Debra White Plume facts for kids

Debra White Plume (Lakota: Wioweya Najin Win, August 20, 1954 – November 10, 2020) was a brave Lakota activist and a strong voice for her community. She worked hard to protect the traditional way of life for the Oglala Lakota people. She was also known as a "water protector" because she believed it was her duty to keep the water clean and safe.

Biography

Debra White Plume grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She was a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. Her parents were John Baptiste Reshaw and Bernice Ione (Swallow) Stone.

In 1973, Debra joined the American Indian Movement (AIM) during the Wounded Knee Occupation. This was a protest on her reservation where Native Americans stood up for their rights and for justice. She was one of the first people to join this important event.

Protecting Lakota Culture and Rights

In 1999, Debra White Plume started a group called Owe Aku (which means "Bring Back the Way"). This group worked to keep Lakota culture alive and protect the rights that were promised to the Lakota people in old treaties. They used peaceful actions to make their voices heard. Debra was the leader of Owe Aku until she passed away.

Her group also encouraged Native Americans to be strong and clear-minded. She had a saying, "Sober Indian, Dangerous Indian," which meant that when people are empowered by their traditional teachings, they can think clearly and bravely stand up for their people's rights and for Mother Earth.

Fighting for Water and Land

Debra White Plume was a fierce protector of the environment. In 2011, she was arrested outside the White House during a protest against the Keystone Pipeline project. This pipeline was planned to carry oil across important lands.

In 2015, she led a lawsuit against a company called Cameco. She wanted to stop them from expanding their mining operations near Crow Butte, which could harm the land and water.

In 2016, Debra played a big part in the protests against the Dakota Access pipeline. She helped set up camps for people who were protesting and organized peaceful actions. She said, "I'm Lakota, I'm a woman, and water is the domain of the women in our nation, and so it's our privilege and our obligation to protect water." She truly believed it was her special role to protect the water.

Debra White Plume passed away from cancer in Rapid City, South Dakota on November 10, 2020. Her work continues to inspire many people to protect the environment and stand up for what is right.