Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee
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| Born | December 9, 1910  Meskwaki Settlement |
| Died | October 15, 1996 (aged 85) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Textile artist |
Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee (born December 9, 1910 – died October 15, 1996) was an important Meskwaki leader. She worked hard to protect and share the traditions and language of her people. Adeline was also an artist and a strong voice for Native Americans and women's rights. She made history as the first woman elected to the Meskwaki Tribal Council. She was also the first Native American person to join the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and School
Jean Adeline Morgan was born on December 9, 1910. Her home was the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama, Iowa. She was part of the Wolf clan. Her parents were Earl Morgan and Annie Waseskuk Morgan.
When Adeline was only nine months old, her father passed away. She and her mother then moved in with her grandmother. Friends often called her "Adeline."
Schooling and Growing Up
Adeline first went to the Sac and Fox Day School. In 1923, she attended a government boarding school. This was the Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota. For eighth grade, she came back to Tama. There she went to public schools.
She later earned a degree from the Haskell Institute in 1931. In her late teens, she worked for two years. She was employed at the Toledo Sanatorium. In 1932, she married Frank David Wanatee. They had nine children together. Sadly, two of their children died when they were very young.
Working for Her Community
After finishing her studies at Haskell Institute, Wanatee returned to Iowa. She started working at the Sac and Fox Day School. There, she taught useful skills like sewing, cooking, and art. She also taught the Meskwaki language.
Education for Native Children
Adeline had been sent to a distant boarding school herself. This experience made her believe that Native American children should learn close to home. She worked on state and national groups. Her goal was to stop Native children from being sent away to boarding schools. These schools often tried to make Native children forget their own culture.
She became the head of the Meskwaki school board. She also helped start the Coalition of Indian-Controlled School Boards. This group wanted parents and communities to control their children's education. In 1978, she wrote a chapter for a book. It was called The Worlds Between Two Rivers. Her chapter was about "Education, the Family, and the Schools."
Sharing Meskwaki Culture and Art
Wanatee was a valuable helper for people studying Meskwaki culture. She shared her knowledge of the language and art. She even worked as a Mesquakie language expert for the Smithsonian Institution. She helped create a textbook for elementary school children. This book taught the Mesquakie language.
She was also part of the Iowa Arts Council's "artist-in-the-schools" program. Through this program, she taught traditional Meskwaki weaving. Her art included appliqué and ribbon work. She was especially good at weaving yarn sashes. She used a special technique called finger-weaving.
Leadership and Health Advocacy
Adeline Wanatee was a true pioneer. She was the first woman elected to the Meskwaki Tribal Council. She served two terms, each lasting four years. She was also the first woman to join the Meskwaki Pow Wow Association.
She worked hard to improve the health of Native Americans. She was a tribal health representative. She was also chosen as a delegate for the National Indian Council on Aging. Wanatee even created a center for health and nutrition. This center helped members of the Meskwaki Nation.
She passed away in Tama on October 15, 1996. She was buried in the Meskwaki Cemetery.
Achievements and Honors
Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee received many honors for her work.
Iowa Women's Hall of Fame
In 1993, she made history again. She became the first Native American person to be inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame. This was a big recognition of her important contributions.
Wanatee Park
A park near Marion, Iowa was renamed in 2020. It used to be called Squaw Creek Park. It is now called Wanatee Park. This was done to honor Adeline Wanatee's activism. It was the first time a public place in Iowa was renamed to recognize Indigenous Iowans.
Women of the Century
In 2020, the newspaper USA Today created a special project. It was called "Women of the Century." This project celebrated the 19th Amendment. Experts from each state chose ten women who made big achievements between 1920 and 2020. Adeline Wanatee was one of the ten women chosen for Iowa. She was recognized for her important work in the state.
