Newspaper Articles about Native American History

In recognition of November being Native American Heritage Month, here is a series of articles about Native American history based on newspaper articles published at the time these events occurred. These articles range from Tecumseh’s confederation and the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 to the extraordinary athlete Jim Thorpe having his Olympic medals returned to his family in 1983, thirty years after his death. Native American history is an integral part of the history of this country, and reading these newspaper articles—with the various perspectives they presented over time—provides an important glimpse into America’s past.

Nov. 7, 1811: Battle of Tippecanoe Destroys Tecumseh’s Indian Confederation
Oct. 5, 1813: U.S. Wins Battle of the Thames, Kills British Ally Tecumseh
April 7, 1830: Senator Denounces President Jackson’s “Indian Removal” Policy
May 26, 1830: Congressman Condemns "Cruelty and Perfidy" of Indian Removal Act
March 25, 1852: Indians and Whites Clash on the Oregon Trail
Sept. 3, 1855: Praise, Condemnation for Massacre of Sioux Indians
Feb. 13, 1861: Apache Campaign: First Action Awarded the Medal of Honor
Aug. 17, 1862: Denied Promised Food, Starving Sioux Rampage in Minnesota
Aug. 17, 1862: Editorials Speculate on Cause of Dakota War in Minnesota
Nov. 29, 1864: Sand Creek Massacre: Slaughter of Innocent Indians
June 23, 1865: Last Rebel Army Surrenders: General Stand Watie and the Cherokees
June 23, 1865: Confederate Cherokees Starving as Civil War Ends
Dec. 21, 1866: Lakota and Cheyenne Triumph: Fetterman Massacre
Oct. 21, 1867: Medicine Lodge Treaty Forces Southern Plains Indians to Oklahoma
Nov. 27, 1868: Custer Destroys Black Kettle's Cheyenne Camp on the Washita
Jan. 17, 1873: Captain Jack’s 52 Modoc Warriors Defeat 400 Troops
June 17, 1876: Battle of the Rosebud: Cheyenne & Lakota Stop General Crook
June 25, 1876: Custer’s Infamous "Last Stand"
Oct. 5, 1877: Chief Joseph Surrenders: "…I Will Fight No More Forever"
March 14, 1884: Two Worlds Collide: Sitting Bull Visits St. Paul, Minnesota
Dec. 15, 1890: Indian Police Murder Sitting Bull
Dec. 29, 1890: Another View of the "Indian Troubles"
Dec. 29, 1890: Lakota Tragedy: Wounded Knee Massacre
Nov. 16, 1907: Marriage Ceremony Celebrates Oklahoma Statehood
Feb. 17, 1909: Apache Chief Geronimo Dies a Prisoner of War
June 2, 1924: Native Americans Granted U.S. Citizenship by 1924 Bill
March 28, 1953: Jim Thorpe Dies: Sad End for an Amazing Athlete
Feb. 27, 1973: Reservation Tensions Explode into Wounded Knee Occupation
Feb. 27, 1973: Editorials about Native Americans’ Wounded Knee Occupation
May 8, 1973: 71-Day Occupation of Wounded Knee Ends
May 8, 1973: Editorials about the End of the Wounded Knee Occupation
Jan. 18, 1983: A Wrong Redressed: Jim Thorpe’s Olympic Medals Returned

For more information, visit the Native American Heritage Month website provided by the Library of Congress.