Veronica Murdock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Veronica Murdock
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Miss Indian Arizona, 1961
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Veronica Lee Homer
1944 (age 80–81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | tribal government official, federal civil servant, Native American activist |
| Years active | 1967–present |
Veronica Murdock was born in 1944. She is an American leader with Shasta and Mohave heritage. She is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Veronica Murdock has worked for her tribe's government. She was the first woman president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). She also worked for the United States government in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Growing Up: Veronica Murdock's Story
Veronica L. Homer was born in 1944. Her mother, Alice, was from the Shasta tribe. Her father, Pete Homer Sr., was Mohave. He was an actor and led the Colorado River Indian Tribes for many years.
Veronica grew up with seven brothers and sisters. She went to Parker High School in Parker, Arizona. In 1961, she won the first ever Miss Indian Arizona pageant. She was a freshman at Arizona State University at the time. Because she won, she was invited to lead the Arizona Inter–Tribal Band. She marched in the parade for President John F. Kennedy's inauguration.
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Veronica Murdock's Leadership and Career
Veronica married Leonard A. Enos, but he sadly died in the Vietnam War. Around that time, Veronica started working. She directed a program for young people on the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
In 1969, Veronica married Myron H. Murdock. He was from the Oklahoma Kickapoo tribe. Veronica became more involved in politics. She wanted her daughter, Alice, to learn the Mojave language.
After two years of working with youth, Veronica ran for a leadership role. In 1969, she was elected as the vice chair of her tribe. She worked on many projects to help her community. These included improving health care and job training. She continued to serve on the Tribal Council throughout the 1970s.
Leading the National Congress of American Indians
In 1977, Veronica Murdock made history. She was elected as the first woman president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). The NCAI is a very important group for Native American tribes.
During her time as president, NCAI held a big meeting in 1978. They talked about how Native American groups could get official recognition from the U.S. government. Veronica believed it was important for tribes to have proper documents. She also worried about past policies that had harmed Native American nations. She worked to protect tribal rights to land and water. She also fought for funding for education and other programs.
In 1979, she led another NCAI meeting. It focused on how tribes work with governments. It also covered laws, justice, and economic issues.
Working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
In 1980, Veronica Murdock started working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The BIA is a U.S. government agency that works with Native American tribes. She worked as a Tribal Operations Specialist for seven years.
Later, she moved to Carson City, Nevada. She became a Tribal Operations Officer. After two years, she was promoted. She worked in Washington, D.C. helping the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
In 1994, Veronica became the Superintendent of the Salt River Agency in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this role, she helped several tribes. These included the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community.
Founding Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations
Veronica Murdock retired from government work in 2004. She then helped start a new group called Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations (WEWIN). She is a co-president of WEWIN with Susan Masten.
WEWIN was created to encourage Native American women to become leaders. The group helps women be role models in their communities. Veronica also helps lead the First Things First Colorado River Indian Tribes Regional Partnership Council.
