Susette La Flesche was born on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska in the year 1854. Since she was Native American, her name was Inshata Theumba, meaning "bright eyes." She went to a Presbyterian school for an English language education and then continued her education in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After her schooling, she returned to the Omaha Reservation and taught at a school of government.
Soon, Susette became involved in the struggle for justice for her people. She took up the cause of the Ponca tribe, that their lands had been taken and their people had died from that effect. Susette made a tour with the Ponca chief, Standing Bear, lecturing on the unfairness of the actions. This lecturing caused the Dawes General Allotment Act to be passed in 1887.
In 1881, Susettle married Thomas H. Tibbles, who had released the Ponca and established their rights as Native Americans to protect them from further actions. He worked as the editor of the newspaper, Omaha Herald, and they settled down together on the Omaha Reservation. Susette wrote and illustrated stories of Native culture and also anonymously wrote the book Ploughed Under: The Story of an Indian Cheif.
Susette died near Sancroft, Nebraska, on May 26, 1903.
