Viola Hatch facts for kids

Viola Hatch (February 12, 1930 – April 22, 2019) was an important Native American leader. She worked to make things better for her community. She was a founding member of the National Indian Youth Council. She also served as the Tribal Chair of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Viola Hatch helped students get a fair education. She even won a lawsuit against the Canton, Oklahoma schools about students' rights.

Viola Hatch's Early Life and Education

Viola Sutton was born on February 12, 1930. Her family lived near Geary, Oklahoma. Her father, Harry Arthur Sutton, was an Arapaho Chief and a pastor. Her mother was Sallie Blackbear Sutton. Around 1938, her family moved to the Canton area. This is where her father had land passed down from his grandmother.

Viola grew up with many brothers and sisters. She attended school in Canton. Later, she went to the Concho Indian Boarding School. This school focused on job training and had strict rules. Students learned subjects like in public schools. But they also worked on the school farm. Boarding schools often taught girls "life skills" like cooking and cleaning. They also tried to teach Christian beliefs. Viola did not like being trained only for domestic work. So, she stopped her education. She moved to Chicago through a program called the Relocation Program. In Chicago, she worked for the Speigel Company. This company sold clothes and home items by mail.

How Viola Hatch Became an Activist

In the 1960s, people started paying more attention to the rights of minority groups. Important court decisions and new laws helped this movement. Native American people also began to work together. They wanted the U.S. government to return their lands. They also wanted to fix social problems and get money for cultural education. This movement was called the Red Power Movement. Viola Hatch was involved from the very beginning.

While living in Chicago, Viola became a strong voice for Native Americans. She fought for her son Buddy's right to wear his hair long at school. She won this case against the Canton School. Viola Hatch was part of many important groups. These included the American Indian Movement and the National Indian Youth Council. She also served on the Cheyenne & Arapaho Elder board. She worked to preserve the Southern Arapaho language.

Viola returned from Chicago and married Donald Hatch. He was a union organizer. Together, they opened centers for seniors and young people. They helped people experiencing homelessness. They also encouraged Native people to get involved in politics. Viola worked for Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity (OIO). This group helped tribes in Oklahoma work together. They started programs like Head Start for children. They also worked on economic development and human services for tribes.

The National Indian Youth Council

In 1961, a big meeting happened in Chicago. Over 800 Native Americans, educators, and experts attended. They created a plan called "Declaration of Indian Purpose." This plan was made by Native Americans for Native Americans. They gave it to President John F. Kennedy. But they also formed the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) to take action. Viola Hatch was one of the founding members of NIYC. She continued to be on its board for many years.

The NIYC wanted to honor and protect Native cultures and traditions. They focused on several key goals:

• Protecting traditional religious practices and sacred places.
• Making sure Native citizens could fully participate in politics.
• Promoting education that respected Native contributions and traditions.
• Helping with job training and finding jobs.
• Protecting treaty rights, including tribal self-governance and hunting/fishing rights.
• Working with other indigenous people around the world.

Working with American Indian Taskforces

When Richard Nixon became president in 1968, Native American leaders wanted clear policies. They wanted to make sure their right to self-determination was respected. President Nixon asked Native leaders to create a document. This document would explain their needs and ideas. Viola Hatch was one of only six women on this task force. They met in Washington, DC in 1969. They presented their ideas to the Vice President and Congress. They asked for Native people to be involved in their own governance. They also wanted their sovereignty to be respected.

Another task force reviewed federal Indian laws. Viola Hatch reported on problems with law enforcement. She said the Department of Justice and the FBI often failed to investigate civil rights complaints from Native Americans. This task force finished its work in 1976.

In 1974, Viola Hatch joined a task force of Indian law students and lawyers. They looked at how tribal legal systems could be stronger. They also wanted to see how tribes could take over services from the federal government. This was important because of the new Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Viola was the only tribal representative from Oklahoma on this task force.

The American Indian Movement (AIM)

The American Indian Movement (AIM) started in 1968. It was founded by Dennis Banks and others. AIM wanted tribal people to have self-determination. They also wanted to address big problems. These included racism, poverty, high unemployment, and poor housing.

In 1972, Viola Hatch and other AIM members protested in Oklahoma City. They took over an office to protest how money for Indian education was being spent. They believed the funds were not going directly to Native students. After a few days, they reached an agreement to review how the money was used.

Viola Hatch also helped with a situation in Hammon, Oklahoma. Native students and parents wanted to create their own school. They felt the public schools were prejudiced. They also felt the schools did not respect Native heritage. Viola helped get a grant from the BIA. This allowed 65 students to enroll in the new school. The school taught students in their own Cheyenne language.

The Wounded Knee Occupation

In 1973, Dennis Banks and AIM members went to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They wanted to show the problems there, like poverty and broken treaties. On February 28, 1973, about 150 activists, including Don and Viola Hatch, were at Wounded Knee. They found themselves surrounded by armed groups and federal agents.

This began the 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee. The activists were not ready for a long standoff. They had to find ways to get food and supplies. Federal marshals cut off electricity, water, and food. Two people were killed during the standoff. The occupation ended on May 7, 1973. Federal officials agreed to investigate problems on the reservation and treaty violations.

In 1998, Viola returned to South Dakota. She took part in the 25th anniversary of the Wounded Knee event. It was a time to honor those who were there and renew connections.

Fighting for Student Rights

On September 20, 1972, Viola's son, Buddy Hatch, was sent home from school. His principal said his hair was too long for the school's rules. Viola Hatch filed a lawsuit. She argued that the school's rules went against her rights as a parent. She believed she should be able to raise her children according to her family's cultural and religious values.

The court decided that hair length was not a federal issue. However, the court did send the case back to a lower court. They wanted to check if Buddy was dismissed without a fair hearing. Schools cannot stop a child from getting an education. In the end, Viola Hatch felt she won. She helped set a "fairness" rule for students.

Bringing Ancestors Home

In 1989, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) asked the Smithsonian Institution to return Native American remains. These were nearly 19,000 sets of remains. Viola Hatch strongly supported bringing these ancestors back to their proper resting places. She worked with other Native leaders. Their efforts helped pass the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in 1990. This law helps tribes get their ancestors' remains and sacred items back.

The Walk for Survival

In 1996, Viola Hatch organized the Women's Healing Walk for Family and Mother Earth. This long walk went from Los Angeles, California to St. Augustine, Florida. It lasted from February 11 to July 11. The walk remembered Native American prisoners held at Fort Marion Prison in Florida. Many Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Caddo, and Arapaho leaders were held there.

This walk was the first time Native people honored these prisoners in this way. It also focused on cleansing rituals. These protested nuclear dumping and damage to burial sites. The walk ended with a ceremony at the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Protecting Sacred Places: Bear Butte

Bear Butte in South Dakota is a sacred place. Many tribes, including the Arapaho and Cheyenne, have used it for ceremonies for thousands of years. In 2002, a group wanted to build a sports complex and shooting range near Bear Butte. The governor approved funds for this project. But he did not talk to the tribes first.

In 2003, several tribes and other groups filed a lawsuit. They wanted to stop the project. Viola and her husband Don were part of the effort to protect Bear Butte. They joined demonstrations. By 2004, the project was stopped.

In 2006, Viola and Don attended a meeting in Sturgis, South Dakota. They represented the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. They worked with others to plan how to protect this sacred site for the long term.

The Longest Walks for Awareness

Viola Hatch was also involved in the "Longest Walks." These were long walks across the country to raise awareness. The first Longest Walk was in 1978. It went from San Francisco, California to Washington, DC. It protested laws that could harm tribal sovereignty and land rights.

In 2008, Viola was the lead walker for the Longest Walk. This walk traveled through Oklahoma. It focused on environmental awareness. In 2012, she hosted walkers at her home for the Longest Walk III. This walk focused on the situation of AIM member Leonard Peltier. In 2013, she and her family supported the Longest Walk IV. This walk reaffirmed tribal sovereignty and spiritual connections to Native lands.

Viola Hatch as a Tribal Leader

Viola Hatch was elected to leadership roles in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. In 1982, she became vice chair of the Business Committee. She served on this committee for several terms. From 1987 to 1988, she was vice chair of the tribes. She was also elected as treasurer. From 1994 to 1995, Viola Hatch served as the Tribal Chair.

Tribal Taxation Rights

In 1988, Viola Hatch and other tribal leaders were sued by oil and gas companies. The tribes had passed a law to tax oil and gas production on their lands. This included lands given to tribal members. In 1994, the Tribal Supreme Court said the tribes had the right to tax these lands. This was a big victory for Native people. It helped other tribes in their dealings with oil and gas companies.

Developing Tribal Gaming

During Viola Hatch's time as chair, the tribe got approval for a gaming ordinance. Soon after, the Lucky Star Casino was built. By 2015, the tribe had five casinos. Gaming has become a major source of income for the tribe and the state of Oklahoma. This income helps fund tribal services and programs.

Facing Challenges as a Leader

In 1995, Viola Hatch faced a difficult situation. She and other former tribal officers were accused of misusing tribal funds. An audit claimed that hundreds of thousands of dollars had been misused. The accusations against Viola involved about $18,000 in travel expenses.

The charges of embezzlement were dismissed. Viola was convicted of receiving funds for conferences she did not attend. She was sentenced to prison. However, her conviction was later overturned on appeal. The court found that while there were problems with how expenses were handled, there was no proof that Viola had misused the funds on purpose. The court said she did not have full control over the money. Her sentence was canceled.

Viola Hatch's Personal Life and Legacy

Besides her activism, Viola Hatch loved to share her culture and heritage. She spoke at schools, libraries, and other groups. She was part of the Southern Arapaho Language Advisory Board. She was also an honored elder board member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe.

Viola traveled to international meetings about indigenous rights. She participated in a United Nations Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. This forum helped create the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. She also met with leaders in Ireland to discuss sacred sites.

On June 5, 1954, she married Donald Vernon Hatch. They had four children. She also loved her 16 great-grandchildren very much.

Viola Hatch passed away on April 22, 2019, at her home. Her family was with her. Her funeral was held on April 25, 2019, at the Canton Native American Gymnasium. There is a place where trees can be planted to honor her memory.