In 1865, Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte was born to Chief Joseph “Iron Eye” La Flesche and Mary Gale on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. The inequity in her early life forged a deep passion for helping others, and she was inspired to pursue medicine after witnessing a Native American woman die after being refused care by a white doctor. After graduating as valedictorian from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1889, Dr. Picotte returned to the Omaha Reservation to serve as the physician for the government boarding school. Soon she was working 20 hours per day, splitting her time between caring for patients in and out of the school, elevating community health and hygiene, as well as tasks like writing letters and translating documents for patients and their families. Year after year, she traveled the reservation on foot or by horseback :racehorse: , often with her children by her side, to make house calls and check in on patients. It is estimated that she served over 1,300 patients in a 450-square-mile area. The trust she built during this time allowed her to effectively advocate for public health, particularly during lethal tuberculosis outbreaks, advocating for cleanliness, fresh air, and eradication of houseflies after the Office of Indian Affairs refused to provide any formal aid. Dr. Picotte became increasingly active in politics later in life, defending Omaha land from fraud on the government, and serving as a delegate to the Secretary of the Interior. Her legacy lives on today in the Picotte Memorial Hospital in Walthill, Nebraska, which opened shortly before her death in 1915??. It was the first hospital on any Indian reservation not funded by government money. ?? Corey Begay (Diné) is an artist and graphic designer from Cedar Springs, AZ, in the Navajo Nation. His work explores themes of culture, education, nature, and expressionism through visual media and graphic design. Corey welcomes connections and commissions at [email protected]. #UPS #Healthcare #Logistics #NativeAmericanIndianHeritageMonth
