Zitkála-Šá's activism for Native citizenship highlighted on The View
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Summary
The segment celebrates Native American Heritage Month by profiling Zitkála-Šá (Red Bird), a Yankton Dakota writer, musician, and activist. Hosts Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar recount her removal to boarding school at age eight where her hair was cut and language banned, her co-composing the first Native American opera (The Sun Dance Opera), and her lobbying that contributed to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. They note her continued fight against state resistance to Native voting rights until her death in 1938 and quote her call to teach children pride in their heritage. The clip cuts off mid-sentence as Ana Navarro begins to mention a recent Native American election victory.
Editorial Assessment
The broadcast accurately captures Zitkála-Šá's documented life and impact, drawing from well-established historical accounts without major errors. Viewers receive an inspirational overview but miss nuance: she collaborated with a white composer on the opera, the 1924 Act granted citizenship but left voting to states (many of which delayed implementation for decades), and she opposed peyote use, creating rifts in Native communities. The framing highlights injustice and resilience without counterpoints on assimilation-era rationales or her complex views on tribal identity versus U.S. citizenship. The abrupt pivot to contemporary elections implies unbroken progress, potentially skewing perception that full rights were secured in 1924 rather than through ongoing state-level battles. Overall a solid educational tribute amid a talk-show format that prioritizes emotion and applause over deeper policy analysis.
Key Moments
Zitkála-Šá was sent to boarding school where her hair was cut and Native language forbidden
Confirmed in her own writings and NPS/PBS biographies; she described the trauma at White's Manual Labor Institute at age 8.
She co-wrote the first Native American opera, The Sundance Opera
She wrote the libretto and contributed melodies for The Sun Dance Opera (1913) with William F. Hanson; recognized as the earliest by a Native composer.
She fought for the rights of her people, helping secure the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S.
Her advocacy through the Society of American Indians and lobbying contributed; the Snyder Act of 1924 granted citizenship, though she continued pushing for full voting rights.
Many states still resisted and her battle continued until her death in 1938
States controlled voting; some like Utah delayed Native suffrage into the 1950s; she co-founded the National Council of American Indians in 1926 and remained active until 1938.
A Native American just got elected for the first
Likely references Deb Haaland's election as New Mexico's first Native American woman governor on November 3, 2026; segment cuts off before full identification.
Notable Concerns
- Opening quote 'I am what I am, I owe no apologies to God or men' is unattributed in primary sources and resembles philosophical or religious expressions rather than her documented writings
- Segment ends abruptly, leaving the 'first Native American just got elected' claim without context or identification of the individual