Native American Encyclopedia Ross, John To Thanksgiving
Rourke’s Native American History Culture ENCYCLOPEDIA Volume 8 Ross John to Thanksgiving By Julie K Lundgren Project Consultant Scott Lyons Ph D Rourke Publishing LLC Vero Beach Florida 32964
4 Ross John Meet John Ross Ross John 1790-1866 of Scottish and Cherokee heritage served as the top Cherokee chief for nearly forty years After his education he became a wealthy businessman and property owner Cherokee leaders recognized that they needed an educated English speaker to defend against the loss of their land to the U S From 1816 up until the Cherokee removal to Indian Territory Ross fought for Cherokee land rights in the courts even the U S Supreme Court but failed to save the Cherokee from removal In Indian Territory he helped write a new constitution in 1839 and led his people through the Civil War Though the constitution has changed greatly over the years some of the original phrases can still be found in it 1816 1828 1830 1838 Founds town of Ross Landing later named Chattanooga Tennessee Cherokee elects him principal chief Indian Removal Act Ross argues before U S Supreme Court Cherokee removal to Indian Territory See also Trail of Tears Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was formed in 1990 to find ways for all people in Canada to live together in peace The commission recommended that Canada and the First Nations Inuit and Métis peoples use all new and standing treaties in an atmosphere of respect sharing and responsibility Both nonnative and Aboriginal people served on the commission words to know constitution kahn-stih-TOO-shun a set of rules or ideas that form the foundation of a government Rubí Marqués de about 1725 unknown inspected Spanish forts along the northern frontier in Texas and New Mexico starting in 1765 Spain’s king wanted a report about how to strengthen defenses there Rubí kept a diary during a trip that lasted almost two years He recommended a string of fifteen forts to be placed near the present-day border between the U S and Mexico He urged Spain to cement its ties to native peoples and to abandon East Texas His report heavily influenced Spain’s new frontier policy
Rugs made by different tribes provided not only a warm comfortable floor covering but developed into an art Many tribes used animal furs as rugs and bedding especially in cold weather Tribes that grew cotton spun it into yarn colored it with plant dyes and wove it into patterned rugs Tribes that raised sheep especially in the Southwest spun the wool into yarn for weaving The Navajo in particular raised this practical skill to an art form Traditionally they used wild carrot roots to make a gold dye Other plants such as sunflowers goldenrod nuts and green leaves made other colors Tribes in different areas had their own traditional patterns and color combinations Marilou Schultz a Navajo weaver and schoolteacher uses traditional methods to create art rugs She comes from five generations of weavers and museums collect her work Sac 5 Running Eagle birth and death dates uncertain in the mid-1800s became the only female war chief of the Blackfeet people She went on her first raid at age 20 She proved her bravery by stealing the enemy’s horses and returning safely She participated in many more raids later becoming a war chief She died in battle Rush Spring flowed at a site on Rush Creek in Oklahoma where in 1858 the Battle of Wichita Village took place The U S Cavalry followed a band of Comanche north from Texas to their camp outside a Wichita village They destroyed the village in the attack Remaining Wichita fled to Fort Arbuckle Sac or Sauk from Asakiwaki meaning yellow earth people lived in today’s Wisconsin in the 1600s In the late 1700s they moved into Illinois They lived near both prairie and forest In summer they built oval wigwams covered with reeds and farmed the river valleys In winter they hunted bison moving their camps as needed to follow the herds Settlers pressured them to leave U S troops forced a fight against the Sac led by Black Hawk After the Black Hawk War remaining Sac moved west and today are part of the Sac and Fox Nation with reservations in Iowa Kansas Nebraska and Oklahoma
