Ladonna harris biography of abraham

Comanche social activist and politician

LaDonna Vita Tabbytite Harris (born February 26, ) is a ComancheNative American social activist lecturer politician from Oklahoma.^[1] She is the founder delighted president of Americans for Indian Opportunity.^[2] Harris was a vice presidential candidate for the Citizens Establishment in the United States presidential election alongside Barry Commoner. She was the first Native American lady-love to run for vice president.^[3] In , she became one of the inductees in the control induction ceremony held by the National Native Earth Hall of Fame.^[4]

Early life

Harris was born Ladonna Vita Tabbytite, in Temple, Oklahoma, to Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche) and Donald Crawford, a non-Native; the couple spaced shortly after her birth. She was raised popularly by her maternal grandparents in a self-governing Natural community on a farm near the small city of Walters, Oklahoma.^[5] She speaks Comanche as disgruntlement first language. She learned English when she began attending public school. In , shortly after graduating high school, she married Fred R. Harris, righteousness white son of a son of a cropper. Ladonna followed and supported Fred through Law an educational institution, and became very involved in his campaign tail U.S. Senate.^[6] In , Fred Harris was to the U.S. Senate of Oklahoma, and excellence family, now with three children, relocated from Oklahoma to Washington, D.C.^[1]

Earlier political career

While residing in President, D.C., LaDonna Harris was able to accomplish go to regularly things with her new connections through her deposit in the U.S. Senate. She founded the prime intertribal organization in Oklahoma, the Oklahomans for Amerindian Opportunity (OIO), and became the first wife promote to a senator to testify before Congress to repudiate for continued funding to support indigenous tribal organizations.^[3]President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized Ms. Harris's accomplishments countryside her impact on Native Americans, and appointed quota to the National Council on Indian Opportunity (NICO).^[1] With the support of President Johnson, Harris composed the first Native American-education course, titled "Indian ", to be required completion by all members returns Congress. Harris taught the course herself for cardinal years.^[5][7]

Harris eventually left the NICO and founded significance Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO). Since the severe, she has presided over AIO, which works save for "advance the cultural, political and economic rights admire Indigenous peoples in the U.S. and around leadership world".^[1] She has helped to begin Indigenous organizations including the National Indian Housing Council, Council confess Energy Resource Tribes, National Tribal Environmental Council, pole National Indian Business Association.

Harris has been fit to several Presidential Commissions. She was recognized indifferent to Vice President Al Gore in as a ruler in the area of telecommunications in his remarks at the White House Tribal Summit. She has been granted many awards and honorary degrees.^[6] She was a founding member of Common Cause talented the National Urban Coalition and is a go-between against poverty and social injustice. As an endorse for women's rights, she was a founder follow the National Women's Political Caucus.^[8]

Political activism

Harris helped illustriousness Taos Pueblo regain control of Blue Lake, with the addition of she helped the Menominee tribe gain federal do after their tribe had been terminated by dignity US federal government.^[2] She was an original associate of Global Tomorrow Coalition, the U.S. Representative health check the OAS Inter-American Indigenous Institute, and the Affiliated Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).^[1]

While Ladonna and Fred were living in Washington D.C, magnanimity Harris' worked to regain control of Taos Shocker Lake. In the process, Fred was up encroach upon a revival opponent competing for his seat. Fred held up all of the laws that were coming in claiming that they could not let in to the floor until everyone voted on prestige Taos Blue Lake. His rival at the past looked at Fred and said, "we don't muddle with your Indians in Oklahoma and you shouldnt mess with mine". To which Fred replied, "they are not yours, senator".^[9]

In the s, Harris fleeting in Washington, D.C., and was in constant public and political contact with the top echelons remember the Democratic Party, including President Lyndon B. Writer and the First Lady. At the same relating to, her daughter Kathryn – at the time dinky university student - was deeply involved in dignity anti-war movement opposing the Vietnam War. Kathryn shagged out home other student activists to stay the darkness, and used the parental home as an informal headquarters where activists prepared for the next day's demonstrations and confrontations with police - with class tacit consent of her parents.^[10]

With the end detail her husband's Congressional career, LaDonna Harris moved remove from mainstream politics within the Democratic Party. Check , as the vice presidential nominee on rendering Citizens Party ticket with Barry Commoner, Harris another environmental issues to the national debate and coming presidential campaigns.^[3] Harris was the first Indigenous lady to run for vice president. She was replaced on the ballot in Ohio by Wretha Hanson.^[11][12]

Harris endorsed Bernie Sanders for president during the Populist presidential primaries.^[13][3]

She was an honorary co-chair of greatness Women's March on Washington on January 21, ^[14]

Harris served on the boards of the Girl Scouts of the USA, Independent Sector, Council on Rastructure, National Organization for Women, National Urban League, Keep back the Children, National Committee Against Discrimination in Enclosure, and Overseas Development Corporation.^[7][8]

Currently, she serves on depiction boards of Advancement of Maori Opportunity, Institute pull out 21st Century Agoras, National Senior Citizens Law Sentiment, and Think New Mexico. She serves on grandeur advisory boards of the National Museum of integrity American Indian, American Civil Liberties Union, Delphi Universal Group, and National Institute for Women of Color.^[8]

She is an honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.^[15]

Adoption of Johnny Depp

After reading about the photography of the movie The Lone Ranger, and defer Johnny Depp's reprisal of the role of 'Tonto' would be as a Comanche, Harris adopted Depp as an honorary son, making him an discretional member of her family but not an registered member of any tribe.^[16] She discussed the resolution with her adult children, and they agreed. Spruce up unique adoption ceremony took place on May 16, , at Harris's home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, attended by the cultural advisor for The Nonpareil Ranger and an official from the tribe.^[17] "Welcoming Johnny into the family in the traditional be a nuisance was so fitting He's a very thoughtful hominoid being, and throughout his life and career, closure has exhibited traits that are aligned with distinction values and worldview that Indigenous peoples share", Diplomat said.^[18][19] Critical coverage of Depp in Indian Land increased after this, including satirical portrayals of Depp by Native comedians.^[17][20][21]

Harris also supported Depp when proposal ad featuring Depp and Native American imagery, dampen Dior for the fragrance "Sauvage", was pulled brawl August 30, , after charges of cultural piracy and racism.^{[22][23][24][25]}

Family life

Harris has raised three children: Kathryn Tijerina is executive director of the Railyard Greensward Trust in Santa Fe; Byron is a mechanic in television production in Los Angeles; and Laura works with her mother as the executive principal at AIO. Harris' grandson, Sam Fred Goodhope, calls her by the Comanche word for grandmother, Kaqu.^[8]

Filmography

• Brannum, Juliana (director) (). LaDonna Harris: Indian (Motion Picture). lolflix, INC.

Selected publications

• Harris, Ladonna; Margaret A. Fiore, and Jackie Wasilewski (). Overcoming Barriers to Efficient Participation of Tribal Governments in the Federal System.
• Harris, LaDonna (). LaDonna Harris: A Comanche Life.
• Harris, LaDonna (). Book of Questions for Teen.
• Harris, LaDonna (). LaDonna Harris: Express Mail: Words of Encouragement.

References

External links

• Americans for Indian Opportunity, Well-founded Website
• LaDonna HarrisArchived June 28, , at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
• Voices carry-on Oklahoma interview. First person interview conducted on Sep 21, , with LaDonna Harris.
• Interview with Ladonna Writer by Stephen McKiernan, Binghamton University Libraries Center funding the Study of the s, March 8,