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Beatrice Medicine:
Studying Native An anthropologist
American Cultures session with Blackfoot
conducts a recording
Mountain Chief
in 1916.
the first indigenous women to work
as an anthropologist.
In 1945, Medicine received her
bachelor’s degree from South Dakota
State University. She went on to earn
master’s degrees in anthropology and
sociology. In 1983, she received her
PhD in anthropology. 31
Medicine studied Native Americans Number of colleges and
throughout the United States. She universities where Beatrice
stayed with different tribes and Medicine taught
learned how they lived. She shared
her findings with the tribes. She • As a child, she pretended
helped them in whatever ways she to be a teacher. Her siblings
were her students.
Beatrice Medicine was born in 1923 could, from translating to assisting in CULTURAL • She helped start the
on the Standing Rock Reservation in court cases. ANTHROPOLOGY Wakpala Public School on the
South Dakota. She was a member of Anthropology is the study of Standing Rock Reservation.
In the early 1900s, anthropologists
the Sihasapa Lakota Sioux tribe. Her humans. Cultural anthropologists • Shortly before she died,
harmed indigenous people or treated Medicine received a special
Lakota name was Hinsha Waste Agli study how humans live and
them unfairly. Many Native Americans award from the Council on
Win. It means “Returns Victorious understand the world. They
learned not to trust them. Through Anthropology and Education.
with a Red Horse Woman.” This compare how different groups The award was for lifelong
her work, Medicine began to heal
is a powerful name among Native of people live. They try to dedication to education
those wounds. She died in December
Americans. Medicine’s aunt, 2005 at 82 years old. understand changes within in anthropology.
4 Ella Cara Deloria, was one of groups and why they happen. 5
