Happy Birthday Ruth Muskrat Bronson — Poet, Educator and Native American Rights Activist
Ruth Muskrat Bronson was born October 3, 1897 on the Delaware County Indian Reservation. Ruth dedicated her life to protecting the rights of Native Americans and ensuring their ability to gain access to education and a brighter future.
Born to a Cherokee father and an Irish mother, Ruth had the unique perspective of being a part of two cultures. She attended school from a young age through scholarships, ultimately enrolling at the University of Oklahoma in 1919. In 1921, Ruth went to work at a YMCA camp where she earned a scholarship to the University of Kansas. The next year, she was given the opportunity to travel with the YMCA to a youth conference in China where she became the first Native American to represent her people. On this trip, Ruth also became more aware of the need for racial equality back at home.
In 1923, Ruth had gained international attention through her travels with the YMCA. She requested better education for Native Americans from the U.S. Government participating in “The Committee of One Hundred” — a presentation on Native American relations in the United States given to President Calvin Coolidge. She then attended Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. After graduation, she began teaching English at a Native American school. In 1931, Ruth was appointed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs as the Guidance and Placement Officer — helping to secure employment for Native Americans after they finished school.
Ruth was the second woman to receive the Indian Achievement Medal of the Indian Council Fire and also published many books, like the well-known Indians are People Too in 1944. She began working with the National Congress of American Indians in 1945 and quickly became a leader in the organization, speaking and advocating for the rights of Native Americans.
Ruth then began working for the Indian Health Service as a health education specialist. By the time she retired from government work in 1962, she had been awarded the Oveta Culp Hobby Service Award — the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare’s highest award given to women.
But Ruth didn’t stop working for the rights of Native Americans. She continued her activism, working for foundations and organizations even after retiring. In 1978, she was awarded the National Indian Child Conference’s merit award for the work she did over the course of her life. Ruth died in 1982 at the age of 84.
Thank you, Ruth, for the tireless dedication to not only improving the lives of children but also standing up for the rights of Native Americans. You inspire us and we are glad to celebrate your birth.
