November is National Native American History Month, which celebrates and recognizes the tradition, history, and acknowledgment of the contributions of America’s Indigenous People.
Indigenous nurses have been caretakers and advocates for better health care throughout American history. Many modern health care practices such as hypodermic needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics pre-date Western health care by thousands of years.
This month, the School of Nursing would like to recognize Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail (1903-81) of the Crow Tribe of Montana, who became the first Native American registered nurse in 1927. She observed the appalling medical mistreatment of Native Americans and advocated for improved health conditions by serving as an appointee to the President’s Council on Indian Education and Nutrition and the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare’s Council on Indian Health under three different administrations. She was the first Native American to be inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2002.
Save the Date:
Join the School of Nursing, Graduate School, School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Social Work, Intercultural Center, and UMB President’s Office on Monday, Nov. 27, in celebrating Native American Heritage Month. The Baltimore American Indian Center will showcase a traditional dance performance, serve a cultural meal, and speak on its work preserving and celebrating Native American heritage in the community.
Monday, Nov. 27
4 - 6 p.m.
SMC Campus Center Ballroom
Check out these additional things you can do to learn more about Native American heritage:
- Take a self-guided tour of Indigenous Baltimore
- Visit these local (free) museums:
- Baltimore American Indian Center (Baltimore) Wednesdays and Thursdays noon - 3 p.m.
- National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, D.C.) Daily 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Listen to this episode of the See You Now podcast with Indigenous nurse researcher John Lowe, RN, PhD, FAAN
- Read UMB’s Land Acknowledgment
Photo: Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail and her husband, Thomas