Indian Biographies: Arapoosh: Crow

Arapoosh's shield is at the Smithsonian

Arapoosh was a fierce Crow warrior, who could not be defeated in battle.  Quoting the Smithsonian website, "Arapoosh, also known as Sore Belly, was a prominent River Crow chief who lived in the first half of the 19th century. As a young man, while fasting, he received a shield, which gave him spiritual protection and the power of prophecy."  Represented on the shield is a hero twin Thrown Intho the Sky.  Arapoosh had powers of battle, as well as of prophecy.  The book American Indian Biographies say the symbol on his shield was "Man in the Moon."  Arapoosh would use the shield to show the outcome of coming battles.  During a war between the Crow and the Blackfeet, Arapoosh prophesied his own death, saying if the shield rose into the sky, he would be killed.  The shield rose and he was killed.  
 Taken from American Indian Biographies and Smithsonian website.

Indian Biography: William Apess: Methodist Preacher

William Apess is most noted as he wrote one of the first published autobiographies written by a Native American.  An Indian of mixed blood, he was of the Pequot Tribe, descended through his mother of King Philip, a prominent chief.  He married his first wife, Mary Wood another Pequot Indian of mixed blood and they had four children.  After she passed away, he felt it his duty to preach.  He preached at white and Native American services.  He published his autobiography during this period.  "I felt convinced that Christ died for all mankind – that age, sect, color, country, or situation make no difference. I felt an assurance that I was included in the plan of redemption with all my brethren." – A Son of the Forest"
Over time he became more bitter about the way Indians had been treated by whites.  This showed in his preaching, as well as in tracts he wrote.  His second autobiography, The Experiences of Five Christian Indians" represented this change.  Among other things he wrote about King Philip as a leader equal to Washington, and talked about his murder.  As a result he was much less popular as a preacher.  He remarried and moved to New York were he died form a stroke.   
Material taken from WIkepedia and "American Indian Biographies"

Indian Biography: Juan Antonio, Cahuilla (Southern California) Indian

Juan Antonio was the chief during the time that whites were entering California.  He took a roll in protecting white encroachers, either from the military or settlers.  When Edward Beale of the U.S. Army came on an exploration mission, he granter permission for him to cross the Chihuilla territory.  He also defended Beale's men from the Ute Indians lead by Walkara.  Beal gave Juan Anontio a couple epaulets for his efforts.
During the Mexican American War he lead, with the Californios, and attack on the Luiseno.  The ambushed the Luiseno and killed about 40 warriors.  This became known as the Temecula massacre of 1847.
When the outlaw Irving gang began attacking and killing white settlers, Juan Antonio and his band took it upon themselves to hunt them down and kill them.  Instead of being thankful, this brought persecution against the band as people didn't know what to make of Indians tracking down and killing whites.  However, when the Mormons came to San Bernadino, some of the persecution against the Indians was relieved and directed towards the Mormons.
Juan Antonio further helped the local settlers as Antonio Garra, a Cupeno came to Juan Antonio seeking his help to drive whites from the region.  Instead Juan Antonio captured Guerra and turned him over to authorities.  Antonio did move his band farther East to avoid encroachments and persecution.  However they were eventually overtaken by a small pox epidemic and much of the group decimated.  the numbers after this were very few.  Today the Cuihuilla occupy 10 villages or bands in Southern California.
Information form Wikipedia and "American Indian Biographies" edited by Harvey Markowitz.

Native American Biography: Alexie Sherman Author

Sherman Alexie rose from a childhood of poverty to became an honored Native American author.  He has written screen plays, books and poetry.  He is from Coeur d. Alene tribal affiliation and many of his stories revolve around the area where he grew up.  More recently his work has changed from the reservation to the Seattle area.  Many of his personal characteristics show up in his work.  He wrote the screen play for the first all Native American movie "Smoke Signals" which is based on one of his books of short stories "The Lone ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven."

Native American Biography: John Lynch Adair, Cherokee

John Adair is of Cherokee and Irish descent.  When he was ten years old, his people were removed from their native lands and moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  John Adair was important in the new community as he provided leadership.  When he was older, he penned the Cherokee Constitution which came out of a convention for that purpose.  After declaring that the East and West Cherokee were now unified, the constitution continues, "We, the people of the Cherokee Nation, in National Convention assembled, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, promote the common welfare, and to secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of freedom—acknowledging with humility and gratitude, the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, in permitting us so to do, and imploring His aid and guidance in its accomplishment—do ordain and establish the Constitution for the government of the Cherokee Nation.'
The constitution was published when Adair was already older, 1893.  Adair passed away in 1896.  The Constitution would remain in effect until the statehood of Oklahoma in 1907.

Eliza R. Snow

Eliza R. Snow is best remembered for her poetry, at least one of which has been put to music, "O My Father."  This beautiful description of our Heavenly Mother, and eternal realms is a Mormon gem.   However, a book I am now reading, "Signs, Wonders, and Miracles"  it points to her as a widow of the martyred prophet Joseph Smith.  She had asked the Lord to take her as well.  However the prophet appeared to her from beyond the veil, and told her that was not God's intentions for her.  The prophet told her to "be of good courage and help to cheer and lighten the burdens of others."  Eliza was later asked by Brigham Young to organized relief societies in the local units of the church.  She then became the second general president of the relief society. 
Although  "O My Father" is a poem well revered, I like another even better: A Word To Saints Who are Gathering

by Eliza R. Snow

Think not, when you gather to Zion,

Your troubles and trials are through--

That nothing but comfort and pleasure

Are waiting in Zion for you.

No, no; 'tis design'd as a furnace;

All substance, all textures to try--

To consume all the "wood, hay and stubble,"

And the gold from the dross purify.

Think not, when you gather to Zion

That all will be holy and pure--

That deception, and falsehood are banish'd

And confidence wholly secure.

No, no, for the Lord our Redeemer

Has said that the tares from the wheat

Must grow; until the great day of burning

Shall render the harvest complete.

Think not, when you gather to Zion

The Saints here have nothing to do

But attend to your personal welfare,

And always be comforting you.

No, the Saints who are faithful are doing

What their hands find to do, with their might

To accomplish the gath'ring of Israel

They are toiling by day and by night.

Think not, when you gather to Zion,

The prize and the victory won--

Think not that the warfare is ended,

Or the work of salvation is done.

No, no; for the great Prince of Darkness

A tenfold exertion will make

When He sees you approaching the fountain

Where the truth you may freely partake.  (LDS Women)

Now, recently in the media we are made aware of another way to think of Eliza R. Snow, as a survivor of gang rape.  This knowledge helps me to appreciate this woman even more.  Two times she has to pick herself up, and go on.  I noted in the "Liahone September 1987" this story about Eliza Snow>  With the expulsion of the Saints "a man taunted Eliza R. Snow, saying, “Well, I think this will put an end to your faith.” She replied, “No, sir, it will take more than this to put an end to my faith.” He humbly responded, “I must confess you are a stronger person than I am.”  Eliza R. Snow is a person among people.  A person who overcame hardship, and was able to help many others.  A woman who fought for women's suffrage and women's rights.  (Utah had women's suffrage long before any other state or territory, but it was taken away by the federal government.)

Book Review: A Time It Was Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties

A Time It Was Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties photographs and text by Bill Eppridge, essay by Pete Hamill, Abrams, New York, 2008.
 This is a photographic history of Bobby Kennedy, his campaign and assassination.  Bill Eppridge was attached to the campaign as a photographer for LIFE magazine.  This is a fascinating documentary of why Kennedy decided to run, and of his last night in California.  Turns out Sirhan Sirhan was Lebanese, and was getting back at Booby Kennedy for his brother's stand on Israel.  Bill Eppridge too the famous photos of the busboy holding up Kennedy's head after he had been shot.  This book is fascinating, and moving.  I remember living through those events.