Do you know this woman? You should!
Dr Susan La Flesche Picotte 1865-1913
Omaha Tribe Northeastern Nebraska
(born on reservation before Nebraska was a state)
I have lived in Omaha for 26 years. Up until two months ago I had not heard of Dr Picotte. I asked four native Nebraskans who also had not heard of her. Everyone should know about this remarkable woman. Recently she has been in the news because thankfully they are raising money to refurbish the hospital she built...in 1913 while terminally ill in Walthill, NE on the Omaha Indian Reservation.
As an eight year old child, Susan La Flesche sat by a suffering dying Indian woman‘s bedside waiting for a doctor, who had been call 4 times to care for her. The Doctor was out hunting. The woman died the following morning...the doctor never coming to see her . The lack of care haunted and stayed with her.
Dr La Flesche Picotte was the first Native American female doctor. Admitted to 1 of only 2 medical schools that accepted women at that time 31 years before women could even vote and 34 years before she was recognized as an “American.”
Born on the Omaha reservation in Northeastern Nebraska to the last recognized Chief Joseph La Flesche (Iron Eye). Her father instilled the importance of education in his family.
Graduating in 1889 at the age of 24 in Philadelphia 1 year early AND first in her class, she returned to the Omaha reservation and as the only doctor who cared for over 1000 people. She cared for her patients across 350 square miles by foot and horse drawn buggy. During her medical practice she promoted health education, focusing on tuberculosis and alcoholism for her tribe and caring for her patients, fought for native equality and women’s equality. The Doctor was a leader who pushed congressional lawmakers to recognize and safeguard Native peoples‘ legal rights, especially against land fraud. She inspired me to create her likeness with needle felting for these reasons.
Dr Susan La Flesche Picotte is a role model of resiliency and advocacy for all. Joe Starita’s book “A Warrior of the People: How Susan La Flesche Overcame Racial and Gender Equality to Become America’s First Indian Doctor” is on my list to learn even more about this amazing woman. Benjamin Victor is currently working on a bronze statue of Dr La Flesche Picotte. The sculpture will be dedicated on Lincoln's Centennial Mall on Oct. 11th, the first officially recognized Indigenous People’s Day in Nebraska. A hospital restoration project is underway to keep her legacy alive, backed by the Nebraska Medical Association. If you would like to donate I have supplied a link.
For more information on this dynamic woman, click the following links:
“My office hours are any and all hours of the day and night”. Dr La Flesche Picotte
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