Patricia Locke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patricia Ann Locke
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Patricia Ann locke
January 21, 1928 |
| Died | October 20, 2001 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | American, Lakota, and Chippewa |
| Other names | Tawacin WasteWin (Compassionate Woman) |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Educator and Leader for Native American Religion |
Patricia A. Locke (also known as Tawacin WasteWin; January 21, 1928 – October 20, 2001) was an important Native American educator and activist. She was also a well-known member of the Baháʼí Faith.
Patricia Locke worked closely with Native American leaders to support the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. This law helps protect the religious rights of Indigenous peoples. In 1988, she joined the Baháʼí Faith. She then became the first Native American woman elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States. This was a very high position.
In 1991, she received a special award called the MacArthur Fellowship. She also represented the US Baháʼí community at a big meeting in Beijing called the Fourth World Conference on Women. Just before she passed away in 2001, she received the "Those Who Make a Difference" award. After her death, she was honored in the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2014, she received a "Race Amity Medal of Honor." Her son, Kevin Locke, became a famous hoop dancer and storyteller.
Contents
Patricia Locke's Life Story
Early Years and Education
Patricia Ann McGillis was born on January 21, 1928. She grew up on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho. Her family was from the Standing Rock Sioux and White Earth Chippewa tribes. Her Lakota name, Tawacin WasteWin, means "She has a good consciousness, a compassionate woman."
In 1935, Patricia shared Lakota culture through dance and storytelling with her parents. She later graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1951. She married Charles E. Locke and they had two children, Kevin Locke and Winona Flying Earth. Patricia taught at several universities, including UCLA and the University of Colorado.
Patricia believed that Native Americans should have the power to solve their own problems. She felt that Native American values were different from Western society's values. She made sure her son Kevin learned about his heritage. Kevin later created the Patricia Locke Foundation to honor his mother.
Working for Indigenous Rights
Patricia Locke was a strong voice for Native American rights. In 1978, she spoke out against government rules that affected Native American tribes. She strongly supported the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. This act helped bring back religious freedoms that had been taken away from Indigenous groups.
In 1979, she joined a special task force on Indian Education Policy. Patricia also helped 17 different tribes start their own colleges. These colleges were run by Indigenous groups. She helped pass a law in 1978 that gave federal money to these colleges. This made it easier for Native American students to get a college education while staying connected to their culture.
Patricia Locke also supported changes to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1994. These changes aimed to make the act even stronger.
Her Baháʼí Faith Journey
In August 1988, Patricia Locke joined the Baháʼí Faith. She traveled to South America with her son, sharing Baháʼí teachings. For the last 10 years of her life, she lived on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation as a Baháʼí. She wrote articles for a local newspaper about Lakota life and ideas. She hoped these articles would help people understand each other better.
Patricia was the first Native American woman to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States. This was the highest position any Native American had held in the Baháʼí community at that time.
In 1993, Patricia attended the Parliament of Religions. She was part of a group of Native American delegates. They tried to pass a resolution asking for support to protect Indigenous languages and cultures. The resolution was voted for by almost everyone, but it was later stopped. This was because of disagreements over an old document called the "Inter caetera Bull," which had supported Christian control over Native peoples.
In 1995, Patricia Locke led a group called the Indigenous Women's Caucus. This was at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. She also represented the US Baháʼí community there. In 2001, she gave a speech about "Indigenous Women's Perspectives on Unity."
Patricia Locke passed away on October 20, 2001, in Arizona. She was buried nearby. Her grandson, Anpao Duta Flying Earth, continues her work. He helps keep Indigenous languages alive and serves Native American communities.
Awards and Honors
In 1991, Patricia Locke received the MacArthur Genius Grant. This award recognized her work in saving Native American languages. She was the only Indigenous woman in North America to receive this honor at that time.
On October 13, 2001, just one week before she passed away, Patricia and her son Kevin Locke received the "Those Who Make a Difference" award. This was from the Indigenous Language Institute. Kevin was honored for his storytelling and hoop dancing, which helped preserve Lakota traditions.
After her death in 2005, Patricia Locke was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame. This honor recognized her work as an educator and her knowledge of the Lakota language. It also highlighted her role in creating many colleges run by Lakota tribes.
In 2014, Patricia Locke was given the Medal of Honor by the National Race Amity Conference.
Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, a friend, said that Patricia Locke chose to help her people. This grew to include all Indigenous people, and eventually, all people. She believed that true power came from spiritual strength, not material things.
In 2011, a book about her life was published called Compassionate Woman: The Life and Legacy of Patricia Locke.
The Patricia Locke Foundation
In 2018, Kevin Locke created the Patricia Locke Foundation. This organization helps educate Indigenous peoples and children. It teaches them about the importance of their ancestral languages and spiritual connections. The foundation also supports businesses led by Native women. It provides legal help for Indigenous peoples when needed. The foundation aims to support younger generations to carry on Indigenous traditions.
See also
In Spanish: Patricia Locke para niños
- Baháʼí Faith and Native Americans
- Baháʼí Faith and gender equality
