Zitkala-Ša

Native American activist and writer who fiercely preserved indigenous culture

Zitkala-Ša (1876–1938), born Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was a Yankton Dakota Sioux polymath who bridged indigenous advocacy and literature. Her 1901 memoir 'American Indian Stories' exposed the brutality of assimilationist boarding schools, where she was stripped of her native language. Co-founder of the National Council of American Indians, she lobbied for citizenship rights and land sovereignty.

As a composer, Zitkala-Ša integrated traditional melodies into classical music, challenging Eurocentric art norms. Her collaboration on the Sun Dance Opera (1913) was the first Native American opera. Through essays and speeches, she dismantled stereotypes, declaring: 'I am a warrior’s daughter.' Her dual legacy as a cultural preserver and political agitator reshaped Native American resistance.