P
Rather than dismissing Indians as savage, uncivi-
lized killers, it offers a complex Indian character in
Cochise, the legendary Apache warrior, played by
non-Indian actor Jeff Chandler. The film focuses
on Cochise’s friendship with the white adventurer
Thomas Jeffords (see entry for OCTOBER 1 TO 11,
1872), who is depicted by James Stewart. In addi-
tion to expressing a degree of sympathy for Cochise’s
desire to save his people’s land from being overrun
by non-Indians, it includes a controversial scene
in which Jeffords marries an Indian woman. Bro-
ken Arrow is the most successful of several movies
of the post–World War II era that attempt (though
often awkwardly) to present a more balanced view
of Indian-white relations than the blatantly racist
westerns of the past.
November 5
A Winnebago soldier saves his company
in Korea.
Mitchell Red Cloud Jr., a Winnebago soldier serv-
ing in Korea, sights a Communist force preparing to
attack his company while he is standing guard. He
sounds an alarm and, with an automatic rifle, single-
handedly holds off the attacking enemy long enough
for his fellow soldiers to prepare to defend themselves.
During the ensuing battle, Red Cloud is killed. Later,
he and Charles George, a Cherokee who died throw-
ing himself on a grenade to protect his comrades, will
become the two Indian soldiers serving during the
Korean War to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
1951The Menominee receive an $8.5 million
settlement from the United States.
Since the late 19th century, the lumber industry has
provided most of the Menominee, a Wisconsin tribe,
with their livelihoods. Alleging that the U.S. govern-
ment has mismanaged their forest lands, the tribe
sued the United States in 1934. Seventeen years later,
the Menominee are awarded $8.5 million in compen-
sation, a settlement that will soon encourage the U.S.
government to target the tribe as an early candidate
for Termination (see entry for AUGUST 1, 1953).Annie Dodge Wauneka is elected to the
Navajo Tribal Council.
The daughter of former Navajo (Dineh) chairman,
Henry Chee Dodge (see entry for JULY 7, 1923),
Annie Dodge Wauneka becomes the first woman to
serve on the tribal council of the Navajo, whose po-
litical leaders traditionally have been men. With a
special interest in improving health care on the Na-
vajo reservation, Wauneka will serve three terms in
office, becoming one of the most influential council
members. (See also entry for DECEMBER 2, 1963.)“Ever since the development
of political machinery and bu-
reaucratic organizations among
Indians, there has been a sudden
perspective of women—and the
roles of women—as second-
class citizens. The basic reason
for discrimination against Indian
women stems from the Federal
government’s intervention in In-
dian affairs.
To offset the second-class
role, Indian women must be-
come more active in politics and
become aware of the education
opportunities open to Native
American Women.”
—Annie Dodge Wauneka in a
speech at the 1975 Southwest
Indian Women’s ConferenceWestern Shoshone land becomes a nuclear
testing site.
President Harry S. Truman names a 1,350-square
mile area in Nevada as the official site for the United