Stella Leach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stella Leach
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Leach by Ilka Hartmann, circa 1970-1971
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| Born |
Stella Nellie Runnels
June 12, 1918 |
| Died | January 29, 2010 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Stella Bray |
| Occupation | nurse, activist |
| Years active | 1959–2000 |
Stella Leach (June 12, 1918 – January 29, 2010) was a Colville-Oglala Lakota nurse and activist. She was known for her important work helping Native American communities. Stella helped create the first health center for Native American children in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also set up a health clinic during the Occupation of Alcatraz. Stella was a strong voice for Native American self-determination, which means Native people making their own choices about their lives.
Contents
Early Life and School
Stella Nellie Runnels was born on June 12, 1918. Her birthplace was Ferry County, Washington. Her mother, Maude Stella, was part of the Pine Ridge Sioux tribe. Stella and her many brothers and sisters were part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
The children started school in Keller, Washington. When Stella was 10, officials from the Indian Agency sent them away. They were sent to American Indian boarding schools.
On July 9, 1936, Stella married Johnnie Bray in Davenport, Washington. They had two sons, Kenneth and Garry. They separated in 1940. Stella later had four more children and married Harry Leland Leach, Sr. In 1959, Stella and Harry divorced. Stella then moved to Oakland, California. She was part of the Indian Relocation Program. This program encouraged Native Americans to move from reservations to cities.
Helping Others and Activism
When Stella Leach arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area, she had six children. She wanted to go to school. However, the Relocation Act required her to find a job first. She started working as a nurse's aide at Peralta Hospital. Stella eventually worked the night shift. This allowed her to study at Laney College. She earned her certificate as a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
Stella then worked as a nurse for Dr. David Tepper. She worked hard to improve health care for Native Americans living in cities. In 1955, health care for Native Americans changed. It was no longer a federal program. States were supposed to manage it. But there wasn't enough money. This made it hard for Native Americans in cities to get medical help.
Stella was the head of the health and welfare section of the Bay Area Indian Council. In 1964, the Council worked with Pacific Hospital. Together, they started the first clinic for American Indian children. It was called the All-Indian Well Baby Clinic.
Speaking Up for Native Rights
In January 1968, Stella met with Senators Paul Fannin and Robert F. Kennedy. They discussed many problems. These included not enough money for moving, not enough medical funding, and poor education. She was also worried about veterans. Five of her six children had served in the Vietnam War.
Soon after this meeting, in May, Stella and her children faced problems. They received hateful calls at their home. Their house was broken into and damaged. Their rent was made four times higher. This happened when neighbors and the landlord found out they were Native American. Senator Kennedy sent helpers to stay at their house. The family eventually moved to the East Bay area.
The Alcatraz Occupation
On November 22, 1969, Stella joined her son David on Alcatraz Island. David was part of the group that landed there on November 20. Her sons David and Gary, both veterans, were also part of the occupation. Stella set up and managed the health clinic on Alcatraz. She was helped by other nurses, Jennie R. Joe and Dorothy Lonewolf Miller. Doctors Robert Brennan and Richard Fine also helped. Stella's boss, Dr. Tepper, let her stay on the island for three months. He also volunteered his medical services once a week.
After Richard Oakes left the island, Stella was chosen as a spokesperson. She was one of seven leaders for the Indians of All Tribes group. The group wanted to create a Native American center on Alcatraz. This center would teach about Native culture, spirituality, and respect for nature. Stella strongly believed that Native Americans should control their own future.
Continuing Her Activism
In 1970, Stella helped start the National Indian Women's Action Corps. This group helped Native American women become stronger leaders. Other leaders included Dorothy Lonewolf Miller and Grace Thorpe. When the Alcatraz occupation ended, Stella and other activists moved on. They occupied an abandoned Nike Missile site in Richmond, California. However, they were removed in June 1971.
In the 1980s, Stella returned to using her maiden name, Runnels. She later remarried and moved to Sonoma, California. There, she and her husband ran a chicken ranch. Around 2000, she moved back to Nespelem. She continued to be active in issues affecting the Colville Indian Reservation.
Death and Legacy
Stella Runnels passed away on January 29, 2010. She was buried near her family in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Nespelem. Stella was interviewed in 1970 for the American Indian Historical Research Project. Her interview is kept at the University of New Mexico.
See also
In Spanish: Stella Leach para niños
