Winona LaDuke explained

Winona LaDuke
Birth Date:18 August 1959
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Parents:Betty LaDuke, Sun Bear
Party:Green
Education:Harvard University (BA)
Antioch University (MA)

Winona LaDuke (born August 18, 1959) is an American economist, environmentalist, writer and industrial hemp grower, known for her work on tribal land claims and preservation, as well as sustainable development.[1]

In 1996 and 2000, she ran for Vice President of the United States as the nominee of the Green Party of the United States, on a ticket headed by Ralph Nader. Until 2023 she was the executive director and a co-founder (along with the Indigo Girls) of Honor the Earth, a Native environmental advocacy organization that played an active role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.[2]

In 2016, she received an electoral vote for vice president. In doing so, she became the first Green Party member to receive an electoral vote.

Early life and education

Winona (meaning "first daughter" in Dakota language) LaDuke was born in 1959 in Los Angeles, California, to Betty Bernstein and Vincent LaDuke (later known as Sun Bear).[3] Her father was from the Ojibwe White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, and her mother of Jewish European ancestry from The Bronx, New York. LaDuke spent some of her childhood in Los Angeles, but was primarily raised in Ashland, Oregon.[4] Due to her father's heritage, she was enrolled at birth with the White Earth Nation, but did not live at White Earth, or any other reservation, until 1982. She started work at White Earth after graduating from college, when she got a job there as principal of the high school.[3]

After her parents married, Vincent LaDuke worked as an actor in Hollywood in supporting roles in Western movies, while Betty LaDuke completed her academic studies. The couple separated when Winona was five, and her mother took a position as an art instructor at Southern Oregon College, now Southern Oregon University at Ashland, then a small logging and college town near the California border.[3] In the 1980s, Vincent reinvented himself as a New Age spiritual leader by the name Sun Bear.[3]

While growing up in Ashland, LaDuke attended public school and was on the debate team in high school. She attended Harvard University, where she joined a group of Indigenous activists, and graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics (rural economic development).[3] When she moved to White Earth, she did not know the Ojibwe language, or many people, and was not quickly accepted. While working as the principal of the local Minnesota reservation high school she completed research for her master's thesis on the reservation's subsistence economy and became involved in local issues. She completed an M.A. in community economic development through Antioch University's distance-learning program.[3]

Career and activism

While attending Harvard, LaDuke heard a presentation by Jimmie Durham that she said "shook something loose" in her and changed her life. She worked for Durham, investigating the effects of uranium mining in Navajo reservations.[5] After graduating, she moved to her father's community at White Earth, where she found work as the high school principal. In 1985 she helped found the Indigenous Women's Network. She worked with Women of All Red Nations to publicize American forced sterilization of Native American women.

Next she became involved in the struggle to recover lands for the Anishinaabe. An 1867 treaty with the United States provided a territory of more than 860,000 acres for the White Earth Indian Reservation. Under the Nelson Act of 1889, an attempt to have the Anishinaabe assimilate by adopting a European-American model of subsistence farming, communal tribal land was allotted to individual households. The US classified any excess land as surplus, allowing it to be sold to non-natives. In addition, many Anishinaabe sold their land individually over the years; these factors caused the tribe to lose control of most of its land. By the mid-20th century, the tribe held only one-tenth of the land in its reservation.[3]

White Earth Land Recovery Project

In 1989, LaDuke founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) in Minnesota with the proceeds of a human rights award from Reebok. Its goal is to buy back land in the reservation that non-Natives bought and to create enterprises that provide work to Anishinaabe. By 2000, the foundation had bought 1,200 acres, which it held in a conservation trust for eventual cession to the tribe.[3] WELRP also works to reforest the land and revive cultivation of wild rice, long a traditional Ojibwe food. It markets that and other traditional products, including hominy, jam, buffalo sausage, and other products. It has started an Ojibwe language program, a herd of buffalo, and a wind-energy project.[3] It produces and sells traditional foods and crafts through its label, Native Harvest.[6] The Evergreen State College class of 2014 chose LaDuke as its commencement speaker. She delivered her address at the school on June 13, 2014.[7]

Honor the Earth, 1993-2023

LaDuke was also the executive director of Honor the Earth, an organization she co-founded with the non-Native folk-rock duo the Indigo Girls in 1993. Honor the Earth is a national advocacy group encouraging public support and funding for Native environmental groups. It works nationally and internationally on issues of climate change, renewable energy, sustainable development, food systems and environmental justice. Members of Honor the Earth were active in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.[2] As of 2016, the organization's mission was:

to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities. Honor the Earth develops these resources by using music, the arts, the media, and Indigenous wisdom to ask people to recognize our joint dependency on the Earth and be a voice for those not heard.[8]

On March 30, 2023, the Becker County, Minnesota, District Court ordered Honor the Earth and LaDuke to pay a former employee $750,000 in damages in a sexual harassment and abuse complaint, based on actions from 2015. LaDuke resigned from the organization on April 5, 2023, acknowledging her failure to protect victims of sexual harassment.[9]

Political career, 1996-2016

In 1996 and 2000, LaDuke ran as the vice-presidential candidate with Ralph Nader on the Green Party ticket. She was not endorsed by any tribal council or other tribal government. LaDuke endorsed the Democratic Party ticket for president and vice-president in 2004,[10] 2008,[11] and 2012.[12]

In 2016, Robert Satiacum, Jr., a faithless elector from Washington, cast his presidential vote for Native American activist Faith Spotted Eagle and his vice-presidential vote for LaDuke, making her the first Green Party member and the first Native American woman to receive an Electoral College vote for vice president.[13]

In 2016, LaDuke was involved in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, participating at the resistance camps in North Dakota and speaking to the media on the issue.[14]

At the July 2019 National Audubon Convention in Milwaukee, LaDuke gave the keynote address with updates on efforts to stop the Sandpiper pipeline, other pipelines, and other projects near Ojibwe waters and through the Leech Lake Reservation. She urged everyone to be water protectors and stand up for their rights.[15]

In 2020 and 2021, she was a leader of the protests against the Line 3 pipeline.[16] [17] [18] [19]

Hemp activism

As of 2018, LaDuke operated a 40-acre (16 ha) industrial hemp farm on the White Earth Indian Reservation, growing hemp varieties from different regions of the world,[20] vegetables and tobacco.[21] She has said that she turned to industrial hemp farming after being urged to investigate the practice for several years and advocates its potential to turn the American economy away from fossil fuels.[22] LaDuke has promoted the growth of both marijuana and industrial hemp on Indigenous tribal lands for financial profit and the localization of the economy.[23] [24] Her position can be considered controversial given experiences of other reservations, such as the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who were raided by the DEA in relation to hemp farming.[25]

Personal life

In 1988, LaDuke married Cree Randy Kapashesit of Moose Factory, Ontario, Canada. They separated in 1992.[5]

On November 9, 2008, LaDuke's house in Ponsford, Minnesota, burned down while she was in Boston. No one was injured, but all her personal property burned, including her extensive library and Indigenous art and artifact collection.[26] As of 2020, she had one son[3] and six grandchildren.

Selected publications

Books

As co-author

Her editorials and essays have been published in national and international media.

Filmography

Television and film appearances:

Legacy and honors

Electoral history

1996 election

1996 United States presidential election
Presidential candidate
Vice presidential candidate
PartyPopular
votes
%Electoral votes
style=background: Bill Clinton
Democratic47,401,18549.24%379
style=background-color: Bob Dole
Republican39,197,46940.71%159
style=background: Ross Perot
Reform8,085,2948.40%0
style=background: Ralph Nader
Green685,2970.71%0
style=background: Harry Browne
Libertarian485,7590.50%0
Others411,9930.43%0
96,277,634 100% 538

2000 election

2000 United States presidential election
Presidential candidate
Vice presidential candidate
PartyPopular
votes
%Electoral votes
style=background: Al Gore
Democratic50,999,89748.4%266
style=background-color: George W. Bush
Republican50,456,00247.87%271
style=background: Ralph Nader
Green2,882,9552.74%0
style=background: Pat Buchanan
Reform448,8950.43%0
style=background: Harry Browne
Libertarian384,4310.36%0
Others232,9200.22% 1
105,421,423 100% 538

2016 election

Electoral vote for vice president

22731111305
KaineWarrenCantwellLaDukeCollinsFiorinaPence

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Amy Goodman, Winona LaDuke . December 7, 2018 . Interview with Winona LaDuke . March 3, 2021 . 15:20 . Democracy Now!.
  2. News: What Would Sitting Bull Do?. August 25, 2016. November 17, 2016. Winona. LaDuke. La Progressive . December 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191204134135/https://www.laprogressive.com/protesting-dakota-access-pipeline/. live.
  3. Web site: Peter Ritter, "The Party Crasher" . Minneapolis News . October 11, 2000.
  4. Web site: Willamette Week | "Winona Laduke" | July 19th, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060827152733/http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3237/7789. dead. August 27, 2006.
  5. Book: Contemporary Authors . 2002 . Gale Group: Thomson Learning . 256–258 . Volume 100 .
  6. Web site: Ricing Time: Harvesting on the Lakes of White Earth . . November 12, 2004.
  7. Web site: The Evergreen State College graduates nearly 1,300 students . Lisa . Pemberton . theolympian . en . April 19, 2019 . July 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706144733/https://account.theolympian.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=26071081&intcid=ab_archive . live.
  8. News: About Us . Honor The Earth . 2017-04-15 . April 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170416125314/http://www.honorearth.org/about . live.
  9. Bowe, Nathan. Honor the Earth ordered to pay $750,000 in civil suit, Forum Communications Company: Detroit Lakes Tribune, April 3, 2023.
  10. Web site: Winona LaDuke endorsement of John Kerry for president . October 20, 2004 . October 22, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112402/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/ictarchives/2004/10/20/winona-laduke-endorsement-of-john-kerry-for-president-94117 . December 24, 2013 . dead.
  11. News: LaDuke and the lessons she learned with Nader . Minnesota Post. May 22, 2008 . October 22, 2012 . October 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141016022706/http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2008/05/laduke-and-lessons-she-learned-nader . live.
  12. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Winona LaDuke on Presidential Politics (7:41). YouTube. October 22, 2012.
  13. News: How Faith Spotted Eagle became the first Native American to win an electoral vote for president . LA Times . December 21, 2016 . December 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221162741/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-faith-spotted-eagle-2016-story.html . live .
  14. Amy Goodman, Winona LaDuke . September 4, 2016 . Dakota Access Pipeline Company Attacks Native American Protesters with Dogs and Pepper Spray . September 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924112214/https://www.democracynow.org/2016/9/4/dakota_access_pipeline_company_attacks_native . September 24, 2018 . Democracy Now!.
  15. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Audubon Convention 2019: Opening Address. Winona LaDuke . www.youtube.com.
  16. Web site: 2021-05-31. 'They're Shoving A Pipe Down Our Throat': Inside Winona LaDuke's Fight Against Line 3 . 2021-06-11 . en-US . June 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611192242/https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/05/31/theyre-shoving-a-pipe-down-our-throat-inside-winona-ladukes-long-fight-against-line-3/ . live.
  17. Hannah . Murphy . Dunlea . Reed . 2020-04-23 . The Fight Against Minnesota's Line 3 Pipeline: Bill McKibben and Winona LaDuke in Conversation . 2021-06-11 . Rolling Stone . en-US . June 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611192241/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/minnesota-line-3-pipeline-winona-laduke-bill-mckibben-conversation-988155/ . live.
  18. Web site: Fish . Robin D. . LaDuke, Line 3 opponents stage first of 'weekly' protests at Enbridge office in Park Rapids . 2021-06-11. Duluth News Tribune. December 19, 2020 . en . June 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611192251/https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/energy-and-mining/6807500-LaDuke-Line-3-opponents-stage-first-of-weekly-protests-at-Enbridge-office-in-Park-Rapids . live.
  19. Web site: "Not Having It": Winona LaDuke on Mass Protest by Water Protectors to Halt Line 3 Pipeline in Minnesota . 2021-06-11 . Democracy Now! . en . June 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611192438/https://www.democracynow.org/2021/6/8/line_3_protests_treaty_people_gathering . live.
  20. Web site: In These Times- The Renaissance of Tribal Hemp. April 21, 2018 . October 19, 2018. July 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220706144724/https://inthesetimes.com/article/industrial-hemp-native-american-tribes-winona-laduke. live.
  21. News: 2018-07-14 . Winona LaDuke announces her Hemp and Heritage Farm is coming alive - IndianCountryToday.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190413132044/https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/news/winona-laduke-announces-her-hemp-and-heritage-farm-is-coming-alive-_iMHVEHjEkObJeMqKOxIZA/ . April 13, 2019 . October 19, 2018 . IndianCountryToday.com . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2020-06-22 . Intelligent and idealistic, Winona LaDuke turns to hemp farming, solar power to jump-start the 'next economy' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201021135917/https://www.startribune.com/intelligent-and-idealistic-winona-laduke-turns-to-hemp-farming-solar-power-to-jump-start-the-next-economy/571418762/ . October 21, 2020 . October 17, 2020 . Star Tribune.
  23. Web site: Hess Scholar in Residence Winona LaDuke Says We Must Take the "Green Path" to Restore Our Environment and Economy. October 17, 2020. CUNY Newswire. en. July 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220706144731/https://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2020/10/14/hess-scholar-in-residence-winona-laduke-says-we-must-take-the-green-path-to-restore-our-environment-and-economy/. live.
  24. Web site: Winona LaDuke: Consider marijuana and hemp in Indian Country. October 17, 2020. Indianz. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419151913/https://www.indianz.com/News/2015/03/05/winona-laduke-consider-marijua.asp. live.
  25. Web site: Winona LaDuke: Consider Marijuana and Hemp for Indian Country. March 5, 2015. Indianz. October 19, 2018. October 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011705/https://www.indianz.com/News/2015/03/05/winona-laduke-consider-marijua.asp. live.
  26. Web site: Winona LaDuke to rebuild home destroyed by fire. News from Indian Country. November 17, 2008. November 17, 2008. August 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180828001834/http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5035&Itemid=1. live.
  27. Web site: Winona LaDuke. Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. 2017. Iowa State University Archives of Women's Political Communication. January 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235852/http://www.womenspeecharchive.org/women/profile/index.cfm?ProfileID=423. February 1, 2017. dead.
  28. Web site: Anthem . .
  29. Web site: Winona LaDuke – Women's Political Communication Archives. globalreach.com. Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC – Ames, IA -. www.womenspeecharchive.org. January 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235852/http://www.womenspeecharchive.org/women/profile/index.cfm?ProfileID=423. February 1, 2017. dead.
  30. Web site: LaDuke on The Colbert Report . colbertnation.com.
  31. Web site: Urgent Cinema: Winona LaDuke and the Enbridge Pipeline . Walker Art Center . February 22, 2017 . February 23, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170223035611/http://blogs.walkerart.org/filmvideo/2016/09/15/winona-laduke-enbridge-standing-rock-keri-pickett/ . live .
  32. Web site: LaDuke, Winona . National Women's Hall of Fame.
  33. Web site: Day Undergraduate Ceremony – Commencement. January 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160630000245/http://www.augsburg.edu/commencement/details/saturday/. June 30, 2016. dead.
  34. Web site: Indigenous Activist Winona LaDuke Wins Spendlove Prize – UC Merced. www.ucmerced.edu. January 5, 2018. March 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180309064031/https://www.ucmerced.edu/news/2017/indigenous-activist-winona-laduke-wins-spendlove-prize. live.