Susette La Flesche, later Susette LaFlesche Tibbles and also called Inshata Theumba, meaning "Bright Eyes" (c. 1854–1903), was a well-known

Native American Native Americans or Native American usually refers to Native Americans in the United States. Related terms and peoples include: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North, South, and Central America ...

writer, lecturer, interpreter, and artist of the

Omaha tribe The Omaha are a federally recognized Midwestern Native American tribe who reside on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States. The Omaha Indian Reservation lies primarily in the southern part of Thurston Co ...

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

. La Flesche was a progressive who was a spokesperson for Native American rights. She was of

Ponca The Ponca people are a nation primarily located in the Great Plains of North America that share a common Ponca culture, history, and language, identified with two Indigenous nations: the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma or the Ponca Tribe of ...

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, French, and Anglo-American ancestry. In 1983, she was inducted into the

Nebraska Hall of Fame The Nebraska Hall of Fame officially recognizes prominent individuals from the State of Nebraska. Twenty-six busts located on the second floor of the Nebraska State Capitol commemorate members of the Hall of Fame. Nebraska Medal of Honor recipie ...

. In 1994, she was inducted into the

National Women's Hall of Fame The National Women's Hall of Fame (NWHF) is an American institution founded to honor and recognize women. It was incorporated in 1969 in Seneca Falls, New York, and first inducted honorees in 1973. As of 2024, the Hall has honored 312 inducte ...

Early life and education

Susette, also called ''Inshata Theumba'' (Bright Eyes),Karen L. Kilcup, ed., ''Native American women's writing c. 1800–1924: An Anthology''
Malden, Massachusetts and Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers, 2000, p. 169. Retrieved April 27, 2010 was born in

Bellevue, Nebraska Bellevue ( French for "beautiful view"; previously named Belleview) is a suburban city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and had a population of 64,176 as of the 2020 census, ...

in about 1854, the eldest daughter of five children born to

Joseph LaFlesche Joseph LaFlesche, also known as ''E-sta-mah-za'' or Iron Eye (c. 1822–1888), was the last recognized head chief of the Omaha tribe of Native Americans who was selected according to the traditional tribal rituals. The head chief Big Elk had ado ...

and his wife Mary Gale. Joseph was the son of the French

fur trader The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal ecosystem, boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals h ...

Joseph La Flesche, a wealthy immigrant from France,Erin Pedigo, ''The Gifted Pen: the Journalism Career of Susette "Bright Eyes" La Flesche Tibbles''
Master's Thesis, University of Nebraska Lincoln, April 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011 and his

wife, ''Waoowinchtcha'', reportedly a relative of the Omaha chief

Big Elk Big Elk, also known as ''Ontopanga'' (1765/75–1846/1848), was a principal chief of the Omaha (tribe), Omaha tribe for many years on the upper Missouri River. He is notable for his oration delivered at the funeral of Black Buffalo (chief), Black ...

."Joseph La Flesche: Sketch of the Life of the Head Chief of the Omaha"
first published in the (Bancroft, Nebraska) ''Journal''; reprinted in ''The Friend'', 1889. Retrieved August 23, 2011 After some years of trading with the Omaha while working with Peter Sarpy, the younger La Flesche was adopted as a son by the chief

. He named him successor to his position. La Flesche, known as "Iron Eyes" became the last traditional chief of the

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

. The La Flesches were a "prominent, affluent and acculturated family" among the Omaha. La Flesche and Mary stressed the importance of education for their children: Louis, Susette, Rosalie, Marguerite and Susan,Parins, James W. "Susette LaFlesche Tibbles"
In ''Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary'', ed. Gretchen M. Bataille, Garland, 1993. Retrieved August 23, 2011 and "favored assimilation". They thought it offered the best future for their people. The La Flesche family supported the missionary schools and white teachers for their children. As chief, Joseph had a second wife ''Ta-in-ne'' (Elizabeth Esau), an Omaha woman, and they married around 1856. The following year, 1857, their son Francis La Flesche was born, followed by other children. From 1862 to 1869, La Flesche attended Presbyterian Mission Boarding Day School on the reservation where she learned to read, write, and speak in English as well as cook and sew. After the

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

mission school on the reservation closed, Susette La Flesche attended Elizabeth Institute for young ladies, a private school in

Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Susan LaFlesche Picotte became the first Native American physician and founded the first privately funded hospital on an

Indian reservation An American Indian reservation is an area of land land tenure, held and governed by a List of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States#Description, U.S. federal government-recognized Native American tribal nation, whose gov ...

; and Rosalie La Flesche Farley became a financial manager for the Omaha nation, leasing grazing land that was excess to individual household needs. Marguerite LaFlesche Picotte was a teacher on the

Yankton Sioux The Dakota (pronounced , or ) are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided into the Eastern Dakota and the Wester ...

reservation, having married Charles Picotte. Their half-brother Francis LaFlesche became an

ethnologist Ethnology (from the , meaning 'nation') is an academic field and discipline that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology). Scien ...

for the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

, writing about the Omaha and the Osage, and making original recordings of their traditional songs., Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved August 22, 2011

Career

As a young woman, Susette La Flesche became more interested in politics and soon graduated and learned how to speak English. She first worked as a teacher on the Omaha reservation. She had always wanted to become a teacher and after graduating from school at the Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies in New Jersey. After returning home that's where she began to teach, First in the mission school, later at the government school on the Omaha reservation. She also established a Sunday school with the support of William and Julia Hamilton, who were noted to be the Presbyterian missionaries there since 1855. Since her paternal grandmother and uncle were Ponca, she and her father traveled to Oklahoma to investigate conditions after the tribe's forced removal from Nebraska to Indian Territory. (The US government had reassigned the Ponca land in Nebraska to the

Great Sioux Reservation The Great Sioux Reservation was an Indian reservation created by the United States through treaty with the Sioux, principally the Lakota, who dominated the territory before its establishment. In the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, the reservation ...

.) La Flesche worked with

Thomas Tibbles Thomas Henry Tibbles (May 22, 1840 – May 14, 1928)Menyuk, Rachel, and Thomas Henry Tibbles. “Biographical Note.” Introduction. In ''Thomas Henry Tibbles Papers'', 5–6. Suitland, Maryland: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, ...

, an editor with the Omaha ''World Herald'', to publicize the poor conditions they found at the southern reservation: the Ponca had been moved too late in the year to plant crops, the government was late with supplies and promised infrastructure and improvements, and

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

was endemic in the area. Nearly one-third of the tribe died within the first two years as a result of the journey and conditions, among them the oldest son of Chief

Standing Bear Standing Bear (–1908) (Omaha-Ponca language, Ponca official orthography: Maⁿchú-Naⁿzhíⁿ/Macunajin;U.S. Indian Census Rolls, 1885 Ponca Indians of Dakota other spellings: Ma-chú-nu-zhe, Ma-chú-na-zhe or Mantcunanjin pronounced ) was ...

. The chief left the Indian Territory with some followers to bury his son in the traditional homeland of Nebraska. They were arrested and confined to

Fort Omaha Fort Omaha, originally known as Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks, is an Indian War-era United States Army supply installation. Located at 5730 North 30th Street, with the entrance at North 30th and Fort Streets in modern-day North Oma ...

, by order of the federal government. Tibbles' coverage of the chief's imprisonment was instrumental in gaining Standing Bear ''pro bono'' legal services by two prominent defense attorneys, including the counsel for the

Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad is a Railroad classes, Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United Stat ...

. Standing Bear filed a suit of ''

habeas corpus ''Habeas corpus'' (; from Medieval Latin, ) is a legal procedure invoking the jurisdiction of a court to review the unlawful detention or imprisonment of an individual, and request the individual's custodian (usually a prison official) to ...

'' against the US government, challenging the grounds for his arrest. In 1879 La Flesche acted as

's interpreter during his lawsuit at Fort Omaha, Nebraska. She also testified as to conditions on the reservation in Indian Territory. Standing Bear successfully challenged the lack of grounds of his arrest and imprisonment, arguing before the

United States District Court The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district. Each district cov ...

that Indians were persons under the law, and had all the rights of US citizens. Tibbles attended and reported the case, which gained national attention. '' Standing Bear v. Crook'' (1879) was a landmark

civil rights Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' political freedom, freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and ...

case, with the judge deciding that Indians had certain rights as "persons" and citizens under the US constitution. She began serving as a witness and interpreter on other cases where Native Americans sued the U.S. government. After this trial, she received the Indian name "Bright Eyes" for her work advocating for her community. Following the trial, La Flesche and her half-brother Francis accompanied Standing Bear and others on a speaking tour of the eastern United States, organized by Tibbles. In addition to taking turns interpreting for Standing Bear, Susette La Flesche spoke in her own right. During the tour, La Flesche and Tibbles also testified in Washington in 1880 before a

Congressional A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ad ...

committee about the Ponca removal. La Flesche spoke for the rights of Native Americans. They met prominent American writers, such as the poet

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to comp ...

and writer

Helen Hunt Jackson Helen Hunt Jackson (pen name, H.H.; born Helen Maria Fiske; October 15, 1830 – August 12, 1885) was an American poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the United States government. She de ...

. In 1881 Jackson published a book about US treatment of Native Americans entitled ''A Century of Dishonor'', and in 1884 the novel ''Ramona'', based on Indian issues in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

. Longfellow reportedly said of La Flesche, "This could be

Minnehaha Minnehaha is a Native American woman documented in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem ''The Song of Hiawatha''. She is the lover of the titular protagonist Hiawatha and comes to a tragic end. The name, often said to mean "laughing wat ...

", referring to the legendary Indian heroine in his poem ''

The Song of Hiawatha ''The Song of Hiawatha'' is an 1855 epic poem in trochaic tetrameter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which features Native American characters. The epic relates the fictional adventures of an Ojibwe warrior named Hiawatha and the tragedy of his lo ...

.'' In 1887, La Flesche and Tibbles, by then married, accompanied Standing Bear on a 10-month speaking tour of England and

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. La Flesche continued to act as the chief's interpreter. They were heard by many who wanted to learn more about the American Indian issues in the United States. After their return to Nebraska, LaFlesche and Tibbles became interested in the growing

Ghost Dance The Ghost Dance (, also called the Ghost Dance of 1890) is a ceremony incorporated into numerous Native American belief systems. According to the millenarian teachings of the Northern Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka (renamed Jack Wilson), pro ...

movement and issues among the restive

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin ( ; Dakota/ Lakota: ) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations people from the Great Plains of North America. The Sioux have two major linguistic divisions: the Dakota and Lakota peoples (translati ...

bands. They went to the

Pine Ridge Agency The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (), also called Pine Ridge Agency, is an Oglala Lakota Indian reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota, with a small portion extending into Nebraska. Originally included within the territory of the ...

in 1890 and wrote about its conditions, as well as the

Wounded Knee massacre The Wounded Knee Massacre, also known as the Battle of Wounded Knee, involved nearly three hundred Lakota people killed by soldiers of the United States Army. More than 250 people of the Lakota were killed and 51 wounded (4 men and 47 women a ...

. This work was likely the peak of LaFlesche's journalism career. She continued to publish articles and columns in papers in Nebraska, including her husband's

populist Populism is a contested concept used to refer to a variety of political stances that emphasize the idea of the " common people" and often position this group in opposition to a perceived elite. It is frequently associated with anti-establis ...

''The Independent''.

Marriage

La Flesche and Thomas Tibbles were married in July 1881, after his wife Amelia Owens died. During the next 14 years, the couple spent some time in Washington, DC (1893–1895), but lived mostly in Bancroft, Nebraska to live among the Omaha. While in Washington, La Flesche wrote and lectured on Native American issues. For instance, she gave an address to the

Association for the Advancement of Women Association for the Advancement of Women (A.A.W.) was an American women's organization founded in 1873. The organization was the outcome of a call issued by Sorosis in May 1868, for a Congress of Women to be held in New York City that autumn, and t ...

, on "The Position, Occupation, and Culture of Indian Women.""Susette LaFlesche Tibbles"
UXL Newsmakers, 2005. Retrieved August 23, 2011 In Nebraska, she spent time farming on her allotment of land as a tribal member on the

Omaha Reservation The Omaha Reservation () of the federally recognized Omaha tribe is located mostly in Thurston County, Nebraska, with sections in neighboring Cuming and Burt counties, in addition to Monona County in Iowa. As of the 2020 federal census, the res ...

and also writing. Her husband managed her father's property. They lived there most of the time. Until she died on May 26, 1903, at her home in Nebraska at the age of 49.

Literary works

* "Nedawi: An Indian Story from Real Life" was published in the children's magazine ''St. Nicholas'' in 1881. "Nedawi" is thought to be the first short story written by an American Indian which was not based on legend.
"Omaha Legends and Tent Stories", "Wide Awake" (1883)
in Karen L. Kilcup, ed. ''Native American Women's Writing c. 1800–1924: An Anthology'' * With Fannie Reed Griffin, Bright Eyes co-authored the book ''Oo-mah-ha Ta-wa-tha'' (1898), and illustrated it. * Introduction to the novel ''Ploughed-Under: The Story of an Indian Chief, as Told by Himself'' (1881), by William Justin Harsha. She also illustrated the book, which she edited. * Introduction to ''The Ponca Chiefs'', by Thomas Tibbles. * La Flesche wrote columns for the ''Omaha World Herald'' and her husband's

Populist Populism is a contested concept used to refer to a variety of political stances that emphasize the idea of the " common people" and often position this group in opposition to a perceived elite. It is frequently associated with anti-establis ...

paper, ''The Independent''.

Legacy and honors

* 1903, after her death, LaFlesche Tibbles was eulogized in the US Senate. Recognized and remembered as the first woman to speak out for the cause of Native Americans. * 1983, in recognition of her role as a spokesperson and writer about her people, LaFlesche Tibbles was inducted into the

. * 1994, induction into the

.National Women's Hall of Fame, Susette La Fresche
/ref>

References

*Peyer, Bernd. (1991). ''The Singing Spirit'', Univ of Arizona Press. Starita, Joe. (2010). "I Am A Man", St Martin's Griffin.

External links

* , Nebraska State Historical Society * {{DEFAULTSORT:La Flesche, Susette 1850s births 1903 deaths Native American activists 19th-century Native American writers La Flesche family Writers from Nebraska 19th-century American writers 19th-century American women writers 19th-century Native American women 19th-century American women artists 20th-century Native American women 20th-century American artists 20th-century Native American artists Native American women writers Native American women artists Omaha Tribe of Nebraska people Ponca people Iowa people Native American people from Nebraska Native American women activists American women activists