Elizabeth Cook-Lynn facts for kids

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (born November 17, 1930 – died July 5, 2023) was an important writer, poet, and teacher. She was a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. She was known for speaking up about important issues for Native Americans. She especially cared about tribal sovereignty. This means Native nations having the right to govern themselves.

She often spoke out against people who falsely claimed to have Native American heritage. She believed these claims could harm the real Native nations and their communities.

About Her Life

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn was born in Fort Thompson, South Dakota. This was on the Crow Creek Reservation. She was part of the Dakota people and the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. She grew up in a family that valued learning and leadership. Her father and grandfather were both on the Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Council. Her grandmother wrote for Christian newspapers in both English and Dakota. Her great-grandfather, Gabriel Renville, helped create early dictionaries for the Dakota language.

Her Education and Early Interests

Cook-Lynn went to South Dakota State College. She earned a degree in English and Journalism there. In college, she took a history class about how people moved west. She was surprised that it didn't talk about Native Americans in the area. This made her want to speak up for Native American rights. Cook-Lynn said she started writing out of anger. She felt it was a way to survive and fight against unfairness.

She continued her studies at other universities. She went to New Mexico State University and Black Hills State College. She finished her doctorate degree at the University of Nebraska in 1978. Before that, she was chosen as a fellow by the National Endowment for the Humanities. She studied at Stanford University in 1976.

Her Work as a Teacher and Writer

In 1985, Cook-Lynn helped start Wíčazo Ša Review. This is an academic journal about Native American studies. It's like a special magazine for scholars who study Native American topics. She worked with other important people like Beatrice Medicine to create it. Cook-Lynn spent her career both writing and teaching.

She taught at high schools in New Mexico and South Dakota. She was also a visiting professor at the University of California Davis. Most of her teaching career was at Eastern Washington University. There, she was a professor of English and Native Studies. She retired in 1971 and became a Professor Emerita in 1990. This means she kept her title after retiring. She also worked as a writer-in-residence at many universities. She was a visiting professor at Arizona State University in 2000.

In her book, You May Consider Speaking About Your Art, Cook-Lynn talked about what a poet should do. She believed poets should honor history, events, and the importance of ancestors. Her first book, Then Badger Said This (1977), explored Dakota life and values. She thanked writer N. Scott Momaday for helping with this book.

Her Strong Views

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn was very direct about her opinions. She believed that Native nations should have strong self-governance. She criticized some tribes for being too friendly with the U.S. Federal Government. She felt this could weaken their independence. She used strong words to describe this, comparing it to "Vichy France" during World War II. This was a way to say that some groups might be cooperating too much with an outside power.

Awards and Recognition

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn received many awards for her important work:

• 2002 Literary Contribution Award from the Mountain Plains Library Association.
• Oyate Igluwitaya from the Native American Club at South Dakota State University.
• Her book, Why I Can't Read Wallace Stegner and Other Essays : A Tribal Voice, won a Gustavus Myers Award.
• 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.
• A fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

See also

• List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas
• Native American Renaissance
• Native American Studies