Faith Spotted Eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Faith Spotted Eagle
Tȟuŋkáŋ Inážiŋ Win |
|
|---|---|
.png) |
|
| Born | 1948 (age 76–77) Lake Andes, South Dakota, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | University of South Dakota |
| Occupation | PTSD counselor, educator |
| Known for |
|
| Political party | Democratic |
Faith Spotted Eagle is an important American activist and leader. She is a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe. She is well-known for trying to stop the building of big oil pipelines like the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline.
In the 2016 presidential election, she made history. She became the first Native American person to receive an electoral vote for President of the United States. She was also one of the first two women ever to get an electoral vote for president. Faith Spotted Eagle's single vote came from Robert Satiacum Jr., an elector from Washington. He chose to vote for her instead of Hillary Clinton.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Faith Spotted Eagle grew up in a village called White Swan. This village is now underwater, beneath Lake Francis Case. This lake was created by the Fort Randall Dam. She still lives nearby in Lake Andes, South Dakota.
She went to college at American University and Black Hills State College. She also earned a master's degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of South Dakota. While she was a student, she even worked for Senator George McGovern.
Faith Spotted Eagle is a native speaker of the Lakota language. She learned English when she went to school.
Her Work and Activism
Helping Others and Teaching
Faith Spotted Eagle has done many different jobs to help her community. She has worked as a counselor, helping veterans who have PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). She has also been a school counselor and a principal. She taught the Dakota language at Sinte Gleska College.
She helped start the Brave Heart Society. This group teaches young girls about traditional Dakota culture. She also leads the Ihanktonwan Treaty Committee. She manages the Brave Heart Lodge in Lake Andes. This lodge works to keep Dakota cultural beliefs alive for future generations. Faith Spotted Eagle has even represented the Treaty Committee at the United Nations.
Standing Up for Respect
Faith Spotted Eagle has spoken out strongly when she felt Native Americans were not being respected. For example, she criticized President Donald Trump for using the term "Pocahontas" to refer to Senator Elizabeth Warren. She said that this kind of comment was like an "emotional attack." She believes that such words are very harmful and should not be used.
Her Political Journey
Running for State Office
Faith Spotted Eagle has run for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives a couple of times. In 2006, she ran for the 21st district. She didn't actively campaign much, but she still received many votes, especially in Buffalo County, which has a large Native American population.
In 2018, she ran again for the same district. She wanted to represent her community in the state government. Even though she didn't win a seat, her efforts showed her dedication to public service.
A Historic Electoral Vote in 2016
In the 2016 presidential election, Faith Spotted Eagle received one electoral vote for President of the United States. This vote came from Robert Satiacum Jr. of Washington. He was a "faithless elector," which means he voted differently than his state's popular vote. Satiacum explained that he voted for Faith Spotted Eagle because he felt that Hillary Clinton had not supported Native Americans enough, especially regarding the pipeline issues.
Faith Spotted Eagle was surprised when she heard about the vote. She hoped that this historic vote would help more people learn about the environmental dangers of projects like the Keystone XL pipeline.
This event was very important. Faith Spotted Eagle became the first Native American person to receive an Electoral College vote for President. (It's important to note that Charles Curtis, who had Native American ancestry, received electoral votes to become Vice President in 1928). Faith Spotted Eagle and Hillary Clinton were also the first two women to receive an electoral vote for president.
See also
- Faithless electors in the United States presidential election, 2016
- List of people who received an electoral vote in the United States Electoral College
- Charles Curtis, the first person with significant Native American ancestry to receive an electoral college majority vote, for vice-president in 1928
- Tonie Nathan, the first woman to receive an electoral college vote, for vice president in 1972
