Jeanne Givens facts for kids

Jeanne Givens (born around 1951/1952) is an American politician and a member of the Coeur d'Alene tribe. She made history as the first Native American woman elected to the Idaho House of Representatives. She served as a Democrat from 1985 to 1989.

In 1988, Givens became the first Native American woman to run for a seat in the United States Congress. She was born in Plummer, Idaho, and grew up in both San Jose, California, and on the Coeur d'Alene reservation in Idaho. Her family has a long history of leadership within the tribe.

Before being elected, Givens was appointed to several state boards by Governor John Evans. After her time in the Idaho legislature, she ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and 1990 but was not elected.

Early Life and Family

Jeanne Iyall was born in Plummer, Idaho, to Celina Garry and Jack Iyall. In 1955, her family moved to San Jose, California, as part of a government program. Later, her family moved back to the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho.

Givens is a proud member of the Coeur d'Alene tribe. Her grandfather, Ignace Garry, was the last traditional chief of the tribe. Her uncle, Joseph Garry, was the first full-blooded Native American to serve in the Idaho state government.

She attended Whitworth University where she studied sociology. She later married Ray Givens. For a time, she worked as a probation officer and taught speech and communication at North Idaho College.

Start in Politics

In the early 1980s, Givens became more involved in state government. In 1982, Governor John Evans appointed her to the Statewide Health Planning Council. She also served on a committee for the humanities and helped plan the 100th-anniversary celebration of Idaho's statehood.

In 1982, she ran for a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives for the first time but did not win. However, this experience prepared her for her next campaign.

Serving in the Idaho House of Representatives

Elections and Achievements

On April 1, 1984, Givens announced she would run for the Idaho House of Representatives again. This time, she won the election and became the first Native American woman ever elected to the Idaho legislature. This was a major milestone for Idaho and for Native American representation in politics.

In 1986, she was reelected to her seat without any opposition. During this time, she also helped lead the election committee for the House Democrats.

Committee Work

As a representative, Givens served on several important committees. These groups are responsible for studying issues and creating laws. She was a member of the:

• Indian Affairs Committee
• Business Committee
• Education Committee
• Health and Welfare Committee

In 1987, she was also appointed to the State Affairs committee. Her work on these committees allowed her to influence laws about education, health, and business in Idaho.

Running for U.S. Congress

In 1988, Givens ran against Representative Larry Craig for a seat in the U.S. Congress.

1988 Campaign

In 1988, Givens decided to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. She wanted to represent Idaho's 1st congressional district. She won the Democratic nomination but lost the final election to the Republican incumbent, Larry Craig.

Even though she did not win, her campaign was historic. She was the first Native American woman to ever run for a seat in the U.S. Congress. Her campaign inspired many people and paved the way for future candidates like Ada Deer.

1990 Campaign

Givens ran for Congress again in 1990. The seat was open because Larry Craig was running for the United States Senate. She competed in the Democratic primary election but came in second place to Larry LaRocco, who went on to win the election.

To pay for her campaigns, Givens took out loans. A loan is money that is borrowed and must be paid back. She used the money for things like television ads.

Later Career and Legacy

After her time in the legislature, Givens continued to be active in public service. In 1989, she represented Governor Cecil Andrus at a meeting of western governors to discuss Native American issues.

In 1992, she was elected to the Board of Trustees for North Idaho College. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the Board of Directors of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Givens has been a role model for other Native American leaders. In 2014, Paulette Jordan, another woman from the Coeur d'Alene tribe, was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives. Jordan said that Givens was a mentor to her.

Key Political Views

Education

Givens strongly supported public education. In 1986, she opposed a proposal that suggested making cuts to schools, such as eliminating kindergarten or reducing teacher salaries. She called the proposal "thoughtless" and "outrageous."

She also believed in the separation of church and state. When a law was proposed to require the teaching of creationism (a religious belief about how the world was created) alongside the scientific theory of evolution, she voted against it. The law did not pass.

In 1988, she was the only member of a committee to vote against a law that would make English the only official language of Idaho.

Native American Issues

Givens was a strong advocate for Native American history and culture. In 1987, she opposed a plan to create a national monument at the site of the Bear River Massacre. In this 1863 event, U.S. soldiers attacked a Native American village. Givens argued that calling the site of a massacre a monument was not appropriate.

In 1992, she supported a decision by the newspaper The Oregonian to stop using sports team names that could be offensive to Native Americans, such as the Washington Redskins. She said these names create negative stereotypes.

Workers' Rights

Givens often sided with workers and labor unions. In 1985, she voted against a "right-to-work" law, which changes the rules for workers who want to join unions. A union is an organization that helps workers negotiate for better pay and working conditions.

In 1986, she also opposed a bill that would have limited what teachers' unions could negotiate in their contracts. She called the bill "punitive and restrictive," and it was defeated.

Electoral history