Avis Red Bear facts for kids

Avis Red Bear (born Little Eagle) is an important American journalist. She started her own newspaper, the Teton Times. This newspaper helps Native American communities. She is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Avis Red Bear's Career in Journalism and Leadership

Avis Red Bear studied how to share information (Mass Communications). She also learned about Native American cultures (Native Studies). She went to Black Hills State University and then Sitting Bull College. She finished college in 1987.

Starting in Journalism

In 1990, Avis Red Bear began working at the Lakota Times newspaper. She wrote many important stories. One series of stories showed people who pretended to be traditional healers. The founder of the Lakota Times, Tim Giago, said this was a big achievement.

Over the next ten years, Avis Red Bear became a top editor. She even came up with the newspaper's new name, Indian Country Today. This name was adopted in 1992.

Founding the Teton Times

In 2002, Avis Red Bear started her own newspaper called the Teton Times. It is based in McLaughlin, South Dakota. The Teton Times mainly serves the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. This tribe includes the Lakota and Dakota people.

The Teton Times prints a newspaper every week. It also has a Facebook page. Many of her readers do not have internet access. So, her printed paper is often the only way they learn local news. This includes news about their government or kids who do well in school.

Why Independent Newspapers Matter

Many Native newspapers are owned by tribal governments. But the Teton Times is different. It is an independent newspaper. This means it is not controlled by the tribal government. Tim Giago said the Teton Times is very important. It is one of the most read independent newspapers.

Being independent is important for press freedom. This means the newspaper can report the news without government control. A report called American Indian Media Today explains this. It says that tribal governments own most Native American media. This can make press freedom a challenge.

Leadership Roles

In 2005, Avis Red Bear ran for office in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She became the first woman elected as vice president.

In 2014, President Barack Obama visited the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation. Avis Red Bear was there. She shared her worries about the Keystone Pipeline. This pipeline could have affected her tribe's land. She attended a special gathering (Pow Wow) held for President Obama.

As of 2023, she has served on the Tribal Council for 22 years. She is a councilwoman at-large.

Avis Red Bear was also elected to the board of the Native American Journalists Association in 2019. She is also on the board of trustees for Sitting Bull College.

Personal Life

Avis Red Bear has five children. She also has fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She lives on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

Awards and Nominations

• 2017, nominated for the Spirit of Dakota Award