Shirley Hill Witt facts for kids

Shirley Hill Witt was born on April 17, 1934. She is an amazing American woman who has done many important things. Shirley is an anthropologist, which means she studies human societies and cultures. She is also a teacher, a writer, and an activist who works for civil rights. She even worked for the U.S. government in other countries.

Shirley is a member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan. She was one of the first Native American women to earn a Ph.D. This is a very high university degree. She earned her Ph.D. in 1969. Shirley has written many books and articles about Native Americans. She is also a poet and a fiction writer. She helped start the National Indian Youth Council in 1961. She also worked with the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Shirley's Education Journey

Shirley Hill Witt studied at two different universities. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from the University of Michigan in 1965. The next year, in 1966, she received her Master of Arts (M.A.) from the same university.

Later, Shirley went on to earn her Ph.D. in 1969. She got this advanced degree from the University of New Mexico. Her special area of study was called "evolutionary anthropology." For her Ph.D., she wrote a long paper about people moving into a place called the San Juan Indian Pueblo.

Shirley's Career and Work

Shirley Hill Witt has had a very interesting career. She taught at universities and worked for the government.

Teaching at Universities

Shirley shared her knowledge by teaching at colleges. From 1970 to 1972, she taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Then, from 1972 to 1974, she taught at Colorado College.

Working for the Government

Shirley also held important roles in the U.S. government. From 1975 to 1983, she was a director for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. This group works to protect everyone's rights. After that, she worked for the Governor of New Mexico, Toney Anaya, from 1983 to 1985. She was in charge of natural resources.

In 1985, Shirley joined the U.S. diplomatic corps. This means she worked for the U.S. government in other countries. She worked in South America, in Venezuela and Paraguay. She also worked in Africa, in Somalia and Zambia. She had different jobs, like helping with cultural programs and being a deputy director for the U.S.I.A..

In 2000, Shirley was part of a group of women who spoke up about fair hiring. They believed the agency had not hired women fairly. Shirley and over 1,000 other women were part of this case. They won, and each woman received money. This showed the importance of fair treatment for everyone.

Fighting for Rights

Shirley Hill Witt was very active in the Indian rights movement in the 1960s. This movement worked to get better rights and respect for Native American people.

Helping Start the National Indian Youth Council

In 1961, Shirley helped create the National Indian Youth Council. She was the first vice president of this important group. They worked to empower young Native Americans.

Protecting Fishing Rights

Soon after, Shirley joined protests in the Puget Sound area. She helped fight to protect fishing rights for Native Americans. These rights were promised in old treaties.

Revitalizing the Gallup Indian Center

Later, Shirley worked with Herbert Blatchford, who also helped start the National Indian Youth Council. They worked together to make the Gallup Indian Center in New Mexico a strong and helpful place for Native Americans. This was while Shirley was finishing her Ph.D.

Shirley's Books

Shirley Hill Witt has written or helped write several books.

• Witt, Shirley Hill and Steiner, Stan, The Way: An Anthology of American Indian Literature, Vintage Books, 1972
• Witt, Shirley Hill, The Tuscaroras, Crowell-Collier Press, 1972
• Witt, Shirley Hill and Ballejos, Gilberto Chávez, El Indio Jesús: A Novel, University of Oklahoma Press, 2000
• Witt, Shirley Hill and Ballejos, Gilberto Chávez, Tomóchic Blood, AuthorHouse, 2006
• Shreve, Bradley G., Red Power Rising: The National Indian Youth Council and the Origins of Native Activism (foreword), University of Oklahoma Press, 2012