Maria Tallchief was a prima ballerina whose grace and skill changed ballet forever. Born in Oklahoma as Elizabeth Marie Tallchief, her father was of the Osage Nation of Indigenous Americans. After working as an understudy for a Russian ballet company in the U.S., Maria was given the chance to perform. She astonished the crowds and quickly started to gain fame. People tried to convince her to change her last name, yet Maria kept Tallchief to honor her heritage. Eventually, she became the first American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet and was the first American to perform at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. She also held the title of prima ballerina at the New York City Ballet for 13 years. Maria received many awards during her lifetime and is an incredible example of how staying true to yourself can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Born in South Dakota as a Yankton Dakota Sioux, Zitkála-Šá was raised by her mother before being taken by Quakers to a school in Indiana when she was eight years old. Zitkála-Šá felt torn between her Native American upbringing and the opportunities she was given at boarding school. Later in life, she wrote the first American Indian opera, The Sun Dance Opera, and fought for the protection of Native American culture and tribal identity. Throughout her life, Zitkála-Šá worked for the improvements of Native Americans in education, healthcare, and legal recognition. Her life as a writer, editor, musician, educator, and advocate helped bring attention to Native people to give them the rights they deserved.