Ada Deer was born in 1835 on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Winsconsin.  Her mother wasn't a Native American herself, butinstead was a white nurse from Philadelphia who, over her lifetime, became a strong advocate for Indian rights.  She also married Deer's Indian father in a South Dakota reservation.  As a reult, Deer grew up an advocate for Native American representation and rights.

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Soon after she attended college at Columbia and the University of Wisconsin, Deer became the first woman to be the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.  She also was appointed to the positions of US Department of the Interior and the first Chairwoman of her tribe.