There have been discussions about current role models the children could look up to, and women who are strong and give hope to the people. I was looking for some current figures and came across Theresa TwoBulls, from what I have found, she was vice president of the Ogalala tribal council, and during that term took notice of many of the problems facing the people. She ran for office last year and won, and from what I have read, she seems to really WANT to help the people. There are alot of issues for one person to tackle and I think she has a good attitude about it. I think it's quite appropriate for there to be a woman elected my a matriarchal people, and I was hoping those of you in that area would be willing to share your experiences here. Maybe it will be seen by a little girl and it will give her pride in herself as a woman and her nation. Here are some articles I have found on Theresa.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-giago ... 17754.html

http://www.lakotacountrytimes.com/news/ ... Bulls.html

http://www.dakotaday.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=19

wow...awesome woman:)

I really like this part, seems like she is addressing some overdue issues.

When an epidemic of teen-suicides erupted on the reservation, she declared a state of emergency to address and, hopefully, solve the recurring problem. When a severe blizzard struck last week Two Bulls set emergency measures in motion in order to get propane, wood and food, to the many residents stranded in their homes far out on the reservation.

Also these specifically, shows alot of heart and caring for the people.

President Two Bulls: One of my council members told me, "When you go to Washington tell them, 'The economic recession that the federal government is in now, with the experience of today, we, Native Americans, have been in for many, many years, and we survived it. The recession that you are feeling today, the Native Americans have lived for over a hundred years. And guess what, we survived it. And we are going to continue to survive.'" We are survivors. No matter what you force on us, we going to come out of it standing. Our grandfathers, our great-grandfathers, they were all survivors, and we've got that in our hearts.



I'm tired of this rut we're in. And I told myself that if there is any way I can help the people get out of this rut we are in, I will try. Low and behold, we got the stimulus package. We're going to get jobs.



President Two Bulls: One of my goals is to develop government-to-government relationships not only with the state and federal government but also with the counties. We've always been looked down on by local governments, but my experience with state government helped me communicate that we are a government. We're a government, and they need to work with us and respect us on that level of being a government. I think my four years of being in the state legislature has really opened a lot eyes.

I tell them, "We're not going to go away, just like you are not going to go away. We're part of the state of South Dakota so we've got to start working together. We need to stop putting sanctions and restrictions on the tribes."

To be serious, we never really looked at ourselves as a government. We need to realize that we are a government and we're on the same level as a state or county government. Those are the relationships we have to develop. And we have to improve them. In the past, it's tribes down here and all these governments up here dictating to us. I told Senator Thune, "From now on, look at us as a government. Don't look at us as a tribe. We're a government and we are the same level as you. That's how I want you to look at us."

Most people still fail to realize we have a treaty with the federal government. Our ancestors fought for that treaty, they bled for that treaty. They signed that treaty in good faith, with a good heart, trusting that the federal government would provide for us because they took our land.




President Two Bulls: Yes, and it's also my message to the other tribes. I went to the Montana, Wyoming tribes in February, and I told them "We have to unite across the United States and understand each other." Our motto in this administration is: "Unity, understanding and peace." We have to unite in our families, then within the tribe, then the tribes as a whole. We have to understand each other, our cultures, our traditions, our needs and concerns, and then make peace with each other. I met the Crow tribal chairman, Mr. Burns. He had the same idea as me. He looked at me and said, "You know, Theresa, we have to put aside the past. Maybe we were enemies way back then, but now we are in a different time, and we have to come together and we have to unite, put our differences aside." And I just sat there looking at him. Now I'm hearing other tribes say it. Let's work together, help each other.



President Two Bulls: The tribes have been talking and we want to eliminate the "in-between". Let's work directly with the federal government. That's in the process. We are going to work on it, and we'll see if there's a way to eliminate the Bureau of Indian Affairs.



And this part most of all...


First of all we need healing among our people, and healing among ourselves, and we have to develop the trust of the people. We have to include the community leadership in what we're doing. The distrust in the past came because people never knew what tribal government was doing. That's why I said this administration would operate on transparency. And we are going to operate on communication. We want to keep everybody informed about what we are doing.

We have a small group that isn't grasping this change, that isn't seeing what we are trying to do. They still want to stay in the negative part of everything, but what we're trying to do is push that negative aside and deal with the positive. And this won't benefit tribal government. It's going to benefit the people. With this council it's the people they have in their hearts.

bad thing is, the government has little concern for those of us who are on the lower rung of life so to speak.

My own personal battle with the govt is no different and serves to remind me just how apathetic they really are.

Yet we must continue to tell them and remind them of their sworn duty to uphold ALL peoples of this country, not just the rich ones or this group or that group as they so choose.

I wish i could do more right now than pray, but its all i can do for now.

What an amazing woman ,But Do you want to tel me that this topic ourchildren are dying is a lie .If she say Obama are helping and is giving money then why are there people writing this things .?rainbow

Many people felt like Obama was going to create positive change, when all he said was change, he didn't say what kind.

Alot of money was given out to all sorts of people during the stimulus, but our children will pay for it, and their children and their children. That is if this country doesn't collapse first. Then the children will pay a much harder price.

The children ARE dying and have been for many years, it's just recently that the white society has BEGAN to open their eyes, and that is just a tiny bit. This Theresa might have made an error in judgement, many people did with Obama, he's very charismatic.

But her work speaks louder than her words, that's why I asked for input from people in that area. From what I see, she is a good woman, this campaign to bring the winter conditions to light, caused CNN to get backlogged with calls. The people have an amazing power at their fingertips, they just have to step up and use it.

I did not think of calling CNN, i may just do so...thanks for the idea!

Obama didnt fool me I knew what was coming when everybody was getting their knee.s in a knot because of him .I was feeling upset and just couldnt understand why only afterwards I could see how he disappointed people so sad really .But would it have been different if some else become President ????? I dont know ,

Yes Howard call cnn and everybody else you can think of .that Lady Amanpour is a very good journalist she would go to hell to make a report about something.

Mitakuye Oyasin .Rainbow

I don't think so, I see them all work for the same things. He didn't fool me either, but that is us. Not everyone sees the same, for instance calling CNN is not something I wouldn't have thought of either, but it worked. We all have our piece, we just need to work together to see the whole puzzle. But in that it takes putting past wrongs behind us and moving on, never forgetting. Who can look forward if they are always looking behind? Yet at the same time is is good to retrace your steps and remember where you have been, that good that was and work to relive that.

i am just glad there are folks like this in the world who can and will do something about the issues that face us.

I have a very good story to tell you .There was a shop in our neighbour hood the lady who sell the things there was very unfriendly .Everytime I come to buy some thing she would treat me bad .I would always smile and say hello and goodbye in a friendly manner . One day My daughter ask me Mum why are you always friendly with this Woman she.s so stupit .I said I.m going to smile at her until she smile back .And she did that was my Victory .

The moral of the story Dont give up you never know when its your day of Victory .Rainbow

Sad appendage to this this story is there is a group intent on impeaching her
as described in this excerpt from an article by Tim Giago-

Theresa “Huck” Two Bulls was elected president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe by majority vote over Russell Means less than six months ago. She still has one and one half years to serve. But it may come as no surprise to anyone who knows the politics of the Pine Ridge Reservation that there is now a concerted, though minority, effort to impeach her.

Former President John Steele, the longest serving president in the history of the Indian Reorganization Act government, left the tribe in a terrible financial mess. To top it off, his administration failed to pay a construction contractor a debt of more than $1 million. That chicken came home to roost after Steele left office and landed right in the lap of the Two Bulls administration. She and her council fought it in court and lost because they entered the scene just a little late. Two Bulls and her Tribal Council fought a good fight in court, but the deck was stacked against them and they lost.

With the threat of forfeiture of the tribe’s finances hanging in the balance, the Two Bulls administration had no choice but to pay off the debt. This is apparently one of the charges to impeach her. One of the sad parts of this threat of impeachment is that those Lakota that compiled the 96-page impeachment document have not once, not a single time, come into the office of President Two Bulls to air their concerns nor to make an effort to find a peaceable and equitable way to settle them. Instead they are busy attacking her for things over which she or her council had no control.

Now the question is who are "those Lakota" who mount this effort and what are the real reasons? Do they
have their own specific agenda? Do they covet the office? Where is the concern for matriarchy and the
wise counsel of women?
Six months? Give me a break, and at least give this woman a chance to do something. I just noticed
I may have provided an excerpt from an article that is linked, if so my mistake.


She is an awesome woman Howard-there's a lot of them out there that aren't known or heard from
as they don't seek notoriety, only service to their people. Another who has done good work is from
your own-Wilma Mankiller, who we've discussed a little here.

Rainbow

this is one woman on one reservation... there are so many others who have none like this one to help them and look after them.

i have always known that women have a special medicine. One which has to be honored and cherished as well as protected.

Seems to me this woman needs our prayers...Theresa Two Bulls i will smudge and pray for a blessing for you.

to those seeking her office i say this, back off and let the woman do her job...she hasnt had a chance to really shine as of yet.

I am made to happy for this victory you have rainbow
and I would have this woman two bulls to have the victory
to in her work.

It is a good thing to be teaching this to your daughter rainbow, many small victories can result in one large victory.

I will pray for Theresa Two Bulls sounds like she needs it :I hope very much that she make it to stay in her post .And I also hope that the Creator send more Woman to help on the Resevations.The mothers need guidance and backing with their children.Rainbow

The men could use some guidance as well.

True Pahchoka we cant leave the men out they are the back bone of the Family .They can also help the Families who dont have a Father at home .If they want and the women alow them to .my Ideals are maybe to high for some people if you dont like it then just let me know I dont mind .Rainbow