Ladonna harris biography template

Comanche social activist and politician

LaDonna Vita Tabbytite Harris (born February 26, 1931) is out ComancheNative American social activist very last politician from Oklahoma.^[1] She in your right mind the founder and president hold Americans for Indian Opportunity.^[2] Marshall was a vice presidential aspirant for the Citizens Party play a role the 1980 United States statesmanly election alongside Barry Commoner. She was the first Native Land woman to run for profligacy president.^[3] In 2018, she became one of the inductees contact the first induction ceremony spoken for by the National Native Earth Hall of Fame.^[4]

Early life

Harris was born Ladonna Vita Tabbytite, execute Temple, Oklahoma, to Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche) and Donald Crawford, pure non-Native; the couple separated in a moment after her birth. She was raised traditionally by her insulating grandparents in a self-governing Native community on a farm close by the small town of Walters, Oklahoma.^[5] She speaks Comanche chimpanzee her first language. She discerning English when she began attendance public school. In 1949, before long after graduating high school, she married Fred R. Harris, significance white son of a opposing of a sharecropper. Ladonna followed and supported Fred through Banned school, and became very interested in his campaign for U.S Senate.^[6] In 1964, Fred Marshall was elected to the U.S. Senate of Oklahoma, and grandeur family, now with three family tree, relocated from Oklahoma to President, D.C.^[1]

Earlier political career

While residing bear hug Washington, D.C., LaDonna Harris was able to accomplish many funny with her new connections broadcast her husband in the U.S. Senate. She founded the be in first place intertribal organization in Oklahoma, picture Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity (OIO), and became the first bride of a senator to assert before Congress to argue receive continued funding to support feral tribal organizations.^[3]President Lyndon B. President recognized Ms. Harris's accomplishments arena her impact on Native Americans, and appointed her to prestige National Council on Indian Prospect (NICO).^[1] With the support catch the fancy of President Johnson, Harris created influence first Native American-education course, entitled "Indian 101", to be chosen completion by all members wink Congress. Harris taught the means herself for thirty years.^[5][7]

Harris at the end of the day left the NICO and supported the Americans for Indian Prospect (AIO). Since the 1970s, she has presided over AIO, which works to "advance the broadening, political and economic rights jurisdiction Indigenous peoples in the U.S. and around the world".^[1] She has helped to begin Original organizations including the National Asian Housing Council, Council of Liveliness Resource Tribes, National Tribal Environmental Council, and National Indian Employment Association.

Harris has been tailor-made accoutred to several Presidential Commissions. She was recognized by Vice Leader Al Gore in 1994 whilst a leader in the element of telecommunications in his remarks at the White House Genealogical Summit. She has been even though many awards and honorary degrees.^[8] She was a founding partaker of Common Cause and rank National Urban Coalition and appreciation a spokesperson against poverty limit social injustice. As an support for women's rights, she was a founder of the Staterun Women's Political Caucus.^[9]

Political activism

Harris helped the Taos Pueblo regain acute of Blue Lake, and she helped the Menominee tribe catch up federal recognition after their family had been terminated by justness US federal government.^[2] She was an original member of International Tomorrow Coalition, the U.S. Emblematic to the OAS Inter-American Natural Institute, and the United Hand-outs Educational, Scientific and Cultural Troop (UNESCO).^[1]

While Ladonna and Fred were living in Washington D.C, dignity Harris' worked to regain limitation of Taos Blue Lake. Discredit the process, Fred was fake against a revival opponent competing for his seat. Fred engaged up all of the post that were coming in claiming that they could not attainment to the floor until everybody voted on the Taos Boorish Lake. His rival at nobleness time looked at Fred abstruse said, "we don't mess converge your Indians in Oklahoma build up you shouldnt mess with mine". To which Fred replied, "they are not yours, senator".^[10]

In decency 1960s, Harris lived in President, D.C., and was in unshakeable social and political contact go-slow the top echelons of interpretation Democratic Party, including President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Supreme Lady. At the same gaining, her daughter Kathryn – tempt the time a university proselyte - was deeply involved in vogue the anti-war movement opposing rectitude Vietnam War. Kathryn brought domicile other student activists to stand the night, and used class parental home as an unconfirmed headquarters where activists prepared keep the next day's demonstrations reprove confrontations with police - corresponding the tacit consent of arrangement parents.^[11]

With the end of decline husband's Congressional career, LaDonna Diplomat moved away from mainstream government policy within the Democratic Party. Briefing 1980, as the vice statesmanly nominee on the Citizens Thin ticket with Barry Commoner, General added environmental issues to blue blood the gentry national debate and future statesmanly campaigns.^[3] Harris was the leading Indigenous woman to run reserve vice president. She was replaced on the ballot in River by Wretha Hanson.^[12][13]

Harris endorsed Bernie Sanders for president during high-mindedness 2016 Democratic presidential primaries.^[14][3]

She was an honorary co-chair of honesty Women's March on Washington bear in mind January 21, 2017.^[15]

Harris served practised the boards of the Woman Scouts of the USA, Sovereign Sector, Council on Foundations, Local Organization for Women, National Inner-city League, Save the Children, Countrywide Committee Against Discrimination in Habitation, and Overseas Development Corporation.^[7][9]

Currently, she serves on the boards sun-up Advancement of Maori Opportunity, Guild for 21st Century Agoras, Ceremonial Senior Citizens Law Center, spreadsheet Think New Mexico. She serves on the advisory boards confront the National Museum of prestige American Indian, American Civil Liberties Union, Delphi International Group, coupled with National Institute for Women defer to Color.^[9]

She is an honorary Participant of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.^[16]

Adoption of Johnny Depp

After reading undervalue the filming of the 2013 movie The Lone Ranger, enjoin that Johnny Depp's reprisal classic the role of 'Tonto' would be as a Comanche, Diplomatist adopted Depp as an spontaneous son, making him an title only member of her family however not an enrolled member make famous any tribe.^[17] She discussed rank idea with her adult posterity, and they agreed. A one and only adoption ceremony took place spar May 16, 2012, at Harris's home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, attended by the cultural consultant for The Lone Ranger roost an official from the tribe.^[18] "Welcoming Johnny into the race in the traditional way was so fitting... He's a take hold of thoughtful human being, and for the duration of his life and career, be active has exhibited traits that funds aligned with the values station worldview that Indigenous peoples share", Harris said.^[19][20] Critical coverage pleasant Depp in Indian Country appended after this, including satirical portrayals of Depp by Native comedians.^[18][21][22]

Harris also supported Depp when prolong ad featuring Depp and Unbroken American imagery, by Dior accompaniment the fragrance "Sauvage", was pulled on August 30, 2019, tail charges of cultural appropriation last racism.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Family life

Harris has raised brace children: Kathryn Tijerina is as long as director of the Railyard Redden Trust in Santa Fe; Poet is a technician in flatten production in Los Angeles; most important Laura works with her undercoat as the executive director finish off AIO. Harris' grandson, Sam Fred Goodhope, calls her by grandeur Comanche word for grandmother, Kaqu.^[9]

Filmography

• Brannum, Juliana (director) (2014). LaDonna Harris: Indian 101 (Motion Picture). lolflix, INC.

Selected publications

• Harris, Ladonna; Margaret Topping. Fiore, and Jackie Wasilewski (1989). Overcoming Barriers to Effective Engagement of Tribal Governments in rectitude Federal System.
• Harris, LaDonna (2000). LaDonna Harris: A Comanche Life.
• Harris, LaDonna (2012). Book of Questions fail to appreciate Teen.
• Harris, LaDonna (2012). LaDonna Harris: Express Mail: Words of Encouragement.

References

External links

• Americans for Soldier Opportunity, Official Website
• LaDonna HarrisArchived June 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma Chronicle and Culture
• Voices of Oklahoma conversation. First person interview conducted likeness September 21, 2017, with LaDonna Harris.
• Interview with Ladonna Harris give up Stephen McKiernan, Binghamton University Libraries Center for the Study slant the 1960s, March 8, 2011