From Osage Reservation to Ballet Stardom: The Legacy of Maria Tallchief

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Nov 20, 2024 | Native American history, Women's History Wednesday

Maria Tallchief, born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief to Alexander Joseph Tall Chief, a full-blooded member of the Osage Nation and Ruth Porter, of Scottish-Irish descent on January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Maria and her younger sister, Marjorie grew up on the Osage reservation and began dancing at an early age. Their mother, recognizing their potential, moved the family to Los Angeles to provide better opportunities for her daughters.

Early Life

Maria Tallchief’s involvement in ballet started at a very young age. At only a few years old, Maria and her family moved from the Osage reservation in Oklahoma to Los Angeles, California, where they could access better dance training. In Los Angeles, Maria studied ballet under several prominent teachers, including Bronislava Nijinska and David Lichine. Her rigorous training and dedication paid off as she quickly advanced with her skills. By the age of 17, she joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, a prestigious touring company. Her talent and hard work catapulted her to fame, leading to her significant contributions to the world of ballet.

Rise to Fame

The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, a renowned touring company based in New York City showcased her exceptional talent. Her dedication quickly garnered attention and she became a featured soloist. Her performances in George Balanchine’s choreographed works elevated her status in the ballet world. In 1946, Maria married Balanchine, and their artistic partnership transformed American ballet, blending classical techniques with innovative choreography.

Swan-Lake-Maria-Tallchief School of American Ballet

New York City Ballet

In 1946, Balanchine, along with Lincoln Kirstein, co-founded the NYCB. In 1948, recognizing Maria’s extraordinary abilities, Balanchine invited her to join the newly established company as its prima ballerina. Maria created and performed many iconic roles under Balanchine’s choreography. Her tenure at the NYCB not only helped elevate the company’s reputation but also played a significant role in popularizing ballet in the United States. As , She held the position of prima ballerina of the NYCB from 1948 to 1965. Her performance as the Firebird in Balanchine’s adaptation of the Stravinsky ballet remains legendary. She also captivated audiences with her portrayal of the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” a role she helped popularize as a Christmas tradition in America. Her collaborations with Balanchine defined an era and brought international acclaim to the NYCB.

Personal Life and Values

Despite her professional success, Maria faced personal challenges, including the end of her marriage to Balanchine. She remarried twice, first to aviator Elmourza Natirboff and later to Chicago businessman Henry “Buzz” Paschen, with whom she had a daughter, Elise. Maria valued education and the arts, and she dedicated much of her post-performance life to nurturing young dancers and promoting arts education.

Legacy and Honors

After retiring from performing in 1966, Maria continued to influence the dance world as a choreographer and teacher. She co-founded the Chicago City Ballet in 1980 and served as its artistic director. Maria’s contributions to ballet earned her numerous accolades, including the Kennedy Center Honors in 1996 and the National Medal of Arts in 1999. She received induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Cultural Impact

Maria Tallchief remained deeply connected to her Osage heritage throughout her life. She refused to change her last name, proudly representing her Native American identity on the world stage. Maria often spoke about the importance of honoring one’s heritage and used her platform to raise awareness about Native American culture. Her story has been celebrated through various mediums, including a Barbie doll in Mattel’s Inspiring Women series and numerous books and documentaries.

Maria Tallchief passed away on April 11, 2013, at the age of 88, leaving an indelible mark on the history of ballet. To learn more about her, click here.

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Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte: A Trailblazer in Medicine and Advocacy

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Nov 13, 2024 | Native American history, Women's History Wednesday

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, a trailblazing Native American woman, broke barriers in medicine and advocacy. Her life began on the Omaha Reservation to later become the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree. Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and dedication to her community.

Susan La Flesche Picotte was born on June 17, 1865, on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. She was the youngest of four children in a family with mixed Omaha, Ponca, Iowa, French, and Anglo-American heritage. Her father, Joseph La Flesche (Iron Eye), was a prominent leader of the Omaha tribe, and her mother, Mary Gale (One Woman), was of Omaha, Otoe, and Iowa heritage.

Early Life and Education

From a young age, Susan witnessed the poor health conditions and lack of medical care on the reservation. A pivotal moment came when she saw a sick Indian woman die because the local white doctor refused to treat her. This tragedy inspired Susan to pursue a career in medicine to provide care for her people.

Susan attended school on the reservation until 14 years old, She moved to New Jersey to attend the Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies. After graduation, she returned to the Omaha Reservation and taught at the Quaker Mission School. Encouraged by Alice Fletcher, an ethnologist working at the school, Susan decided to pursue formal medical training.

Medical Education and Career

Susan enrolled at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that is still in existence as Hampton University. Later, she applied to the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania with the help of Alice Fletcher. She received scholarship funds from the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs. She graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1889, becoming the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree.

After completing her internship in Philadelphia, Susan returned to the Omaha Reservation to provide healthcare to her people. She served over 1,300 people across 450 square miles, often making house calls on horseback or by horse-drawn buggy. Susan also worked to improve public health on the reservation by promoting good hygiene, food sanitation, and the prevention of tuberculosis.

Advocacy and Legacy

Susan La Flesche Picotte was not only a physician but also a passionate advocate for her community. She campaigned for the formal allotment of land to Omaha tribe members and worked to discourage alcohol consumption on the reservation. Susan also helped Omaha people navigate the bureaucracy of the Office of Indian Affairs to receive the money owed to them for the sale of their land.

Susan La Flesche Picotte married Henry Picotte, a Sioux Indian from the Yankton agency, in 1894. In 1913, Susan achieved her dream of opening a hospital on the reservation named Memorial Hospital. The hospital in Walthill, Nebraska served both Native and non-Native patients and included general wards, private wards, a maternity ward, and an operating room.

Susan La Flesche Picotte passed away on September 18, 1915 in Walthill, Nebraska at 50. years old Her legacy lives on through her contributions to medicine and her tireless advocacy for the health and well-being of her people. To learn more about Susan La Flesche Picotte, click here.

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A Legacy of Valor: John Kinsel and the Unbreakable Navajo Code

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Nov 11, 2024 | Native American history

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the United States Marine Corps Birthday and Veterans Day, we honor John Kinsel, Sr., a Navajo Code Talker during World War II.

John Kinsel Sr., born in Lukachukai, Arizona in the Navajo Nation to Harvey Kinsel and Atta Chee Kinsel, dedicated his life to his family and heritage. He had a rough childhood, losing his father and younger brother at 2 years old. After finishing high school, Kinsel enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 during World War II.

WW II Navajo Code Talker

Young Navajos, including Kinsel, responded to the call for Code Talkers. They were a group of Native Americans who used their languages to create an unbreakable code for military communications. This code helped secure victory for U.S. forces in the Pacific Theater. Kinsel joined the second group of Navajo code talkers trained at Camp Elliott in San Diego, California. He saw action in some of the most intense battles, including Guadalcanal, Guam, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. He was wounded during combat on Iwo Jima but continued to serve with bravery and dedication.

After the war, Kinsel returned to Lukachukai and built a home for his family. He remained a steadfast figure in his community, participating in local events and initiatives to preserve Navajo traditions and language. He inspired many with his enduring spirit and wisdom, becoming a symbol of bravery and cultural pride.

John Kinsel Sr. passed away peacefully at the age of 107, leaving behind a profound legacy of service, sacrifice, and love for his homeland.

To learn more about the life and legacy of John Kinsel, Sr., click here.

The 1898 Wilmington Uprising: A Dark Chapter in American History

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Nov 3, 2024 | African American History, North Carolina History

I originally published this information about the 1898 Wilmington Massacre in my Family Jewels blog in September 2022. Because of the current political climate and tension that many have been experiencing with this election, I felt that people sometimes need a reminder that history repeats itself.

January 6, 2021 wasn’t the first political riot aimed at overthrowing the party in power. Thoughout American history, riots have happened for various reasons. Contrary to popular belief, rioting was not invented by African Americans; we learned by example. Race riots have scarred America’s past, starting with the treatment of the Native Americans. White supremacists feared Black political and economic power. This fear, arguably stemming from the potential for retribution due to slavery, was real no matter how irrational. Fearing Black control of city and county politcs, whites orchestrated campaigns of violence and intimidation.

Hamburg, South Carolina

The Hamburg Massacre, also known as the Red Shirt Massacre, took place in July 1876. Southern Democrats aimed to regain control of the majority Black Republican district of Edgefield in Aiken County, South Carolina. They sought to suppress Black voting and civil rights through intimidation and violence. The Red Shirts, members of white supremacist rifle clubs, wanted to reclaim control due to “negro rule.” “Negro rule” was Blacks holding city political power through elections and appointments during the Reconstruction era. Several incidents preceded the massacre, including an attack by over 100 Red Shirts on 30 Black National Guardsmen at an armory, the torture and murder of four Black militiamen, and the killing of 100 Black citizens of Ellenton in Aiken County, South Carolina.

Wilmington Massacre

Another similar incident hits closer to home for me— the Wilmington Massacre of 1898. Wilmington, North Carolina, thrived as an integrated port city with a significant Black middle class. The city of Wilmington had a biracial Fusionist government. The Fusionist Party, formed in the 1890s through an alliance between the Populist Party and the Republican Party. It aimed to challenge the Democratic Party’s dominance. The Democratic Party (different from today’s party) enacted policies disenfranchising African Americans and marginalizing poor white farmers. The Fusionists promoted economic reforms, improved public education, and ensured fair political representation for all citizens, regardless of race. In the 1894 and 1896 elections, the Fusionists gained significant political power in North Carolina, leading to the election of a multiracial government in Wilmington.

Fearing the political and economic power of Black citizens, white supremacists conspiredto overthrow the elected government if it didn’t favor them. On November 10, 1898, around 2,000 white men, led by the “Secret Nine” and the Red Shirts, attacked the city. They burned down the office of the Black-owned newspaper, The Daily Record, and expelled Black and white political Fusionist party leaders from Wilmington. The white supremacists ousted those in power, overthrew the city government and installed their own mayor, police chief and other city officials. The violence resulted in an estimated 14 to 300 deaths of Black residents and detroyed proprty in the thriving Black community. The riot displaced thousands of African Americans, most of whom fled north.

The coup transformed North Carolina politics, ushering in more severe racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans. In response to this event, North Carolina enacted some of the harshest Jim Crow laws in the country, which persisted until the Civil Rights Movement over 65 years later. It stands as the only successful coup d’état in U.S. history.

To learn more about the 1898 Wilmington Massacre, click these links for History.com and PBS.

To read The Family Jewels blog, click here.

Sheila Michaels: The Feminist Who Gave Us ‘Ms.’

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Oct 30, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Sheila Michaels’ legacy was marked by her relentless pursuit of equality and her role in transforming societal norms regarding women’s titles. Her efforts helped pave the way for greater gender equality and recognition of women’s independence.

Sheila Michaels, born on May 8, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, grew up in a complex family environment. Her mother, Alma Weil, was a playwright and theatrical producer, while her biological father, Ephraim London, was a civil rights attorney. Raised initially by her maternal grandparents in New York City, Sheila later returns to live with her mother and stepfather, Harry H. Kessler. She took her stepfather’s last name, Kessler.

Feminist and Activist

She attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia but was expelled for writing anti-segregation articles for the school newspaper. Her mother and stepfather disowned her because they disapproved of her political activism. She also requested that she not use Kessler as her surname; she returned to being Sheila Michaels. In the 1960s, Sheila became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, working with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Her activism led her to seek a title for women that is not dependent on marital status.

She championed the use of “Ms.,” a term she first encountered on a mailing label. The misspelling was a typographical error, however she ran with it, making it a moniker for women. In 1969, during a radio interview, she suggested “Ms.” as a title for women, which caught the attention of feminist Gloria Steinem. This led to the widespread adoption of “Ms.” and the launch of the magazine “Ms.” in 1972.

Sheila Michaels did receive recognition for her work, particularly for her role in popularizing the title “Ms.” While she did not achieve widespread fame during her lifetime, her contributions were acknowledged by feminist circles and later by the broader public. Her efforts were instrumental in promoting gender equality and changing societal norms regarding women’s titles.

Sheila’s contributions extended beyond feminism. In 1975, she traveled to Laos to work with children injured during the Vietnam War. She also worked as an oral historian, documenting the experiences of civil rights activists, and even drove a taxi in New York City for a decade. She died from leukemia on June 22, 2017.

Her work gained more attention posthumously, with various articles and obituaries highlighting her impact on the feminist movement and the English language. Michaels’ legacy continues to be celebrated for its lasting influence on how women are addressed and perceived in society. To learn more about Sheila Michaels, click here.

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