Nipo T. Strongheart (May 15, 1891 â€" December 31, 1966) was known as
a lecturer on the Chautauqua circuit, a performer in Wild West shows,
and a technical advisor to Hollywood film producers. Throughout his
life, which spanned several careers, he was an advocate for Native
American issues. He spoke on religious issues several times, and late
in life he became a member of the Baháʼà Faith.Strongheart's
mother, Chi-Nach-Lut Schu-Wah-Elks, was a member of the Yakama Nation;
his father was European American. According to some sources,
Strongheart lived with his white father for most of his childhood away
from the reservation and Indian culture. Another source says he was
adopted after his mother's death by a Yakama woman and brought up and
educated in her family on the reservation. Strongheart performed with
his father in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and its
successors.Strongheart's public performances began in 1917, when he
was in his twenties and worked for the YMCA War Work Council. He
toured military camps across New England, where he gave presentations
on Native American culture and praised military service. His
recruiting talks encouraged hundreds of men to volunteer for war
service. After World War I and his job ended, Strongheart moved
briefly to the Yakama Indian Reservation.He soon left and had a
successful career in the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits of fairs. He
gave presentations on Native American culture and often spoke against
the problems of life of reservations as enforced by government policy.
He played an important role in the development of the Indian
Citizenship Act of 1924, which granted citizenship to all Native
Americans who did not already have it; the bill was signed by
President Calvin Coolidge. Strongheart believed the bill would help
end reservations and empower Indian culture.
a lecturer on the Chautauqua circuit, a performer in Wild West shows,
and a technical advisor to Hollywood film producers. Throughout his
life, which spanned several careers, he was an advocate for Native
American issues. He spoke on religious issues several times, and late
in life he became a member of the Baháʼà Faith.Strongheart's
mother, Chi-Nach-Lut Schu-Wah-Elks, was a member of the Yakama Nation;
his father was European American. According to some sources,
Strongheart lived with his white father for most of his childhood away
from the reservation and Indian culture. Another source says he was
adopted after his mother's death by a Yakama woman and brought up and
educated in her family on the reservation. Strongheart performed with
his father in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and its
successors.Strongheart's public performances began in 1917, when he
was in his twenties and worked for the YMCA War Work Council. He
toured military camps across New England, where he gave presentations
on Native American culture and praised military service. His
recruiting talks encouraged hundreds of men to volunteer for war
service. After World War I and his job ended, Strongheart moved
briefly to the Yakama Indian Reservation.He soon left and had a
successful career in the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits of fairs. He
gave presentations on Native American culture and often spoke against
the problems of life of reservations as enforced by government policy.
He played an important role in the development of the Indian
Citizenship Act of 1924, which granted citizenship to all Native
Americans who did not already have it; the bill was signed by
President Calvin Coolidge. Strongheart believed the bill would help
end reservations and empower Indian culture.
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