Indigenous Firsts: A History of Native American Achievements and Events

Dennis, Arlene Hirschfelder (coauthor with Dennis of Native American Almanac), and Paulette F. Molin (coauthor with Hirschfelder of The Extraordinary Book of Native American Lists) offer an impeccably documented and inspirational survey of the groundbreaking accomplishments and achievements of Indigenous peoples. Organized into 14 chapters, this book focuses on U.S. (including Native Hawaiian) and Canadian First Nations individuals, communities, and groups across a wide range of fields—art, business, government, health, literature, media, military, religion, science, urban life, and sports. Over 2000 entries remember individuals such as William R. Pogue (the first Indigenous [Choctaw] astronaut) and Jock Soto (of Navajo and Puerto Rican descent) who was the youngest man to become principal dancer of the New York City Ballet. Although this book is intended as a celebration of remarkable achievements, the authors stress that the path to being “the first” is often paved with loneliness, sacrifice, and trauma. It is their hope—and readers will likely agree—that there will be many more achievements to come.