Janie C. (Bullis) Ferreira
Birthday: 1921
Honoree of the San Carlos Apache Tribe as a member of the Elders Cultural Advisory Council. Janie C. (Bullis) Ferreira was born in Old San Carlos on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation on June 4, 1921 daughter of Elin C. Bullis and Elouisa Gardner Bullis. Janie grew up and attended day school in San Carlos. She went on to graduate from North Phoenix High School in 1942. Following graduation she enlisted in the United States Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. Janie served in a military intelligence unit stationed in the Philippines and in Australia as part of General Douglas MacArthur's support staff. Her unit was responsible for interpreting translating typing and sending top secret data concerning Japanese troop and naval movements. Janie was awarded the Bronze Star the World War II Victory Medal the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. Following the war she returned to Arizona and attended Lamson Business College under the G.I. Bill. After graduation she married Frederick M. Ferreira whom she met while in the service and then moved to Hawaii where they resided and raised her four children for the next fifteen years. She was the first of her family to graduate from college and instilled education to her children and others during her life. The Ferreira family returned to San Carlos in 1962 and Janie began working for the Tribal Court as a clerk. A year later she became the executive secretary for the San Carlos Apache Tribe served twelve years under several administrations and retired in 1975. Mrs. Ferreira was named as Grand Marshall for the Veteran's Day Parade in San Carlos in 1988. She served as a member of the Apache Survival Coalition and San Carlos Veteran's Association. She served her community in many ways and continued with the Elders group. She was also an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in San Carlos. Janie also enjoyed making authentic cradleboards quilts Apache dolls and doing beadwork. Her life was centered around family and service to others. In 2001 Janie was recognized at the Women's Memorial in Arlington Virginia and was the 2001 National American Indian Heritage Month Honoree at the Women's Memorial. Janie passed away on February 22, 1996. Janie's legacy is carried on by her children. She was an inspiration to us all.