Ada Deer, the first woman to head the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

Deb Haaland, United States Secretary of the Interior (Pueblo of Laguna)

Joy Harjo, the nation’s first Native American poet laureate (Muscogee (Creek) Nation)

John Herrington, former NASA astronaut and the first Native American to travel into space (Chickasaw Nation)

Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first American Indian woman in the United States to receive a medical degree

Temryss Lane, former professional soccer player

Mary Golda Ross, the first woman engineer in the history of Lockheed

Maria Tallchief, one of America’s first great prima ballerinas

Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S.

John Trudell, a poet, recording artist, actor, and speaker

Frank Waln, an award-winning hip hop artist and music producer

Sean Sherman, chef, cookbook author, and promoter of Indigenous cuisine

Bethany Yellowtail: of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, is a Native American fashion designer and CEO of her clothing line, B. Yellowtail. She includes her Native American traditions in contemporary clothing.

Billy Mills: Ogala Lakota (Sioux), Billy Mills was an Olympic runner. He won a gold medal in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. President Obama awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2012.

Sacagawea: accompanied the famous explorers, Lewis and Clark on their journey from the Northern Great Plains to the Pacific Northwest. She acted as an interpreter for the trip. In 2000, the U.S. Mint honored her accomplishments with the Sacagawea dollar coin. (Shoshone)

John Kinsel Sr.: was a World War II Navajo Code Talker. The Navajo Code Talkers used their tribal language to send secret messages during World War II.  He was awarded the Purple Heart and Congressional Silver Medal for his service. (Navajo Nation)

Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux) was a Native American chief. He helped the Great Plains Sioux tribes defeat General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Squanto (Tisquantum): Patuxet Tribe, Squanto was an interpreter for the Pilgrim settlers. He helped the settlers during their first harsh winter in America.

Irena Bedard (Inupiaq/Yupik/Cree): Irena Bedard is an actress, director, and producer. She has starred in movies, television shows, and theatre. She is best known as the voice of Pocahontas in the cartoon movie.