Charles Eastman

Charles Eastman
Sawyer, Wells Moses Artist · Public domain · source
Name	Charles Eastman
Birth date	February 19, 1858
Birth place	Redwood Falls, Minnesota
Death date	January 8, 1939
Death place	Detroit, Michigan
Occupation	Physician, writer, Native American rights activist
Nationality	Santee Dakota
Ethnicity	Dakota people
Education	Dartmouth College, Boston University School of Medicine

Charles Eastman was a renowned Santee Dakota physician, writer, and Native American rights activist, who played a significant role in promoting Native American culture and advocating for the rights of Native American tribes, including the Lakota people, Oglala Sioux, and Sioux Nation. Born on February 19, 1858, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Eastman was raised in a traditional Dakota family and later attended Dartmouth College and Boston University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. He was influenced by notable figures such as Henry Benjamin Whipple, Alfred Sully, and Francis Asbury.

● Early Life and Education

Charles Eastman was born in a tipi near Redwood Falls, Minnesota, to Many Lightnings, a Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota woman, and Jacob Eastman, a European-American man of English descent. After his mother's death, Eastman was raised by his grandparents, Smoking Day and Grey Walker, who taught him the traditional ways of the Dakota people. He later attended Santee Normal Training School, Belmont Academy, and Dartmouth College, where he was influenced by Charles Francis Adams Jr., Daniel Coit Gilman, and William James. Eastman's education was also shaped by his interactions with notable figures such as Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Susan B. Anthony.

● Career

Eastman's career as a physician began at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where he worked as a Indian Service doctor, treating patients such as Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. He later worked at the Crow Creek Indian Reservation and the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where he encountered Ghost Dance leaders like Wovoka and Kicking Bear. Eastman's experiences as a doctor and his interactions with notable figures like Geronimo, Red Cloud, and Sitting Bull shaped his advocacy for Native American rights and influenced his writings. He was also involved with organizations such as the Indian Rights Association, the National Congress of American Indians, and the Society of American Indians, which aimed to promote Native American culture and advocate for the rights of Native American tribes.

● Writings and Legacy

Eastman was a prolific writer, and his works include The Soul of the Indian, The Indian Today, and From the Deep Woods to Civilization. His writings often explored themes of Native American culture, assimilation, and the struggles faced by Native American tribes, including the Wounded Knee Massacre and the Dawes Act. Eastman's legacy as a writer and activist has been recognized by scholars such as Vine Deloria Jr., Ward Churchill, and Dee Brown, who have written about his contributions to Native American literature and Native American studies. His work has also been influenced by notable authors such as Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, and Jane Addams.

● Personal Life

Eastman married Elaine Goodale Eastman, a European-American woman from Massachusetts, and the couple had six children together. His family life was marked by challenges, including the loss of his daughter Eleanor Eastman and his struggles with tuberculosis. Eastman's personal life was also influenced by his relationships with notable figures such as Frances Willard, Ida B. Wells, and Susan La Flesche Picotte. He was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was influenced by the Social Gospel movement, which emphasized the importance of social justice and reform.

● Later Life and Death

In his later years, Eastman continued to advocate for Native American rights and worked with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Indian Defense Association. He died on January 8, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 80, and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Eastman's legacy as a physician, writer, and activist has been recognized by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the National Museum of the American Indian, which have preserved his writings and honored his contributions to Native American culture and Native American studies. His life and work have also been influenced by notable events such as the Indian Removal Act, the Trail of Tears, and the Wounded Knee Massacre. Category:Native American writers