Native American Women in Education
Native American women have made significant contributions in the field of education. One of the earliest educators, Susette La Flesche Tibbles, was the first indigenous woman to travel and speak publicly. She founded a school, where her younger, famous sister, Susan La Flesche attended.[1] Ella Cara Deloria[2]devoted her life to the study of the language and culture of the Sioux (Dakota and Lakota) and spent her life teaching it to others. This week we will tell the fascinating and entertaining story of
Doris Leader Charge who was a language instructor and actor who saw an opportunity and made the most of it.
In the following weeks we will share stories of Sharon Eagleman, Education research Analyst and Angel De Cora (1871-1919) Illustrator, Educator.
Doris Leader Charge (Sioux, 1930-2001) Language Instructor, Actor
“Kevin Costner said the words, but Doris Leader Charge made the Dances dialogue truly Sioux.”[3]
Doris was born as Doris Whiteface on the Rosebud Sioux reservation on May 4, 1930. She was raised in a Lakota-speaking home and did not learn English until she went to boarding school, St. Mary’s School for Girls at Springfield, S.D. She went on to become one of only a few thousand Sioux still fluent in her native language. She taught Lakota language and culture at Sinte Gleska (Spotted Tail) Community College on the reservation. She eventually earned her elementary-education degree in 1984.
Doris did not have an easy life. She dropped out of school at age 14 to help her family. She married at age 16 and was widowed by the time she was 21. Her husband died of a heart attack and left her to care for three children with another on the way. She did menial work to support them. At age 27 she married Fred Leader Charge.
Doris was teaching at the Lakota school when Dances with Wolves producer Jim Wilson sent her a copy of the movie script. Jim Wilson with the director and star Kevin Costner were concerned about the authenticity of the native language. There were some Lakota actors and some from other tribes but most of them did not speak their language.
Someone recommended Doris Leader Charge, so they sent the script to her. It took her only three weeks to complete the translation. Doris and her cousin translated each actor’s lines on tape, first in English and then in Lakota and mailed the tapes to the cast members. Kevin Costner was impressed. He and Jim Wilson decided they needed to get Doris on board with their project. Kevin Costner found that Doris was a big help as he hired Native American Indian extras who needed coaching in the Lakota language. The younger extras looked up to Doris as an elder and cultural leader so she was able to help smooth out problems as they arose.
Some of the extras were constantly late or did not show up. Kevin Costner was frustrated and decided to ask his casting director, Elisabeth Leustig,[4] to offer a part to Doris. Doris accepted the part of Pretty Shield, a speaking role of the wife of Chief Ten Bear.
During her time at work on the film Doris lived in a hotel room. She used it as a classroom where she drilled the actors on their speaking parts, making sure that they pronounced everything correctly. For her six-month experience Doris was paid $23,800.[5] She used her money to repair her and her husband’s two-bedroom house and she purchased new appliances.
Dances with Wolves was filmed in western South Dakota (released in 1990). The 3-hour movie went on to win seven Oscars including best Picture that year.
Best Picture* (Jim Wilson and Kevin Costner)
Cinematography* (Dean Semler)
Direction(Kevin Costner)
Editing (Neil Travis)
Music* (For his original score – John Barry)
Sound* (Russell Williams II, Jeffrey Perkins, Bill Benton, Gregory Watkins)
Writing (screenplay)* (Michael Blake)
The audience was pleasingly surprised when Doris went on the stage with Michael Blake to accept the Academy Award for his writing. She translated his English acceptance speech into Lakota for her tribal friends and family who were watching. The audience was impressed with her elegance and grace. You can see for yourself here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-3tLfRWyEk
Doris later stated, “When I went up and picked up that Oscar for ‘Dances with Wolves,’ I finally showed the world Indians are here and we’re here to stay!….I hope this film shows young people on our reservation, where self-esteem is low, that you have to do the best you can and be proud of yourself.”[6]
Doris died in 2001. She is buried at the Holy Innocents Cemetery near her home at Parmelee. She is remembered not only as a woman who loved to take charge but as someone who brought great pride to her oyate (people). The Rosebud community is especially grateful for her contributions as an expert for their language.
You can obtain Dances with Wolves in many places; here is a link to Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Dances-Wolves-Kevin-Costner/dp/B000IZ5F2K
[1] See story, “Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte”, posted February 12, 2024. https://authormarywalker.com/dr-susan-la-flesche-picotte/
[2] See her story on this website at, https://authormarywalker.com/native-american-women-in-education/
[3] David Thigpen in his article for People Magazine, January, 1991.
[4] Elisabeth Leustig won the Artios Award for Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama in 1991.
[5] As an interesting aside, Kevin Costner made $50 Million Dollars.
[6] KB Schaller. 100+ Native American women Who Changed the World (Sarasota, FL., Peppertree Press, 2014) p. 122
