The Rebellious, Committed, and Resilient
Crow Dog is a Native American writer and activist from the Burnt Thigh Nation of Lakota Indians. Her life and participation in the American Indian Movement (AIM) has shown how a woman’s successful work can change a life of despair. Crow Dog was rebellious, committed, and resilient during her struggle for equality. Crow Dog was born Mary Ellen Brave Bird, in 1953, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The absence of work was prevalent on reservations and manymen left so their families could receive government assistance. However, Crow Dog’s father had deserted the family when she was young and her moth was left to be the sole financial provider for the family. Crow Dog and her six …show more content…
This girl suggested they start an underground newspaper and reveal the atrocities against them. Crow Dog, along with her friends Charlene Left Hand Bull and Gina One Star put together a newspaper they titled Red Panther, in which they wrote of the poor food, living conditions, beaten and even sexual relations between some of the priests and nuns of St. Francis. When Crow Dog was held up as a bad example, she didn’t mind. She was determined not to allow herself or others to be treated so badly without speaking out. Upon Crow Dog’s insistence to the school, she was allowed to leave early and her life took another major …show more content…
Leonard, having three children from his previous marriage and Crow Dog with her infant son Pedro created a large, happy family. But, the life of Leonard’s was constantly filled with visitors and Crow Dog found herself exhausted from their constant influx. Crow Dog proved her resilience when, in 1975 her husband Leonard was sentenced to twenty-three years on trumped up charges by the government, “From the first day Leonard soent in jail his friends rallied to free him.” For Crow Dog she found herself alone and the sole provider for their children. Yet, through her resilience, she adjusted to the misfortune she had known most of her life. Finally, after two long years, Leonard was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison. Their tribe joined in a feast, welcoming Crow Dog’s husband home, and giving her a new name: Ohitika Win, “Brave Woman”. Compelled by poverty and prejudice, Crow Dog was rebellious, committed and resilient in order to help her people stand up and say they were human beings with natural born rights, Her spirit made a difference and gave others