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Zitkala-SaAmerican Indian writer from the Yankton Sioux tribe
Date of Birth: 22.02.1876
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Zitkala-Ša: Native American Author and Advocate
- Literary Career
- Social Activism
- Opera and Music
- Personal Life
- Legacy
Zitkala-Ša: Native American Author and Advocate
Early Life and EducationZitkala-Ša, also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was born in the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota in 1876. Her mother was Ellen Tate Simmons, a Yankton Sioux, and her father was Felker, a white man. Shortly before her birth, Felker abandoned the family, and Gertrude received her stepfather's surname, John Hastings Simmons.
Despite being named Gertrude (Gertie), Zitkala-Ša was raised in the Sioux tradition in a tipi along the Missouri River. She later symbolically referred to herself as the great-granddaughter of Sitting Bull, emphasizing her cultural heritage rather than her genealogical lineage.
At the age of eight, Zitkala-Ša enrolled in the Quaker-run White's Manual Labor Institute in Wabash, Indiana, despite her mother's disapproval. While there, she refused to cut her long hair, stating that "in our tribe only mourners wore their hair short, and only cowards had theirs cut."
Zitkala-Ša's musical talent emerged during her studies at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana (1895-1897) and later at the Boston Conservatory. In 1896, she won second place in an oratorical contest in Indiana, and her speeches were printed in two school publications.
Literary Career
Zitkala-Ša adopted the pen name "Zitkala-Ša" in her "Sketches" published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1900. Throughout her life, she used both names. Her autobiographical sketches published in The Atlantic Monthly include "Impressions of an Indian Childhood," "The School Days of an Indian Girl," and "An Indian Teacher Among Indians."
In 1901, Zitkala-Ša published "Old Indian Legends," a collection of fourteen Sioux folktales she had heard from Dakota elders. The legends feature the trickster spider Iktómi and the evil spirit Iya.
In 1921, Zitkala-Ša released "American Indian Stories," a collection of autobiographical and fictional stories that explore her childhood, the destructive influence of white settlers, and the struggles of Native Americans.
Social Activism
Zitkala-Ša was an outspoken advocate for Native American rights. In 1916, she was elected secretary-treasurer of the Society of American Indians. She played a key role in the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, which granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans.
In 1924, Zitkala-Ša co-founded the National Council of American Indians and served as its chair. She believed that Native Americans should participate actively in government to protect their land and cultural heritage.
Opera and Music
In collaboration with composer William Hanson, Zitkala-Ša created the first Native American opera, "The Sun Dance," which premiered in Utah in 1913. She wrote its libretto, songs, and performed as a violinist.
Personal Life
Zitkala-Ša married Raymond Taylesface Bonnin in 1902. They had a son, Raymond Ohiya. The family lived on the Uintah and Ouray reservations in Utah until the outbreak of World War I.
Legacy
Zitkala-Ša died of heart and kidney disease in Washington, D.C., in 1938. She is buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery. Her name continues to be revered as a pioneering Native American author, activist, and advocate for cultural diversity.
