Susette La Susette La FlescheFlesche

By: Keisha TwardowskiBy: Keisha Twardowski88thth grade grade

Putnam County Junior HighPutnam County Junior HighMcNabb, Illinois 61335McNabb, Illinois 61335

March 2006March 2006

In The BeginningIn The Beginning

Birth:Birth:18541854

Susette was the Susette was the oldest daughter of oldest daughter of Joseph La Flesche, Joseph La Flesche, the last recognized the last recognized chief of the Omaha. chief of the Omaha.

English translation of Susette’s Native English translation of Susette’s Native American name was Inshta Theumba American name was Inshta Theumba ("Bright Eyes"). ("Bright Eyes").

Susette was raised on the Omaha reservation and from 1862 to 1869 attended the Presbyterian Mission Boarding Day School on the reservation.

La Flesche was a teacher on her La Flesche was a teacher on her reservation after completing her reservation after completing her education at the Elizabeth Institute in education at the Elizabeth Institute in New Jersey. New Jersey.

Susette Susette campaigned campaigned tirelessly for Native tirelessly for Native American rights. American rights. She also became She also became the first Native the first Native American lecturer American lecturer and the first and the first published Native published Native American artist and American artist and writer. writer.

Susette was very active in the struggle Susette was very active in the struggle for the return of the Ponca to their for the return of the Ponca to their homeland. She thought that being forced homeland. She thought that being forced to live in a place different than her home to live in a place different than her home was a violation of her culture. was a violation of her culture.

Not the Only One InvolvedNot the Only One Involved

Francis La Flesche, Francis La Flesche, like his sister like his sister Susette, was Susette, was involved during the involved during the 1870s and 1880s 1870s and 1880s with the struggle for with the struggle for the return of the the return of the Ponca to their Ponca to their homeland. homeland.

In 1882 Bright Eyes and Thomas Tibbles were married.

Susette traveled for many years lecturing in Europe and the United States pleading the cause of the Native American.

Susette La Flesche

Teacher Writer Artist

"Bright Eyes" was the symbol of the Native

American Maiden, public speaker, author, artist and

defender of Native Americans.

• Though she continued to write Though she continued to write occasionally on Indian affairs, her occasionally on Indian affairs, her interests soon turned to politics. She interests soon turned to politics. She was mostly influenced by her was mostly influenced by her husband because he was actively husband because he was actively involved in Populist politics. involved in Populist politics.

Sister and Brother Act

Susette had three sisters, Susan was the only name mentioned. Susan was the youngest child out of five. Francis was Susette’s brother and writer.

Susette died near Sancroft, Nebraska, on May 26, 1903.

OpinionOpinion

• My opinion on My opinion on Susette is that she Susette is that she was very strong and was very strong and willing to give up willing to give up everything she had to everything she had to get her home back get her home back and fight for Native and fight for Native American rights. She American rights. She inspired others to get inspired others to get involved as well as involved as well as her brothers and her brothers and sisters. sisters.

Internet http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=97

http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0600/frameset_reset.

html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0600/stories/0601_0107.html

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/naa/fletcher/foreword.htm

Bibliography