Our Heroes

In a world where image and identity often clash, Quannah Chasinghorse walks the runway like she walks her land — with purpose, pride, and power. Born to the Han Gwich’in of Alaska and the Oglala Lakota of South Dakota, Quannah is more than a model — she’s a movement. A protector of heritage. A defender of the sacred. A warrior in wingtips.

“A warrior’s duty never ends — not when the land still needs defending.”

Pascal Poolaw Sr. wasn’t just a soldier — he was the embodiment of what it means to be a protector of his people. A full-blooded Kiowa, born in Apache, Oklahoma, he carried the warrior legacy of his ancestors into the modern battlefield with unmatched courage and sacrifice.

"He stood his ground. And never gave it up."

In the dark of night, with enemy soldiers pouring toward his unit’s position, Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. didn’t run. He didn’t retreat. He rose to his feet, opened fire — and refused to fall back, even as bullets tore into him.

That decision saved the lives of every man in his platoon.

“She was more than a soldier. She was a sister, a daughter, a mother figure to her platoon, and a beacon of courage to Native women everywhere.”

In the early days of the Iraq War, the world was introduced to the story of Lori Ann Piestewa, a young Hopi woman from Tuba City, Arizona, who became a name etched into the soul of a nation — and a legend among Native peoples.

John Herrington, an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, became the first Native American to fly into space during NASA’s STS-113 mission. Through his historic journey and ongoing advocacy, he continues to inspire Native youth to reach for the stars.

Jim Thorpe, of the Sac and Fox Nation, was a groundbreaking Olympian and professional athlete who excelled in football, baseball, and track. Despite racism and injustice, he remains a symbol of Native strength and is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.