Honoring Lakota women’s history

MISSION SD – March is National Women’s History Month. For Lakota relatives, any time is a good time to remember and honor women.

Vi Waln (Sicangu Lakota), a nationally published journalist, wrote in a 2016 article for the Lakota Country Times, “Most of the commemorations related to Women’s History in this country are focused on females of European descent…Consequently, we rarely read about the contributions of Lakota women during Women’s History Month.

“There are many tribal women who have contributed a lot to our society. They are rarely spotlighted by the American media; still, it’s important to teach our children about them. …Lakota women must be treated as the sacred beings they are. We are the doorway for the coming generations. …”

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota) combed through the winter counts and oral records of her ancestors to discover their past. Her book, Sioux Women: Traditionally Sacred, describes the struggles and joys of her grandmothers and other women who maintained tribal life as European colonizers pushed for dominance in the Americas.

Sneve quotes Luther Standing Bear (1868 – 1939), a Sicangu and Oglala Lakota author, educator, philosopher, and actor who worked to preserve Lakota culture and sovereignty. Standing Bear wrote in 1931, “All tasks of women – cooking, caring for children, tanning, and sewing were considered dignified and worthwhile. No work was looked upon as menial, consequently there were no menial workers…. Sioux women are the center of tribal life and the core of the tiospaye, the extended family. They maintain the values and traditions of Sioux culture.”

According to Marcella Gilbert (Cheyenne River Lakota), “In traditional Lakota culture, men’s and women’s roles were equally valued. …  (Women’s) oppression came when the European Christians and the patriarchal U.S. government came.”

Gilbert and her mother, Madonna Thunder Hawk (Cheyenne River Lakota), were recently honored when invited to be program speakers on January 29, 2025, at the Founders Week observance at Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Reservation.

Denise One Star teaches Adult Basic Education at Sinte Gleska and was a member of the planning committee for the day. She has been acquainted with Thunder Hawk and Gilbert for thirty years and says she has always been an admirer of them both.

One Star said, “I have three heroes and Madonna is one of them. …She is a beautiful person, a strong, humble, woman leader. She does not seek recognition for herself. She is a gifted seamstress, she beads, and does many remarkable things. Her story is uplifting to all women. Madonna and Marcie are both good role models and inspire others.

Thunder Hawk and One Star are both jingle dress dancers and have danced together many times. “Dance is like a medicine…,” One Star said. “Madonna has always been an advocate for health. In the 1950’s and ‘60’s, she was a senior Olympian and went to the national finals.” At 84 years old, Thunder Hawk still walks 1 – 3 miles every day depending on the weather.

“Madonna is still playing an important role as an advocate. She was born with a purpose and she’s living that purpose, helping the people.”

 

 

The day’s activities started with a showing of the documentary film “Warrior Women,” which features Thunder Hawk’s lifetime of activism on behalf of Native Americans, always accompanied and supported by Gilbert. After the showing of the film, those attending honored Thunder Hawk with a gift of a traditional star quilt. Pat Bad Hand, a well-known singer from Rosebud, sang an honor song for the occasion.

After lunch Thunder Hawk and Gilbert sat on a panel of speakers who discussed the topic of student activism. Chas Jewett and Dera Iyotte, both from Cheyenne River, also sat on the panel.

Thunder Hawk said that Sinte Gleska students voiced worry and concern about the state of the nation and asked, “What do we do?” Thunder Hawk said she told them, “Don’t be afraid to take action. You don’t need anyone’s permission. …You gotta stand your ground.”

Gilbert remarked that activism today is very different than it was before the prevalence of social media. “On some issues, social media has made activism easier and more effective. …On the other hand, social media makes it harder to confront disinformation. AI (artificial intelligence) is definitely a threat…. Using AI, people can take a likeness and a voice recording, create false information and put things out there that are totally untrue.”

Gilbert continued, “The call for activism needs to be expanded. Students need to hear this more than once a year.” Thunder Hawk specifically mentioned activists in the organization NDN Collective as effective modern activists.

Colette Keith, Executive Vice President of Sinte Gleska, remarked, “Madonna and my mother Carlene (Swan) were high school cheerleaders together in 1959 at the Old Agency. We were extremely honored to have Madonna and her daughter Marcie Gilbert and Chas Jewett, all 3 from Cheyenne River, address our Founders Day panel on Student Activism. They are all, real flesh and blood gifts to the Oceti Sakowin because of their lifelong continued commitment to justice.”

Dr. Margaret Ross, Dean of Students at Sinte Gleska and team lead on the presentation and honoring, said, “It was an honor to recognize the phenomenal women from our communities. Madonna and Marcella Thunder Hawk, renowned activists from the American Indian Movement, shared their inspiring life stories and the continued impact they make in Indian Country. Chas Jewett and Dera Iyotte also joined the panel, bringing vibrant and enriching perspectives to the discussion about their life experiences.”

Today, Gilbert and Thunder Hawk focus their activism within the Waš’ágiya Nájiŋ (Standing Strong Grandmothers Group) on Cheyenne River which is dedicated to child welfare. Thunder Hawk said, “We are still rattling cages, trying to help one another.”

For more information on Women’s History Month, go to www.nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org (Contact Grace Terry at graceterrywilliams@gmail.com)

 

 

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SOURCES:

 

Personal interview with Madonna Thunder Hawk and Marcella Gilbert

 

https://www.westrivereagle.com/articles/womens-equality-day-a-lakota-perspective/

 

https://indianz.com/News/2016/03/29/vi-waln-remembering-women-who.asp

 

https://www.westrivereagle.com/articles/wasagiya-najin-grandmothers-group-child-welfare-hearings-underway/

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