Janine Pease facts for kids

Janine Pease is an important American educator and a strong supporter of Native American rights. She helped start the Little Big Horn College and was its first president. She also led the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and worked for the American Indian College Fund.

President Bill Clinton chose her to be on special councils that advise about Native American education. She also helped guide the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Janine Pease (then Janine Windy Boy) was a key person in a court case about voting rights. This case, called Windy Boy v. Big Horn County, led to a court decision that changed how elections were held in Big Horn County. This was the first time a case like this helped Native Americans use their voting rights. She also served on the Montana Human Rights Commission.

Early Life and Education

Janine Pease is a member of the Crow Indian tribe. She was born on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington state. Both of her parents were teachers.

She was the first Crow woman to earn a doctorate degree. She got this advanced degree from Montana State University in 1994. One of her great-grandfathers was White Man Runs Him. He was a Crow scout who worked with George Armstrong Custer.

Pease earned two bachelor's degrees from Central Washington University. She received her master's degree from Montana State University in 1987. Her doctorate, which is the highest degree, was in adult and higher education.

Her Career and Work

Janine Pease has worked in many important roles. In 1975, she directed the Crow tribe's Adult and Continuing Education Program. She was also part of the Crow Central Education Commission. This group helped create the first Crow Indian educational authority. This authority made sure tribe members could get an education.

Pease taught Native American Studies at Big Bend Community College. She also worked as a counselor at Navajo Community College and Eastern Montana College. Eastern Montana College is now Montana State University.

She served as the president of the Little Big Horn College for many years, from 1982 to 2000. From 2003 to 2008, she was the Vice President for American Indian Affairs at Rocky Mountain College.

Today, she works as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. She is at Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, Montana. Pease is also very interested in helping to keep the Crow language alive.

Awards and Recognition

Janine Pease has received many special awards and honors. These include the MacArthur Fellowship, which is a very important award. She also received the ACLU Jeannette Rankin Award.

In 1990, she was named the National Indian Educator of the Year. Missoulian Magazine also called her "one of the 100 Most Influential Montanans of the Century."

She has received several honorary doctorates. These are special degrees given to people for their achievements. In 2006, Governor Schweitzer appointed her to the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education. She served on this board, which oversees colleges, from May 2006 to February 2011.