Lorelei DeCora facts for kids

Lorelei DeCora Means, born in 1954, is a Native American nurse and a champion for civil rights. She is well-known for her part in the events at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Lorelei also helped start the organization called Women of All Red Nations.

Early Life and Background

Lorelei DeCora was born on the Winnebago Reservation in Nebraska. She is a member of the Winnebago tribe. She is also connected to the Minnecojou Lakota Sioux through her mother's family. Her great-grandmother was a survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre. This event happened at Wounded Knee Creek a long time ago.

Education and Family

In 1981, Lorelei earned a degree in nursing from the University of South Dakota. She later received another nursing degree from South Dakota State University in 1986. Lorelei has three daughters. She later divorced her husband, Theodore "Ted" Means.

Activism and Community Work

Lorelei became involved in the Red Power Movement when she was young. This movement worked for the rights and recognition of Native American people.

When she was in Catholic grade school, Lorelei stood up against efforts to make her forget her Native American culture. In high school, her family protested a history book. This book, called Hawkeye Tales, showed Native Americans in a very negative way. Their protest led to the book being removed from schools in Iowa.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

While still in high school, Lorelei DeCora became one of the youngest members on the board of directors for the AIM. AIM was a group that worked to protect the rights and traditions of Native Americans.

Wounded Knee Events

Lorelei also took part in the American Indian Movement occupation of Wounded Knee. She was a member of the Pie Patrol. This group of women was active in AIM. Other members included Thelma Rios and Theda Nelson Clarke.

Lorelei was present at the medical facility run by AIM during the Wounded Knee events. She worked with other volunteer nurses and medics.

After Wounded Knee

In 1974, Lorelei and Madonna Thunder Hawk helped start the Women of All Red Nations organization. This group worked to solve big problems faced by Native Americans on reservations. They focused on issues like poor nutrition and healthcare. They also worked on challenges like poverty and lack of jobs.

In 1974, Lorelei and Madonna also founded the 'We Will Remember Survival School.' This school was for Native American youth. It helped children whose parents were involved in the Wounded Knee trials. The school offered an alternative way for these young people to learn.

In 1979, Lorelei helped create the Black Hills Alliance. This group worked to stop a company from mining uranium on sacred Lakota land. Lorelei also studied water supplies on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She found high levels of radiation in the water. Her work led to a new water system being put in place. The Black Hills Alliance also taught communities about the dangers of mineral mining.

As a nurse, Lorelei continued her work for Native American communities. She helped start the AIDS Resource Team. This team provided education about AIDS in South Dakota. She also played a key role in setting up the International Indian Treaty Council. This group works with the United Nations to support Indigenous people worldwide. Lorelei was also important in creating the first independent Native American radio station, KILI Radio, in Porcupine, South Dakota.

In 1987, Lorelei began working full-time as a Registered Nurse. She worked at the Indian Health Service hospital in Rosebud. There, she noticed many patients were being treated for diabetes. Lorelei came up with the idea for Diabetes Talking Circles. She started this program in 1996 with the Seva Foundation. These circles help Native people learn how to manage diabetes. They also respect Native spiritual beliefs as part of the healing process. Lorelei now directs projects for diabetes wellness.

Lorelei also led the effort to open the first community-owned clinic on a tribal reservation in the U.S. In 1980, she was inspired to open a clinic to help local residents. The SEVA Foundation provided the first funding. The Porcupine Clinic became a certified rural health clinic in 1999. It offers many health services, including check-ups and health education. Today, the Porcupine Clinic is a unique, non-profit clinic. It serves both Native Americans and non-Native Americans in the area.

Awards and Recognition

Lorelei has received several awards for her important work. In 1993, she received the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Award. In 1997, she was given the William Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice Award.

Legacy and Influence

Lorelei DeCora Means has been recognized in many books. These publications discuss her contributions to Native American rights and health. Her work continues to inspire others.

See also

• American Indian Movement
• Wounded Knee Incident
• Anna Mae Pictou Aquash
• Ray Robinson
• Women of All Red Nations
• Madonna Thunder Hawk