Beatrice Medicine

Beatrice Medicine (August 1, 1923 - December 19, 2005) (Sihasapa and Minneconjou Lakota) (Lakota name Híŋša Wašté Aglí Wiŋ – "Returns Victorious with a Red Horse Woman"

Early life Medicine was born on the Standing Rock Reservation in Wakpala, South Dakota on the 1st of August, 1923.

Career Medicine studied the human behaviors involved in racism and linguistic discrimination, in both academia and social anthropology. Much of her work focused on the resurgence, survivance, and expansion of Indigenous languages and culture. Medicine was known internationally for her work with students and faculty,

In her book, Learning to Be an Anthropologist and Remaining Native, Medicine playfully attributed her multi-institutional career as a result of embracing the traditional roots of the Lakota: "as far as moving so often is concerned, I jokingly refer to the former nomadism of my people". In 1984, Medicine was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board, a nonprofit organization built with the intent on "holding power accountable". In 1993-94 Medicine took a stand for her beliefs and respect for the role of women in Indigenous cultures by accepting a position in the Women's Branch of Canada's Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, seeing this as acting as a voice for the people to fight for the legal rights of Indigenous families.

Medicine's commitment to social action did not end when she retired from her career as a teacher and scholar in the early 1990s. Upon returning to her home on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota she assisted in the efforts to build a new public school for the community.

In honour of Medicine and her lifelong dedication to education, The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) created the Beatrice Medicine Award, a scholarship travel grant of $750 to assist in attending the Annual Meeting of the SfAA. It is awarded to three students who have been enrolled as a student during part of the current year and must have an accepted paper or poster abstract for the SfAA Annual Meeting program. Smithsonian's Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland, where Dr. Medicine's papers can be accessed. Her papers are archived in the National Anthropological Archives at the Smithsonian Institution.

Awards (1991) Distinguished Service Award from the American Anthropological Association. (1996) Bronislaw Malinowski Award from the Society for Applied Anthropology. Ohana Award from the American Counseling Association]. (1976) "The Schooling Process: Some Lakota (Sioux) Views" in Craig J. Calhoun and Francis A. Janni eds. The Anthropological Study of Education. The Hague: Mouton. (1983). "Warrior Women." The Hidden Half: Studies of Plains Indian Women. Patricia Albers, ed. . (1987). "Indian Women and the Renaissance of Traditional Religion" in Raymond J. DeMallie and Douglas R. Parks eds. pp. 159–171. Sioux Indian Religion, Tradition and Innovation. Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press. (1998). "Alcohol and Aborigines: the North American Perspective." Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Journal, No. 8, pp. 7–11. (1998). "American Indians and Anthropologists: Issues of History, Empowerment, and Application." Human Organization, Vol. 57, No. 3, pp. 253–57.

Films

(1999). Seeking the Spirit: Plains Indians in Russia. Liucija Baskauskas, dir. Documentary Educational Resources.