Lucy Covington

Lucy Friedlander Covington (November 24, 1910 – September 20, 1982) was a Native American tribal leader and political activist. She was a member of the Colville tribe which has a reservation in north-eastern Washington state. Covington was the granddaughter of the last Colville chief (Chief Moses) to be acknowledged by the tribe.

Political activism In the 1950s, termination became the governmental policy when dealing with Indians, and officials were describing the procedure as "Indian emancipation from oppressive supervision." Through the use of self-determination, she waged a war on the government and the termination bill. Through individual activism and determination, Covington helped keep Colville tribal sovereignty intact, and her persistence halted the liquidation and dismemberment of the Colville Reservation.

Fighting termination After the termination struggle, Covington "worked with characteristic determination to protect tribal rights and resources, develop tribal services, govern the reservation for the benefit of tribe members, and promote inter-tribal cooperation. " Not only was she an example of Native American self-determination in action, but she was also a founder of the movement itself. Her efforts (along with Ada Deer and other civil rights leaders) engendered a shift of U.S. policy from termination to independence and autonomy.

Death In 1982, when she was seventy-one years old, Lucy Covington died of pulmonary fibrosis.

The Lucy Covington Center In 2015, Eastern Washington University decided to build the Lucy Covington center to honor and remember her powerful activism. It serves as a place to educate and cultivate young Native Americans into future leaders to follow in Lucy's footsteps.