The Power, Resilience, and History of Native American Women

CrashCourse

Hosted by Lily Gladstone, this episode of Crash Course Native American History explores the pivotal and diverse roles of Native women, Femmes, and Two-Spirit people from pre-contact times to the present day. It challenges the monolithic view of Native gender roles by highlighting the existence of matriarchal and matrilineal societies, such as the Diné (Navajo), where women hold significant economic and decision-making power. The video details historical figures like the warrior Buffalo Calf Road Woman and the diplomat Jikonsaseh, who helped found the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, illustrating that Native women have always served as leaders, healers, and protectors of their nations. The video also tackles the dark history of colonization and its specific targeting of Indigenous women to destabilize tribal societies. It addresses difficult topics including the imposition of European patriarchal values, the forced sterilization of thousands of Native women in the 1970s, and the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The narrative explains how settler colonialism disrupted traditional gender balances and how systemic failures in law enforcement continue to impact Native communities today. Despite these challenges, the video emphasizes resilience and modern activism. It profiles influential leaders like Elouise Cobell, who successfully sued the U.S. government for billions in mismanagement of funds, and Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary. For the classroom, this resource is invaluable for teaching about gender studies, civil rights, and the complex legal and social history of Native Americans. It provides students with a nuanced understanding of how historical trauma and contemporary triumph coexist in Indigenous communities.