Della Warrior facts for kids

Della Warrior, born in 1946, is a very important leader. She was the first and only woman to lead the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. She also became the president of the Institute of American Indian Arts. There, she helped the school find a permanent home. She also raised over one hundred million dollars for it. In 2007, she was honored in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. Since 2021, she has led the Multi-Indigenous Collaborative for Action (MICA) Group. This is a non-profit organization led by Native people.

Early Life and Growing Up

Della Cheryl Hopper was born in 1946 in Pawnee, Oklahoma. She grew up in Red Rock, Oklahoma, with her mother and stepfather. Della is a member of the Otoe–Missouria Tribe of Indians. She also has Muscogee heritage.

Her family moved often when she was young. This meant Della lived in many different cities. These included Shawnee, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City. She also lived in Dallas and Los Angeles. Della started school at Pawnee Indian School. She went to about two different schools each year until sixth grade. In high school, she attended six different schools.

Della Warrior's Education

After high school, Della went to Northeastern State University. This university is in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She first planned to study medicine.

In the summer before her third year, she attended a workshop. This workshop was at the University of Colorado. This experience made her feel even more proud of her Native heritage. It also made her interested in Native studies. So, in her third year, she changed her major to sociology. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1966.

Della Warrior later earned her master's degree in education. She received it from Harvard University in 1971.

Career and Leadership Roles

Right after college, Della Warrior started working. She became the director of social services for Head Start. This program helped families in six counties in Kansas.

In 1971, she became the Director of Indian Education for Albuquerque schools. She worked in this role until 1987. The school district had 117 schools. About 3,300 Native students attended these schools. They came from over 100 different tribes.

Leading the Otoe-Missouria Tribe

From 1989 to 1992, Della Warrior made history. She became the first and only woman to lead the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. As chairperson, she worked on many important issues. These included roads, transportation, and environmental concerns. She also focused on health and public safety for her tribe.

Work at the Institute of American Indian Arts

From 1993 to 1998, Warrior worked at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). She first served as Acting Director of Development. Then she became the Director of Development.

In 1998, Della Warrior became the President of the Institute of American Indian Arts. She held this role until 2006. During her time, she achieved something very important. She helped the institution get a permanent campus. Before this, the school had been in temporary homes for 38 years. She also greatly increased the school's funding. She helped raise over one hundred million dollars in 12 years.

Museum and Non-Profit Leadership

In June 2013, Warrior was chosen to lead the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC). This museum is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was the first woman and the first Native American to be the museum's director. She retired in 2021. During her time, she made the museum's education department much bigger. She also oversaw more than 30 exhibitions. This included updating the museum's main exhibit, Here, Now and Always, which opened in 2022.

After retiring from MIAC, Warrior became President and CEO of the Multi-Indigenous Collaborative for Action (MICA Group). She co-founded this organization with Wilma Mankiller in 2006. Recently, MICA Group managed a $10 million Cultural Resource Fund. This fund helps with cultural heritage projects for tribes.

Personal Life

Della Hopper married Clyde Warrior in 1965. He was from the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. They had three daughters: Mary Martha, Andrea Immogene, and Gabriella Kathleen.

Achievements and Awards

Della Warrior has held many other important roles. She has been a consultant for various Native organizations. She also served on the boards of important groups. These include the American Indian College Fund and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Awards and Honors

Della Warrior has received many awards for her work:

• Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International (2005)
• Alice Paul Award, New Mexico Women's Foundation (2008)
• Woman of the Year, Albuquerque YWCA (2002)
• Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame (2007)
• Star of the Southwest Award, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (2004)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (2018)