sky,
A Native woman — she will never die.

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai's strong political statement at the 2024 Emmy Awards has drawn significant attention and sparked important conversations about the ongoing issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) within Native communities. By walking the red carpet with a red handprint over his mouth, Woon-A-Tai brought visibility to a crisis that often goes unnoticed or marginalized in mainstream media and society.
The red handprint symbolizes the voices of the missing Indigenous women that have been silenced, representing the lack of attention and action from the media and law enforcement towards this pressing issue. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the oppression and historical subjugation of Indigenous women, who are now standing up and demanding justice through movements like .
Woon-A-Tai's choice to wear an Emporio Armani tuxedo and Thundercloud jewelry further accentuated his statement, showcasing both his unique sense of style and his commitment to raising awareness about important social issues. The stark statistic highlighted from a 2019 report by the Justice Department, indicating that women on some reservations are 10 times more likely to be murdered compared to the national average, sheds light on the urgent need for action and accountability to address the systemic violence faced by Indigenous women.
As an actor who identifies as Oji-Cree First Nations and Guyanese, Woon-A-Tai's nomination for his role in "Reservation Dogs" adds another layer of significance to his advocacy. By portraying a character within a series that centers on Indigenous experiences and narratives, Woon-A-Tai emphasizes the importance of authentic representation and the necessity of Indigenous voices in storytelling. His call for Native directors, writers, and casting directors to be at the forefront of projects involving Native communities underscores the need for accurate and respectful portrayals that reflect the realities and perspectives of Indigenous peoples.

What if I told you that Native Americans built an incredible waterway system 1,400 years ago that rivals modern engineering? This ancient canal in Alabama is rewriting everything we thought we knew about pre-Columbian America. The sophistication will blow your mind.