Famous Native Americans Today You Should Know

If you’re wondering, “Who are those famous people who have a Native American heritage?“, then it’s time to find out. You may be a Native American woman who wants to know what celebrities have the same native heritage, or you may just be curious about what famous people belong to this beautiful and deeply rooted native culture.

As of now, there are 574 federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States, and the number of unrecognized ones is around 400. There are also many actors and actresses, singers, politicians, athletes, and other famous figures with international recognition who represent their Native-American community in modern-day America.

Besides, if you’re curious about the history of Indigenous people and would like to delve deeper into their culture, Native American Netroots is the resource you need.

November is a Native American heritage month, and in honor of this, we’re listing some of the popular American-Indian celebrities and the achievements that they’re known for. 

Modern Native American Celebrities

Wes Studi (Cherokee)

If you’re a film enthusiast, then there’s a high chance that you’ve heard of the name Wes Studi. Hostiles, Geronimo: An American Legend, The Last of the Mohicans, and Dances with Wolves are some of his memorable works that to this day make a huge impression on people who watch them. 

The actor and film producer was born on December 17, 1947, into a Cherokee family in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma. And even though Studi would rather be known as an actor rather than a “Native American actor,” he’s proud of his heritage.

In 2019, he made history as the first Native American actor to earn an Academy Honorary Award. When accepting the award, he stated, “It’s been a wild and wonderful ride, and I’m really proud to be here tonight as the first Indigenous Native American to receive an Academy Award.” 

His career has inspired a dozen Native American characters in modern Hollywood storytelling.

Gil Birmingham (Comanche)

Gil Birmingham is an American television actor who’s best known for starring in Yellowstone, Banshee, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and the Twilight Saga film series. He was born on July 13, 1953, in San Antonio, Texas. A passionate actor, many people admire him for his dedication and talent, and for bringing authenticity to every character he plays. 

Portraying a Native American tribal chief and casino owner was a special moment for the actor, and he described it as his “dream character.” The reason is that it was a great opportunity to play a modern Indigenous character with power and intelligence. 

However, the actor said that he didn’t know he was Native American until he was 14 years old. In an interview for “Cowboys and Indians,” Birmingham described why his parents felt the need to hide this information from him. He said, “In my estimation, people who do that sort of thing try to operate in a covert way that reduces the pain in their life and, hopefully, the pain in their children’s life.” In other words, racism and stereotypes towards Indigenous people have contributed to this, and many Natives may still avoid intrusive questions about their ancestry.

Lily Gladstone (Piegan Blackfeet and Nez Perce)

Lily Gladstone is an American actress who was born on August 2, 1986, in Kalispell, Montana. She gets her Native American ancestry (Piegan Blackfeet (Siksikaitsitapi) and Nez Perce (Nimíipuu)) from her father’s side, and she’s of European descent on her mother’s side.

You could know her from films such as Killers of the Flower Moon, Fancy Dance, Certain Women, The Unknown Country, and many others. Gladstone also became the first Native American actress to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and to earn the Academy Award for Best Actress. 

Lily is proud of her Native American ancestry, and when asked about Native representation in Hollywood, the actress replied, “Native Americans have been on this continent making art for all of history. We’ve been out here representing ourselves, representing our stories and representing our communities forever.” Her words powerfully reflect indigenous identity.

Jason Momoa (Pawnee, Native Hawaiian)

Jason Momoa, a prominent actor and film producer,  was born on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Momoa’s heritage is a rich blend of Native Hawaiian (on his father’s side) and European — mainly German, Irish, and Native American (on his mother’s side). You may know him from Aquaman, Chief of War, Fast X, Game of Thrones, and his other projects. 

When it comes to his Native American ancestry, he states, “I’m half Hawaiian and the haka is a very sacred thing, something your family teaches you – my father taught me.”

Beyond his acting career, Momoa is also an environmental activist, representing Indigenous perspectives in environmental dialogue and fighting single-use plastics to support indigenous sovereignty and protection of indigenous lands.

Vincent Neil Emerson (Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb)

Vincent Neil Emerson, a country singer-songwriter, draws inspiration from his heritage in his songs. Emerson has released three albums (Fried Chicken and Evil Women, Vincent Neil Emerson, and The Golden Crystal Kingdom) and inspires his fans all across the world.

The singer was born in Van Zandt County, Texas, and was raised by his mother, on whose side he belongs to the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb. He also described the history of the tribe in his song called The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache, proving that he’s proud of his Native American heritage. In his interview with BGS, he said, “Indigenous music is folk music. Indigenous stories are part of American folklore.”

Vincent also stated that after releasing the song that he dedicated to his tribe, he received an immense amount of support from Indigenous people, which helped him find a community in that identity.

Kay Walkingstick (Cherokee)

Art is a special form of expression that inspires people visually, and Kay Walkingstick, a Native-American artist who’s a part of the Cherokee Nation, proves just that. She was born on March 2, 1935, in Syracuse, New York, and is a Native American from her father’s side. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of Canada, and the Israel Museum are some of the places where her paintings are displayed.

Walkingstick has four siblings who got to experience their Native American ancestry, unlike Kay, who was born after her mother moved to Syracuse and had less understanding of her heritage. But despite this, her family was proud of their heritage, and her mother told her stories about it. She also studied Native American art and history in graduate school to learn more about her heritage. 

John Herrington (Chickasaw)

The first Native American to go to space was John Herrington. He was born on September 14, 1958, in Wetumka, Oklahoma. Before joining the United States Navy in 1984, he completed a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

He’s an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, and to honor his heritage, Herrington carried the Chickasaw Nation’s flag, a national flute, and six eagle feathers on his trip to space. 

In 2002, Herrington became a member of the Chickasaw Hall of Fame. And in 2018, he became one of the first inductees honored by the National Native American Hall of Fame.

Let’s Sum It All Up

The accomplishments of modern-day indigenous women and men shape the culture and history in powerful ways. Indigenous Americans and Native American children are proud of those who represent their heritage in the media, from writers and singers to actors and politicians.

Through their work, those individuals challenge stereotypes and make history in today’s contemporary world.