Madonna Thunder Hawk facts for kids

Madonna Thunder Hawk is a famous Native American civil rights activist. She is a leader in the American Indian Movement (AIM) and helped start important groups like Women of All Red Nations (WARN) and the Black Hills Alliance. She has worked to protect Native American rights for over 50 years.

Thunder Hawk has been a key organizer in many important events, including the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. She started the Wasagiya Najin Grandmothers' Group to support families on the Cheyenne River reservation. She is also the tribal liaison for the Lakota People's Law Project, where she helps connect the Lakota people with legal experts. She has spoken for Native American rights all over the world, including at the United Nations.

Early Life and Education

Madonna Thunder Hawk was born in 1940 on the Yankton Sioux Reservation. She is a member of the Oohenumpa band of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

As a child, Thunder Hawk was raised by her mother, who had attended strict government-run boarding schools. These schools often tried to erase Native American culture. Like her mother, Thunder Hawk also went to several boarding schools. Later in life, she earned a bachelor's degree in human services.

A Lifetime of Activism

For decades, Madonna Thunder Hawk has been a leader for Native American rights. Her main goal has always been to get justice for Native people and to make sure their children have a bright future. She is seen as a role model for many younger activists.

The Red Power Movement

Thunder Hawk was part of the Red Power Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. This movement fought for Native American self-determination, which means the right for tribes to govern themselves.

Occupation of Alcatraz

From 1969 to 1971, she joined the Occupation of Alcatraz. Activists took over the abandoned Alcatraz Island to protest the U.S. government's policies. They wanted the government to honor its treaties and support tribal independence.

Mount Rushmore Protests

In 1970 and 1971, Thunder Hawk took part in protests at Mount Rushmore. This landmark is in the Black Hills, which is land sacred to the Lakota people. The U.S. government had taken the land in 1877. The protests were to remind the government of the broken 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Thunder Hawk joined the American Indian Movement (AIM) early on. She was part of a group of female AIM leaders known as the Pie Patrol. She also took part in the famous 1973 occupation at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

After the Wounded Knee occupation, Thunder Hawk became the director of the Wounded Knee Legal Defense Offense Committee. This group helped provide legal support to the activists who were facing federal charges.

Creating a Better Future

Thunder Hawk has focused much of her work on helping Native American children and families.

We Will Remember Survival School

Along with fellow activist Lorelei DeCora Means, Thunder Hawk started the "We Will Remember Survival School." This school was a safe place for Native children whose parents were involved in the Wounded Knee trials. It was also for students who had left the public school system. The school offered an education based on Native American culture and values.

Women of All Red Nations (WARN)

In 1974, Thunder Hawk helped create Women of All Red Nations (WARN). This group was formed to focus on issues important to Native American women. WARN worked to protect the health and rights of women, support political prisoners, and defend tribal lands from threats.

Protecting Land and Water

Thunder Hawk was a co-founder of the Black Hills Alliance. This group successfully stopped a large corporation from mining uranium in the sacred Black Hills. Uranium mining can be very harmful to the environment.

She also led efforts to test the water on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Her team proved that the water had dangerous levels of radiation. Because of her work, a new, safe water system was built for the community.

Lakota People's Law Project

In 2004, Thunder Hawk helped start the Lakota People's Law Project (LPLP). The project works to reform the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Its goal is to keep Lakota families together and ensure children can grow up within their own culture and communities.

Standing Rock and Beyond

In 2016, Thunder Hawk was a key figure at the resistance camps protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock. She continues to inspire people today through her work with the Warrior Women Project, which shares the stories of female activists.

Film and Television Appearances

Legacy

Madonna Thunder Hawk's life and work have been featured in many books and documentaries. Her story is included in publications like Blood on the Border: A Memoir of the Contra War and Timelines of American Women's History. Her dedication continues to inspire new generations to fight for justice and Native American rights.