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Biography of LaDonna HarrisName: LaDonna HarrisBirth Date: February 15, 1931 Death Date: N/A Place of Birth: Temple, Oklahoma, United States Nationality: American Gender: Female Occupations: activist LaDonna Harris Since the 1960s, activist LaDonna Harris (born 1931) had been an outspoken advocate on issues of concern to Native Americans, women, children, and the mentally ill. In 1970 she founded Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO), and continued to lead that organization nearly two decades later.As a member of the Comanche tribe whose father and husband of many years were non-Native Americans, LaDonna Harris has the benefit of experience in several different cultures. During the 1960s and 1970s, her work as an activist took her around the world, and she gained an even wider perspective. Her chief interest, however, has remained with her own people--not just the Comanche tribe, but all native peoples of the Americas."Indian 101"In a 1997 profile of Harris, New Mexico Business Journal quoted her sardonic reference to the difficulties she repeatedly encountered in explaining the painful situation of Native Americans to white politicians in Washington. The article …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…economic development, Harris has remained cautious. "I hate to see gaming of any kind used to support regular government," she told an interviewer for New Mexico Business Journal. "But the tribes have no other method that commands this degree of success." After 30 years as an activist, Harris remains positive about the future of Native Americans: "Exasperated--yes. Tired--maybe. But not angry," concluded the interviewer. "Despite years of dealing with Washington bureaucracy, despite funding cuts, run-arounds and red tape, Harris remains soft-spoken, optimistic, and certain that change for her people can occur." Associated Organizations Further Reading Harris, LaDonna, Margaret A. Fiore, and Jackie Wasilewski, editors, Overcoming the Barriers to the Effective Participation of Tribal Governments in the Federal System, American Institute for Interactive Management, 1989.Notable Native Americans, Gale, 1995.Schwartz, Michael, LaDonna Harris, Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1997.New Mexico Business Journal, January 1997, p. 78.Americans for Indian Opportunity, Inc., http://indiannet.indian.com (April 3, 1998). |