Clyde Warrior facts for kids

Clyde Merton Warrior (1939–1968) was an important Native American leader and speaker. He was one of the people who helped create the National Indian Youth Council. In the 1960s, he joined big events like the March on Washington. He was famous for his powerful speeches about Native American self-determination, which means Native people making their own decisions.

Early Life and Talents

Clyde Merton Warrior was born on August 31, 1939, near Ponca City, Oklahoma. His grandparents raised him in the traditions of the Ponca people. He was a member of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

Clyde learned the Ponca language and many tribal songs. He was also an amazing fancy dancer. By 1957, newspapers called him a world champion dancer. In 1958, he won an award for his art in a state high school contest.

He went to Cameron Junior College in Lawton, Oklahoma. In 1962, he won the Outstanding Indian Student Award. He was also chosen as president of the Southwest Regional Indian Youth Council. Later, he earned a Bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University in 1966.

Family Life

In 1962, Clyde Warrior married Della Hopper. She was a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. They had two daughters together.

Standing Up for Native Rights

In 1961, Clyde Warrior went to a meeting at the University of Oklahoma. This meeting helped plan a bigger conference in Chicago. He also became president of the Southwestern Regional Indian Youth Council that spring.

In June 1961, a large conference took place in Chicago, Illinois. Over 800 people, including Native Americans, educators, and experts, attended. They created a plan called "Declaration of Indian Purpose." This plan was made by Native Americans for Native Americans. It was given to President John F. Kennedy.

Later that summer, young leaders formed the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) in Gallup, New Mexico. They wanted to turn their ideas into action. Clyde Warrior was part of both the Chicago conference and the NIYC's first meeting. By 1967, he became the president of the NIYC.

Fighting for Fairness

After the NIYC meeting, Clyde Warrior was chosen for the Ponca tribal council. He became a very popular speaker at colleges. He also helped edit Indian Voices, a magazine for Native American issues.

Clyde worked to help tribes in Washington State protect their fishing rights. He got help from publicists and even actor Marlon Brando to bring attention to the issue. He learned strategies from Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights work, especially from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Clyde Warrior saw how Native people faced unfair treatment and poverty. He fought against these problems and worked to make Native people proud of their heritage. He wrote two important essays in the mid-1960s: "Which One Are You?: Five Types of Young Indians" and "We Are Not Free." He was also asked to speak in Washington, D.C., about how the War on Poverty could help Native communities.

Clyde Warrior strongly believed in Native American self-determination. He inspired many young Native activists in the 1960s and 1970s to work for their communities' rights.

Legacy

Clyde Warrior passed away at the age of 28 on July 19, 1968. He is buried in Ponca City. His gravestone has a special message: "A Fresh Air of New Indian Idealism." This shows how he brought new ideas and hope to Native American activism.

Inspiring Words

Clyde Warrior left us with powerful quotes: "We are not free. We do not make choices. Our choices are made for us." "The sewage of Europe does not run through these veins."