Winona LaDuke

Anishinaabe writer and economist from the White Earth reservation in Minnesota, Executive Director of Honor the Earth, a national Native advocacy and environmental organization. LaDuke was raised in Ashland Oregon, the daughter of Betty ( Bernstein) LaDuke and Vincent LaDuke, also known as Sun Bear. She attended Harvard University ( BA l98l Native Economic Development) , Massachussetts Institute of Technology ( l982, Community Felows Program) and Antioch University ( l986 MA Rural Development). Her work on the White Earth reservation at the White Earth Land Recovery Project spans 30 years of legal, policy and community development work, including the creation of one of the first tribal land trusts in the country. Her work is also focused on the restoration of traditional foods for the northern Lakes region. National work is primarily in the protection of the environment and the rights of women. LaDuke has testified at the United Nations, US Congress, state hearings, and is an expert witness on economics and the environment. She is the author of numerous articles and books . Her marraige was to Randy Kapashesit ( l986) who passed away in 2012, she has two children with Randy- Ajuawak Kapashesit and Waseyabin Kapashesit, and Gwekaanimad Gasco was born in 2000. As of now, she has raised six children on the White Earth reservation.