Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tsianina Redfeather
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Tsianina Redfeather in 1915
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| Born | December 13, 1882 |
| Died | January 10, 1985 (aged 102) |
| Nationality | Muscogee Nation, American |
| Other names | Tsianina Blackstone, Tsianina Grayson, Princess Tsianina Redfeather, Florence Tsianina Evans |
| Occupation | opera singer and activist |
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Notable work
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Libretto for Shanewis |
Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone (born December 13, 1882 – died January 10, 1985) was a famous Muscogee singer and performer. She was also a strong voice for Native American rights. Tsianina was born in Eufaula, Oklahoma, which was then part of the Muscogee Nation.
She had both Cherokee and Creek parents. Tsianina was one of ten children, and she was the most musical. From 1908, she often toured with Charles Wakefield Cadman. He was a composer and pianist. They gave talks about Native American music, with his music and her singing.
Cadman wrote classical music inspired by Native American culture. They performed all over the United States and Europe. Tsianina helped write the story for the opera Shanewis. This opera was based on her own life and issues faced by Native Americans. It was first performed at the famous Metropolitan Opera.
Tsianina sang the main role when Shanewis went on tour. She first performed this role in Denver in 1924. She also sang it in Los Angeles in 1926. After her singing career, she worked to improve education for Native Americans. She helped start the American Indian Education Foundation. She also supported studies of Native American history and culture. She served on the board for the School of American Research.
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Early Life and Musical Talent
Tsianina Redfeather was born Florence Tsianina Evans. Her birthplace was Eufaula, Oklahoma, in what was called Indian Territory. Her parents were Muscogee people. Her family's ancestors were forced to move from their homes. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears.
All nine of Tsianina's brothers and sisters were musical. But she was the most talented singer. She started her training at age 14 in Denver, Colorado. Alice Mary Robertson helped sponsor her studies. Tsianina earned scholarships in Denver and New York City.
While training in Denver, Tsianina became a skilled mezzo-soprano singer. She also met Charles Cadman there. He was an American pianist. Later, they became partners, touring and performing around the world.
A Career in Music and Activism
When she was 26, Tsianina Redfeather began touring with Charles Wakefield Cadman. They gave many concerts across North America. Cadman, who was white, had studied Native American music. He gave lectures about it starting in 1908. He also wrote music inspired by Native American traditions.
In 1909, Cadman visited Omaha and Winnebago reservations in Nebraska. He learned about their music and traditional instruments. Starting in 1908, Cadman gave talks about American Indian music. He performed his own songs, with Tsianina singing along.
They toured and performed in major cities in Europe. They also sang at the Metropolitan Opera House. Tsianina performed with many major symphony orchestras in the United States. She was known as "Princess Tsianina Redfeather." She wore traditional costumes and had long braids. She even beaded her own clothes and special headband.
Cadman wrote a song called "From The Land of Sky-Blue Water" just for her. This song became Tsianina Redfeather's most famous performance.
Creating the Opera Shanewis
Tsianina worked with Cadman and his writer, Nelle Richmond Eberhart. Together, they created the opera Shanewis, also called The Robin Woman. The story was based on Tsianina's own experiences. It showed what Native American life was like at the time. The opera was set in California and Oklahoma.
Shanewis first opened at the Metropolitan Opera in 1918. It was so popular that it was performed again the next year. The opera then toured across the United States. Tsianina sang the main role in some of these tour performances. She made her opera debut in Denver in 1924. She sang the role again in 1926 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Supporting Troops During Wartime
During World War I in 1918, Tsianina led a group of Native American entertainers. This group was sponsored by the YMCA. They traveled to France and Germany to perform for American soldiers. Their show was called "The Indian of yesterday and today." Tsianina said there were "twenty Indian boys" with her.
When she and Cadman first performed Shanewis at the Metropolitan Opera, the audience loved it. The cast received 22 curtain calls. Cadman based the opera on Native American stories that Tsianina told him. This opera was the first modern opera to be performed for a second season at the Met.
General John J. Pershing honored Tsianina. He recognized her as one of the first women to volunteer to entertain troops. She was also the first woman to cross the Rhine River to reach US troops in Germany.
Later Work and Legacy
In 1922, Tsianina Redfeather performed for a group of real estate investors. They had built a resort near Fort Collins. Her performance deeply moved them. They named their mountain village after her. They also gave many other Indian names to places in the area.
In 1935, Tsianina retired from singing. However, she continued to work on issues important to Native Americans. She was one of the people who started the American Indian Education Foundation (AIEF). She also served for 30 years on the Board of Managers for the School of American Research in Santa Fe. This institute was founded by Alice Cunningham Fletcher. It aimed to support studies of Native American history and culture in the United States.
Personal Life
In 1920, Tsianina Redfeather married David F. Balz. They later divorced. She married again, and her second husband's last name was Blackstone. They also divorced.
Later in her life, Tsianina became a devoted Christian Scientist. She eventually settled in California. She lived with her niece, Wynemah Blaylock, in Burbank. They later moved to San Diego.
In 1981, Tsianina was baptized into the Catholic faith. This happened at St. John's Church in San Diego. Monsignor Andrew Hanley baptized her. After Tsianina died in 1985, at the age of 102, a funeral mass was held for her at St. John's. Her niece said that Tsianina was descended from "Indian royalty."
In July 1988, the community planned a Red Feather History month. This was to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Red Feather Ranger Station. An artist named R.J. Wiley created a painting of Tsianina. This painting was for a play about her life.
