he North American Indian Women’s Association (NIAWA) – South Dakota Chapter elected new officers last month. The officers are Eileen Briggs, President; Brenda Claymore, Vice President; Stephanie Bridwell, Secretary; Carol Traversie, Treasurer; Marcella LeBeau, Historian and Vicki Birkeland, Executive Director. NAIWA is a national organization comprised of Native women throughout the United States.
The non-profit membership, education and service organization promotes the betterment of home, family, health, communication and fellowship among all people.
“NIAWA has a long history of service and education in our community and beyond, it is my honor to help take the SD Chapter forward. There are many difficult issues facing us, as it has always been, it is our connectedness and Lakota values that have allowed us to persevere. This Chapter of NAIWA has an important role in building community, engaging the next generation and educating others,” commented Eileen Briggs. “We take yearly memberships at every meeting and encourage women to come and be part of the conversations and work together to make good ideas into reality. The next meeting will be held March 29, 2015 at the Missouri Breaks Office building in Eagle Butte.”
North American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA), organization created in 1970 by Marie Cox and others to foster fellowship between American Indian women. NAIWA was the first organization established expressly to address the unique role of its members as both women and American Indians. NAIWA’s members are women from federally recognized American Indian tribes. Though much of the organization’s agenda focuses on promoting the status of and opportunities for American Indian women in the country at large, its underlying aims are to improve communication between American Indians on the individual and tribal levels and to increase knowledge of American Indian culture. The South Dakota Chapter will host the 46th Annual Conference June 12-14, 2016 in Spearfish, SD. Conference planning co-chairs include: Diane Booth, Jace DeCory and Carmen O’Leary. For more information on Chapter meetings or the Annual Conference call 605-848-4152.
