This is a list of Native American firsts. Native American people were the first people to live in the area that is now known as the United States. This is a chronological list of the first accomplishments that Native Americans have achieved both through their tribal identities and also through the culture of the United States over time. It includes individuals and groups of people who are indigenous to contemporary United States. This includes Native Americans in the United States, which includes American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

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List of Native American firsts

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16th century: 1500s-1540s • 1550s-1590s

17th century: 1600s-1650s • 1660s-1690s

List of Native American firsts

18th century: 1700s–1750s • 1750s–1790s•

19th century: 1800s • 1810s • 1820s • 1830s • 1840s • 1850s • 1860s • 1870s • 1880s • 1890s 20th century: 1900s • 1910s • 1920s • 1930s • 1940s • 1950s • 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s 21st century: 2000s • 2010s • 2020s See also • References • External links

List of Native American firsts

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16th century

1530s

1539

Indigenous peoples of Florida have first contact with the Hernando de Soto Expedition, marking first contact with Spaniards and African people for many Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands.

1580s

1581

The Navajo make first contact with the Spanish.

1587

First recorded Protestant christianing of a Native American: Christening of Manteo (Croatan).

1610

1615

First Native American received as royalty by English royalty: Pocahontas (Powhatan).

17th century

1610s

1615

The Huron people first act as middlemen for French traders and other Native American tribes.

1620s

First Native American in New England to meet with settlers leading to ratify a peace treaty: Massaoit (Wampanoag).

1630s

1638

First American Indian reservation established: Quinnipiac Nation.

1660s

1663

First published writing by a Native American in the Americas: Honoratissimi Benefactores by Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck (Wampanoag). First Bible published in the Americas: The Eliot Indian Bible is printed in Natick and one of the translators, James Printer (Nipmuc) became the first Native American to use a printing press.

1665

First Native American graduate of Harvard University: Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck (Wampanoag).

1670s

1670

First Native American ordained as a Christian clergy member: Hiacoomes (Wampanoag). 1672

Native Americans served as first mail couriers between New York City and Albany.

18th century

1760s

1765

First Native American recorded as preaching Christianity to a non-Native audience: Samson Occom (Mohegan).

1770s

1772

First published literary work by a Native American: A Sermon Preached at the Execution of Moses Paul, an Indian by Samson Occom (Mohegan).

1790s

1794

First Native American published, written report of other Native American peoples in the English language: A Short Narration of My Last Journey to the Western Country by Hendrick Aupaumut (Mohican).

19th century

1810s

1812

First Native American commissioned brigadier general in the United States Army: William McIntosh (Muscogee).

1820s

1821

Cherokee syllabary is first adopted by the Cherokee Nation general council: created by Sequoyah (Cherokee, ca. 1770–1843)

1822

First Native American admitted to West Point and first Native American graduate: David Moniac (Muscogee). 1825

First Iroquois person to create a written account of the oral histories of the Haudenosaunee: David Cusick (Tuscarora) in Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations.

1827

The Cherokee Nation adopts its first modern constitution.

1828

First Native American newspaper and first newspaper published in an Indigenous language: The Cherokee Phoenix. First editor of the paper was Buck Watie (Cherokee).

1829

First full-length autobiography published by a Native American: A Son of the Forest by William Apess (Pequot). First book published using the Cherokee syllabary: Cherokee Hymn Book printed by Elias Boudinot (Cherokee) and a New England missionary.

1840s

1844

First known Native American person to earn a Western medical degree from Western college: Wa-o-wa-wa-na-onk (Cayuga).

1847

First full-length travelog by a Native American: The Life, History, and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh by George Copway (Ojibwe).