1 Eddie Jackson SS American Women Unit 02 11/19/2012

 Native American women were much more than just wives. For instance, they were the builders of their homes, as well as the farmers of their lands.  Native American women were craftswomen. They created things like blankets, baskets, pottery, mended broken roofs, and created tools that could be used by their tribe.  Native American women were as important to the survival of their tribe as men were, and they earned mutual respect among men.  Of course, Native American women did many of the homemaker duties like cooking, cleaning, repairing clothing and shoes as well. Indians.org. (2012). Native American Women. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from 2

 When the white man arrived, they realized that the Native Americans would have to be moved for new settlements to be created. This would disrupt women and their families within the tribe. (DuBois & Dumenil, 2012, p. 390)  During the Americanization and movement of the tribes, 1860s to the 1890s, some of the greatest Native American tragedies transpired in American history. Native Americans were forced to move from their homelands, and children taken from their homes to be Americanized. At this time, some Native American women became well-known by the white man.  Just a few important Native American women life stories, and what they had to endure, are reviewed here---Sarah Winnemucca, Susan LaFlesche, and Zitkala-Sa. DuBois, E.C. & Dumenil, L. (2012). Through Women’s Eyes. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 3

 Sarah, born 1844, was an Indian woman from the Paiute Tribe. She was an important Native American who forged relationships between her people and the American government.  Sarah accomplished many things throughout her life. She learned multiple languages, learned the white man’s culture, served the army as a scout, and started an American Indian school (just to name a few)---all this is during a time when even American women were just beginning their own paths through suffrage.  The many tragedies she would have to endure is watching her people being abused by our government (by being moved around), watching Indian fathers being locked up, and threats to Indian mothers that they may lose their children. University of Nevada. (ND). Sarah Winnemucca. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from 4

 Susan, born 1869, was the first person to get money for a professional education. She was also the first American Indian woman to obtain her medical degree.  Susan provided care to hundreds of her people over wide distances. She also gave financial advice, and helped resolve family disputes as they arose.  Susan’s reason for being so driven throughout her successful career, was due to the fact she had to endure tragedies as a young girl watching, time and time again, her people suffer from ailments, and even die, from the white doctors lack of understanding of Native Americans. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (ND). Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from faceofmedicine/physicians/biography_253.html faceofmedicine/physicians/biography_253.html 5

 Zitkala-Sa’s, born 1876, her experience with the white man is much different than Sarah’s and Susan’s.  At a very young age, missionaries whisked her away with promises of a better land. The imagery they used was a land of big red apples. This was quite common, as it was used as a means of Americanizing the Native American youth. They did this in hopes of making colonization easier for white man, or as Zitkala-Sa referred to them, palefaces.  When Zitkala-Sa arrives at the boarding school to be Americanized; it was not what she expected. She soon realizes she didn’t belong there. The school starts right away with integration, by cutting her braids, putting her in a dress, teaching her English, and sitting in chairs.  Zitkala-Sa had to endure being taken from her family, and being forced into a new culture. Her story still ends in success, as she becomes a writer, and publishes a couple publications in 1900 and She also ends up becoming a founder and leader of the Society of American Indians. DuBois, E.C. & Dumenil, L. (2012). Through Women’s Eyes: An American History: Zitkala- Sˇa: Indian Girlhood and Education (pp ). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 6

Indians.org. (2012). Native American Women. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from University of Nevada. (ND). Sarah Winnemucca. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from U.S. National Library of Medicine. (ND). Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from faceofmedicine/physicians/biography_253.html DuBois, E.C. & Dumenil, L. (2012). Through Women’s Eyes: An American History: Zitkala-Sa: Indian Girlhood and Education (pp ). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. DuBois, E.C. & Dumenil, L. (2012). Through Women’s Eyes. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. likeawhisper.wordpress.com. (ND). Zitkala-Sa Picture. Retrieved on 11/19/2012, from feminism-without-apology/ faceofmedicine/physicians/biography_253.html 7