Lorelei DeCora facts for kids

Lorelei DeCora Means (born in 1954) is a Native American nurse and civil rights activist. She is well-known for her part in a major event at Wounded Knee. This event took place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Lorelei also helped start the group called Women of All Red Nations.

Early Life and Heritage

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 survived the sad event known as the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Education and Family

Lorelei studied nursing in college. In 1981, she earned a degree from the University of South Dakota. She later got another nursing degree from South Dakota State University in 1986. Lorelei has three daughters.

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 Americans. At her Catholic school, she stood up for her American Indian traditions. In high school, her family protested a history book. This book showed Native Americans in a very negative way. Their protest led to the book being removed from schools in Iowa.

Joining the American Indian Movement

While still in high school, Lorelei DeCora became a leader. She was one of the youngest members on the board of directors for the AIM. AIM was a group that fought for Native American rights.

The Wounded Knee Occupation

Lorelei took part in the American Indian Movement's occupation of Wounded Knee. She was part of a group of women in AIM called the Pie Patrol. This group included Lorelei, Thelma Rios, and Theda Nelson Clarke. Lorelei was present at the medical facility run by AIM during the occupation. She helped care for people who were injured.

After Wounded Knee: Building New Groups

In 1974, Lorelei and another activist, Madonna Thunder Hawk, started the Women of All Red Nations (WARN). This group helped fill a need for leadership after the Wounded Knee event. WARN worked on many important issues for Native American women and families.

That same year, Lorelei and Madonna also founded the 'We Will Remember Survival School.' This school was a safe place for Native American youth. It helped children whose parents were involved in the Wounded Knee trials. It also helped those who had left regular schools. This school offered a different way of learning for Native American children.

Protecting the Land and Health

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 helped test water supplies on the Pine Ridge Reservation. She found high levels of radiation in the water. Her work led to a new, safer water system for the community. The Black Hills Alliance also taught people about the dangers of mineral mining.

As a nurse, Lorelei continued her work for Native communities. She helped start the AIDS Resource Team. This was the only group in South Dakota at the time that taught people about AIDS. She also played a key role in forming the International Indian Treaty Council. This group helps indigenous people around the world speak up at the United Nations. Lorelei also helped create KILI Radio, the first independent American Indian radio station.

In 1987, Lorelei began working full-time at an Indian Health Service hospital. There, she saw many patients with diabetes. She created the Diabetes Talking Circles program in 1996. This program teaches Native people how to manage diabetes. It also respects Native spiritual beliefs. Lorelei still works on diabetes wellness projects today.

Lorelei also led the effort to open the first community-owned clinic on a tribal reservation. In 1980, she was inspired to open a clinic to help local residents. The Porcupine Clinic started part-time in 1989. By 1992, it became a certified rural health clinic. It now offers many health services to both Native and non-Native people. Today, it is the only non-profit, community-supported clinic in that rural area.

Awards and Recognition

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

Legacy and Influence

Lorelei DeCora Means has been mentioned in many books. These books share her story and her important work. They include Ghost Dancing the Law: The Wounded Knee Trials and Red Power: The American Indians' Fight for Freedom. Her contributions to Native American rights and health continue to inspire many.

See also

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