Charon Asetoyer facts for kids

Charon Virginia Asetoyer (born March 24, 1951) is a Comanche activist and a strong supporter of women's health. She helped start the Native American Community Board (NACB) and the Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center (NAWHERC). President Clinton even asked her to join the National Advisory Council for Health and Human Services (HHS). Charon has won important awards, like the Woman of Vision award from the Ms. Foundation and the United Nations Distinguished Services Award.

Charon Asetoyer's Early Life

Charon Asetoyer was born on March 24, 1951, in San Jose, California. Her mother was Comanche, and her father was of European descent. Even in high school, she was an activist. Once, she organized a sit-in in her school cafeteria. She wanted better food and a hot-lunch program. Her protest worked! By the end of the week, the school had improved its lunch options.

Charon was also very creative and independent. She started her own dress company from home. Later, she even left high school to focus on her business. She felt she learned more from real-world experiences than in school. She moved to San Francisco and ran her successful dress shop until 1971. Then, she decided to go to San Francisco City College.

In San Francisco, Charon found more chances to be an activist. She also married Dennis Duncan in 1972. This led her to her first job combining activism and women's health. She worked as a leader and counselor for the WIC program at the Urban Indian Health Clinic. Her marriage to Dennis ended in 1977.

Moving to South Dakota and Further Education

In 1977, Charon moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She went to the University of South Dakota and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1981. That same year, she married Clarence Rockboy, a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe. They moved to Brattleboro, Vermont.

While in Vermont, Charon continued her education and grew her family. She had her first child, a son named Chaska. The couple also adopted Clarence's nephew, Reynold James Brugier. In 1983, Charon earned two master's degrees. She studied Management and Intercultural Administration at Vermont's School for International Training.

Their time in Vermont was short. In 1983, they returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This was to follow Yankton Sioux tradition after Clarence's father passed away. Clarence had to serve a four-year commitment on the reservation. This return to South Dakota marked the real start of Charon Asetoyer's important activist work.

Starting Activist Organizations

Charon Asetoyer's experiences, especially her work in California, inspired her to help more Native women. She wanted to support those who felt left out.

Her first activist group was Women of All Red Nations (WARN). Charon was key to how WARN operated. She created a part of WARN that focused on women's healthcare. WARN worked with the American Indian Movement in the 1980s. Its main goal was to help Native American women who weren't getting enough support. Under Charon's leadership, her branch focused on health and pregnancy issues on the Sioux Falls reservation.

Charon had strong ideas, and sometimes they didn't fit with WARN's politics. So, in 1985, she left WARN. She wanted to create a program that worked exactly as she believed it should. With help from her husband Clarence Rockboy and others, the Native American Community Board (NACB) was formed. It started in their family home's basement in Lake Andes, South Dakota. The NACB aimed to help Native people on the reservation with many different problems.

Creating the Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center

Charon traveled to conferences and seminars. She spoke about important issues, how to prevent problems, and how to get treatment. She wanted to improve the lives of people in the Native American community. By sharing her message, she met others who also wanted change.

Charon dreamed of a special center. This center would provide information and help with women's and reproductive health for Native American women. In 1988, her dream came true! She created the Native American Women's Health Educational Resource Center (NAWHERC). She became its executive director. NACB started NAWHERC to teach Native Americans about health. It also aimed to influence policies that affect Native women across the country and worldwide. Charon was inspired by the National Black Women's Health Imperative after visiting their office.

NAWHERC began tackling many issues for Native American women. By the end of 1988, NAWHERC was very successful. It had already shared information on environmental safety and preserving Native American culture. NAWHERC was the first group in South Dakota to openly discuss how to treat and prevent AIDS. With Charon Asetoyer's leadership, NAWHERC changed life in Sioux Falls. It became known for leading health efforts and community learning for Native women.

Today, NAWHERC is the main office for NACB's activism. Over time, NAWHERC has added many services. These include general help forums, more treatment centers for various issues, and health screenings for concerns like breast cancer. They also offer nutrition services for children and adults, childcare, and help with domestic situations. NAWHERC makes sure Native women's voices are heard. This happens not just in their community, but also at state and national levels. NAWHERC's work has led to important policy changes. For example, it improved how people give their consent for medical care and how their private information is kept secret.

Charon Asetoyer's Recent Work

Besides running NAWHERC, Charon Asetoyer actively takes part in women's rights meetings. She travels worldwide to speak. In the early 2000s, she tried to get involved in politics. She ran for Mayor of Lake Andes and for state senate, but she didn't win.

In the mid-2000s, she fought against unfair voting practices in South Dakota. She argued that some polling places were stopping Native people from voting. In 2004, a polling place in Lake Andes, on the Yankton Sioux Tribe's land, had a sign saying a photo ID was required to vote. This was not legal. Charon Asetoyer stood up against this. She showed that other government-accepted documents were allowed, especially since many Natives on the Yankton Sioux reservation didn't have IDs. Charon said that poll workers were being given wrong information to stop Native votes. At least 21 Native Americans were turned away at that one location.

Charon and the community's strong protests got the attention of South Dakota's Secretary of State, Chris Nelson. He agreed with Charon. He started a plan to teach poll workers and higher authorities the correct rules.

Charon has also spoken at major events like the World Conference for Human Rights. She has spoken in front of the United Nations and directly to US presidents. President Clinton asked her to serve on the National Advisory Council for Health and Human Services (HHS). She also served on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Charon Asetoyer has received many awards for her more than 40 years of activism for the Native American community. But she says there is still much more work to do.

Throughout her career, Charon Asetoyer has helped countless Native American women. She has stood up for their rights, protected them, and given them a strong role model. Through her many organizations, she has greatly improved living and health conditions for Native women. This might not have happened without her strong will and hard work, even when facing challenges.

Writings

Journal articles and book chapters