Theresa Two Bulls facts for kids

Theresa B. "Huck" Two Bulls (born October 23, 1949; died November 21, 2020) was an important leader for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and in the state of South Dakota. She was a lawyer, a prosecutor, and a politician.

In 2004, she made history. She was elected to the South Dakota Senate as a Democrat. This made her the first American Indian woman to be elected to the state legislature in South Dakota. She served in this role until 2008.

Later in 2008, Theresa Two Bulls was elected as the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation. She was the second woman ever to hold this important position. She served one term, which lasted for two years.

During her time in office, Theresa Two Bulls worked hard to build stronger connections. She wanted tribal governments to work better with local and state governments. She also helped the United States Department of Justice with a special group. This group worked to find ways to reduce violence against Native American women. In 2015, she was also a leader for the National Congress of American Indians.

Early Life and Education

Theresa Two Bulls was born into the Oglala Lakota Tribe. She was born in a place called Oglala. Her mother worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at a school there.

In 1964, her family moved to the town of Pine Ridge. Theresa went to Pine Ridge High School. After high school, she earned an associate degree.

Theresa Two Bulls' Career

Theresa Two Bulls started her working life as a legal secretary. She then went to college and later to law school. After finishing law school, she passed the bar exam. This meant she could work as a lawyer.

Working for the Oglala Sioux Tribe

Theresa Two Bulls was elected to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council. She served four terms as the Secretary of the Executive Committee. She was also elected as the Vice-President of the Tribe.

In 2003, she became a prosecutor for the State Attorney General's Office in South Dakota. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. They bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.

Serving in the South Dakota Senate

In 2004, Theresa Two Bulls decided to run for the state senate. She won the election as a Democrat. She represented the 27th district. This was a big moment because she was the first American Indian woman elected to the South Dakota state senate.

Her election showed how Native Americans were becoming more involved in politics. Her district included several counties. These were Bennett, Haakon, Jackson, and Shannon counties.

While in the senate, she worked on important committees. She was part of the State/Tribal Relations Committee. This committee helps tribes and the state work together. She also served on the Health and Human Services Committee. She was re-elected to the state senate in 2006.

She also helped a national group that worked with the United States Department of Justice. This group created plans to study and reduce violence against Native American women.

Becoming Tribal President

In 2008, Theresa Two Bulls was elected as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She won against Russell Means, who was a well-known activist. This position has a two-year term. Her vice-president was Shorty Brewer.

Theresa Two Bulls was the second woman to be elected as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The first was Cecilia Fire Thunder, who was elected in 2004.

Soon after being elected, she and her team went to Washington, D.C. They asked for money from the federal government to help the tribe. They received funds for road projects and an ambulance. They also got money for law enforcement and tribal housing.

Theresa Two Bulls used her experience from the state senate. She built good relationships with local and state governments. This helped solve problems in the region.

In the winter of 2009, there was a severe blizzard. Theresa Two Bulls acted quickly. She made sure emergency supplies like propane, wood, and food reached people in remote areas of the reservation. She also showed great respect for veterans. When Korean War veterans were honored, she was the only tribal president to attend. She shook each veteran's hand.

In October 2010, Theresa Two Bulls ran for tribal president again. She was one of the top two candidates. However, she lost the election to John Yellow Bird Steele. He won with 51.1% of the votes. John Yellow Bird Steele had served as president five times before.

Marriage, Family, and Death

Theresa Two Bulls was married to Ellis Steve Brings Him Back, Jr. They had children together. She passed away on November 21, 2020, in Chadron, Nebraska.