Beatrice Medicine facts for kids

Beatrice Medicine (born August 1, 1923 – died December 19, 2005) was an amazing Lakota woman from the Sihasapa and Minneconjou tribes. Her Lakota name was Hinsha Waste Agli Win, which means "Returns Victorious with a Red Horse Woman." She was a very smart scholar, an anthropologist (someone who studies human cultures), and a teacher. She spent her life studying, teaching, and helping Native communities. She focused on things like bilingual education (teaching in two languages), mental health, tribal identity, and issues important to women, children, and different groups of people.

Her Early Life

Beatrice Medicine was born on August 1, 1923. Her home was on the Standing Rock Reservation in Wakpala, South Dakota.

Learning and Education

Beatrice Medicine loved to learn. She earned her first degree, a BA, in anthropology from South Dakota State University in 1945. Later, in 1954, she got her MA in both Sociology and Anthropology from Michigan State University. She kept learning and finally earned her highest degree, a Ph.D, in 1983 from the University of Wisconsin.

Her Amazing Career

Beatrice Medicine studied how people behave, especially when it came to racism (treating people unfairly because of their race) and linguistic discrimination (treating people unfairly because of their language). She worked in universities and also directly with communities. A big part of her work was helping Indigenous languages and cultures become strong again and grow.

She was known all over the world for her work with students and other teachers. For over 50 years, she taught at many different places. These included schools like Santo Domingo Pueblo Agency School and Flandreau Indian School. She also taught at big universities like the University of British Columbia, Stanford University, Dartmouth College, and the University of Washington. She retired as a Professor of Anthropology from California State University, Northridge.

In her book, Learning to Be an Anthropologist and Remaining Native, she joked about moving around so much. She said it was like her Lakota ancestors who used to move around a lot. Her dedication to learning and teaching led to many books, speeches, and studies. She received many awards for her efforts to make things fair and equal for everyone.

Fighting for Rights

Beatrice Medicine was very active in working for fairness and equal rights in Native communities. She helped in cities like Seattle, Vancouver, and Calgary. In 1974, she was an expert witness in a federal court case. This case was about the Wounded Knee incident, a historical event where Native Americans stood up for their rights.

In 1984, she was chosen to join the board of Common Cause. This is a nonprofit organization that works to make sure powerful people are held responsible. In 1993-94, she took a special job with the Women's Branch of Canada's Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. She saw this as a way to speak up for Indigenous families and their legal rights.

Even after she stopped teaching in the early 1990s, she kept working for social change. When she returned to her home on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, she helped build a new public school. She also served on the Pardon Board and the Wakpala-Smee School District School board.

Her Later Years and Passing

Beatrice Medicine passed away on December 19, 2005, during a surgery in Bismarck, North Dakota. She did not want a funeral service. Her family asked that instead of sending flowers, people could donate to the American Indian College Fund in Denver, Colorado.

She is remembered by her sister, Grace V Yardley, her son, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, and her adopted daughter, JoAllyn Archambault. JoAllyn is also an anthropologist.

Her Lasting Impact

To honor Beatrice Medicine and her dedication to education, the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) created the Bea Medicine Award. This award gives $500 to up to four students who are studying in college or graduate school. It helps them attend the Annual Meeting of the SfAA.

Her important papers and research are kept safe at the National Anthropological Archives at the Smithsonian Institution.

Awards and Honors

• (1991) Distinguished Service Award from the American Anthropological Association.
• (1996) Bronislaw Malinowski Award from the Society for Applied Anthropology.
• (2005) George and Louise Spindler Award for Education in Anthropology from the American Anthropological Association.
• Ohana Award from the American Counseling Association.
• Outstanding Woman of Color Award from the National Institute of Women of Color.
• Honoring Our Allies Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.