20 Famous Native and Indigenous Peoples Today

Jason Mamoa is proud of his heritage and speaks about it every chance he gets, both in front of the camera and on the red carpet. He is Native Hawaiian on his father's side. He is deeply involved in preserving his homeland and recently helped protest the development of Mauna Kea, Hawaii's highest mountain. He also identifies as Pawnee from his grandmother's side.

Quanna Chasing Horse is an Indigenous model and activist with shared Lakota and Navajo heritage. She is known for using her own platform to support indigenous sovereignty and sustainability. She made waves at the 2022 Met Gala by pairing her contemporary look with intricate native jewelry and headpieces.

If Gil Birmingham looks familiar, it's because he's been a staple of film and television for decades. He is best known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the film. twilight saga film series, and currently plays the role of Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater in the Paramount Network television series. yellowstone.

Louis Gong is an artist, educator, and speaker who was raised by his grandparents in the Nooksack tribal community. Louis is best known for his highly popular hand-painted custom shoes, and his art is internationally recognized. His latest project, the Sasquatch Collection, aligns with Brooks' running and Snoqualmie ancestral land movements and pays homage to Native American lands.

Tommy Orange is an American novelist and Native American writer from Oakland, California. his first book, Okay, okay, was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and won the 2019 American Book Award. The acclaimed book follows a dozen Native American characters whose lives converge at a large powwow at the Oakland Coliseum. He is a graduate of the Master's program at the American Indian School of Art.

When Sharice Davids was sworn in as the 116th Congresswoman, she made headlines for becoming one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, along with fellow Native American Deb Haaland. . She was also the first openly LBGTQ+ Native American woman elected to Congress. She currently serves as a congresswoman for Kansas' 2nd Congressional District, where public education and affordable higher education are two of her top concerns.

Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American to serve in the U.S. Congress. But this wasn't the first ceiling she broke through. Secretary Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected state party chair after she ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014. In her legislative session, she focused on environmental justice, climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and family-friendly policies.

Visual and performance artist Kent Monkman is a Canadian Indigenous artist of Cree ancestry and a member of the Fisher River Band based in Manitoba's Interlake region. Known for his thought-provoking work that blends Western European and American history, Monkman explores the complexities of the Indigenous experience in art form.

Wesley Study is an experienced actor and producer who has appeared in award-winning films such as: dances with wolves and last of the mohicans. His latest project is an animated show. spirit rangeris a story about three Native American children who hide their true identities and become park rangers.

Juan Quick-to-See Smith is an abstract artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums since the 1970s. Much of her art focuses on environmental destruction and government oppression of indigenous cultures. Smith has had over 90 solo exhibitions over the past 30 years. She has also curated and curated more than 30 exhibitions and presented at more than 185 universities, museums, and international conferences.

In 2002, John Herrington became the first member of a Native American tribe to fly into space. His mission takes him to the International Space Station, where he carries six eagle feathers, a braid of sweet grass, two arrowheads, and the Chickasaw Nation flag on a planned spacewalk. In doing so, I honored my heritage. He is also a retired U.S. Naval aviator and engineer.

Contemporary multimedia artist Wendy Red Star creates art that counters romanticized representations of Native Americans in the media. Red Star has exhibited at venues throughout the United States and abroad, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, Hood Museum of Art, St. Louis Art Museum, and others.

Sean Sherman, also known as Sous Chef, is a James Beard Award-winning chef known for bringing Native cuisine to the forefront of today's dining scene. Identifying, collecting, growing and preparing indigenous foods are all part of his culinary program to bring traditional foods to the masses.

Temuris Lane is best known for his on-field soccer skills, having played both professionally and internationally. In addition to being a renowned sports journalist and analyst, she frequently speaks on culturally-specific solutions to address health challenges within Indigenous communities.

In 1996 and 2000, Winona LaDuke ran for vice president as a candidate for the Green Party of America, which was headed by Ralph Nader. She is the executive director of Honor the Earth, an indigenous environmental advocacy group that played an active role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.