A showing of the award-winning documentary, “LaDonna Harris: Indian 101” will be presented at 6 p.m. at the Comanche Nation Complex's Watchetaker Hall, near Lawton on April 10. Harris and Comanche Nation Chairman Wallace Coffey will answer questions about the film, which was produced by Julianna Brannum with executive producer Johnny Depp.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The first of seven 2015 inductees into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame is LaDonna Harris of the Comanche Nation.
“It’s a great honor to be honored by this group,” Harris said. “Growing up in Cotton County near Cache Creek was quite an experience and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the Comanche tribe.”
Harris accepted her clear flame-shaped award, State of Oklahoma pin, and yellow roses during the biennial induction ceremony on April 9, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame is an initiative of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women.
“I am very proud of the recognition from Oklahoma, my home state,” Harris said. “It makes me feel very pleased that they’ve recognized my work.”
Harris is originally from Walters, Okla., and is one of the founders and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO), based in New Mexico. AIO helps improve the cultural, economic and political lives of Indigenous people around the world. One of its initial triumphs was aiding in the establishment of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) in 1971.
Advocating for the rights of Indigenous people has made Harris a nationally recognized leader who has helped establish the National Indian Housing Council, National Tribal Environmental Council, and the National Indian Business Association. Her civil rights advocacy led her to serve former U.S. presidents since Lyndon B. Johnson; which included appointments in the Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton administrations. Harris was also a 1980 vice presidential nominee, along with Barry Commoner, on the Citizens Party ticket.
She serves on a handful of advisory boards, such as the National Museum of the American Indian, American Civil Liberties Union and the National Institute for Women of Color. Her previous national board representation includes, the National Organization of Women, Save the Children Federation, and the National Urban League, among many others. She was also a founder of the National Woman’s Political Caucus. She credits her traditional upbringing by her maternal grandparents, Tabbytite and Wickkie, for her accomplishments in improving the well-being of Native Americans.
“My Comanche culture has given me the background to do all this,” Harris said. “I encourage others to work in Indian Country because of the different cultures; you just learn so much.”
Harris was raised during the Great Depression and was married to former Oklahoma Sen. Fred Harris. They have three children: Kathy Tijerina, Laura Harris and Byron Harris. Her daughter Kathy said it’s wonderful for her mother to be recognized, particularly in her home state. Many of Harris’ family members and friends attended the induction ceremony, along with Kathy and Laura.
“I think it’s important for us to remember her legacy and that she continues on,” Laura Harris said. “I think very few people know the work she did here in the state for integration of African Americans, and she started the first state-wide Indian organization, Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity.”
Harris founded Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity (OIO) in the 1960s to help improve the lives of Native Americans in different communities. The first OIO project was to address the alarming school dropout rates of Native American students. Today, Harris continues her involvement in education and through AIO, established the Ambassadors Program. The mentoring program helps Native Americans combine their tribal values into their contemporary lives to make positive influences in their communities and create a dialog on current issues in Indian Country. This year, half of the participants will be international students. Many of her ambassadors now serve in leadership positions, and they all call her Momma LaDonna.
Harris’ advice for Indigenous women wanting to make a difference in their communities is to first and foremost, vote. Also, be an active tribal member, run for a tribal department leadership position or political position, be active in the community, think globally, and “be contemporary people, but still be true to our culture and our values.”
“I think we used to have more women chiefs of the tribes than we do now, so we need to look at that, but besides that we’re the keepers of the culture and we’re the ones that keep the language alive and culture alive so that our children will know who they are,” Harris said.
Della Warrior, who nominated Harris, said Harris deserves the recognition because her whole life has been dedicated to improving situations for Native American environments and has helped generations of young people through her Ambassadors Program.
“She was a role model to me and I just appreciate everything that she’s done,” Warrior said. “She’s been a great advocate in all of the political causes that Native people have had throughout the country … I truly appreciate her and I’m just certainly very happy that she was selected. I always tell my friends, LaDonna stands for love, light and laughter. She embodies them all.”
The induction ceremony was emceed by Ret. Maj. Gen. Rita Aragon, a 2009 inductee. Gov. Mary Fallin provided welcoming remarks and acknowledged all the recipients. Fallin said Harris is a nationally recognized leader who has given so much back to the State of Oklahoma.
A showing of the award-winning documentary, “LaDonna Harris: Indian 101” will be presented at 6 p.m. at the Comanche Nation Complex's Watchetaker Hall, near Lawton on April 10. Harris and Comanche Nation Chairman Wallace Coffey will answer questions about the film, which was produced by Julianna Brannum with executive producer Johnny Depp.
The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women was created in 1994 by the Oklahoma Legislature with a mission to: strengthen and empower women in Oklahoma by improving their opportunities and quality of life. The Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh, and honors women who have made a difference in the lives of Oklahomans or Americans. Other inductees this year were: Mary Mélon, Dr. Marion Paden, Thelma Parks, Dr. Ramona Paul (posthumously), Patty Roloff and Avis Scaramucci.
Other Native American women previously inducted were Ardina R. Moore, Quapaw, in 2011; Della Warrior, Otoe-Missouria, in 2007; and Dana Tiger, Muscogee Creek, in 2001.
