Zitkala Sa

A Yankton Dakota writer, musician, and activist who championed Native American rights and cultural preservation during the early 20th century.

Zitkala-Ša (1876–1938), born Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, emerged as a leading voice for Indigenous rights through her writings and advocacy. Her autobiographical essays in Atlantic Monthly exposed the traumatic assimilation practices at boarding schools, where Native children were forcibly stripped of their culture.

As co-founder of the National Council of American Indians in 1926, she lobbied for U.S. citizenship and voting rights for Native Americans. Her opera, The Sun Dance, composed with William F. Hanson, blended traditional Dakota melodies with Western classical music, symbolizing cultural resilience.

Zitkala-Ša’s anthology American Indian Stories (1921) remains a seminal work in Native literature. She also collaborated with the Society of American Indians to challenge stereotypes and promote tribal sovereignty. Today, her legacy is honored through initiatives like the Zitkala-Ša Award for Indigenous activism.