Theresa Two Bulls
Encyclopedia
Theresa B. "Huck" Two Bulls (born 1956) is an attorney, prosecutor and politician in the United States and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. In 2004 she was elected as Democratic
member of the South Dakota Senate
, representing the 27th district, the first American Indian
woman to be elected to the state legislature. She served until 2008. That year she was elected president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, the second woman to serve in this position, and had one two-year term.
In elective office, Two Bulls has particularly worked to develop stronger relationships between tribal and local and state governments. She also served on a United States Department of Justice
task force to develop guidelines for and implementation of a study to reduce violence against Indian women.
(BIA) at the Lone Man School. She had to retire after becoming ill and the family moved to the town of Pine Ridge
in 1964. Theresa went to the Pine Ridge High School. She first earned an associate's degree.
Elected to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, she served four terms as Secretary of the Executive Committee. She was also elected as Vice-President of the Tribe.
In 2003 Two Bulls became a tribal prosecutor for the State Attorney General's Office in South Dakota. The next year she ran for the state senate. When she won, the AG's office gave her a sabbatical in order to serve in state office.
In 2004 Two Bulls was elected as a Democrat
to the South Dakota Senate
, representing the 27th district. She was the first American Indian woman elected to the state senate. Her district includes Bennett
, Haakon
, Jackson
, and Shannon
counties.
Two Bulls' election to the state senate followed a statewide Democratic voter registration drive in 2002 and rising political engagement by Native Americans. Since the 1990s, Bennett County, located between the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations
, has become majority Native American in population. In 2002, Oglala Sioux candidates were elected to positions as county sheriff, county commissioner and the county school board (the latter was the first time a Native American has had a seat on the board.)
While in the senate, Two Bulls served on the State/Tribal Relations Committee, as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee since 2005, and as member of the State Local Government Committee. She also served on a national task force to assist the Department of Justice
to develop guidelines for a study on violence against Indian women, and to implement the resulting recommendations. She was re-elected to the state senate in 2006.
In 2008 Two Bulls was narrowly defeated for state office by Republican Jim Bradford
, a teacher and former state representative. After losing to Two Bulls in the 2008 Democratic primary
for the state senate, he had switched to the Republican Party
and ran for the senate seat from that position. About a year after the election, Bradford switched back to rejoin the Democratic Party.
In 2008, Two Bulls was elected as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, defeating the actor Russell Means
, a former American Indian Movement
(AIM) activist, who had placed first in the primary. The position has a two-year term. Her vice-president was Shorty Brewer. Two Bulls was the second woman elected to that position after Cecilia Fire Thunder
, who was elected in 2004.
Soon after their election, she and program directors went to Washington, D.C. to lobby for federal stimulus funds. The OST received monies for two road projects, an ambulance, Department of Justice grants for law enforcement, and money for tribal housing. Based on her work in the state senate, Two Bulls developed relationships with local (county) and state governments to deal with regional issues.
When the rate of suicide
rose among youth on the reservation in late 2009, Two Bulls declared a state of emergency to address the problem, gathered counselors to work with residents, and organized a call-in to President Barack Obama
's White House to highlight the issue. That winter she responded quickly to a severe blizzard, arranging for transportation of emergency supplies of propane, wood and food to people in outlying areas of the reservation. "When Native American veterans of the Korean War were honored recently [2009-2010] in Rapid City, Theresa Two Bulls was the only tribal president to show up...." She shook each veteran's hand.
In October 2010 Two Bulls and John Yellowbird Steele were the top two candidates for tribal president, so competed in the November election. She lost narrowly as Steele won with 51.1% of the vote. He had earlier served five terms as president of the tribe since 1992. Thomas Poor Bear won as vice-president.
Two Bulls and her Executive Committee filed a complaint about the election, alleging violations of election guidelines. The OST Election Commission did not certify the results until 25 days after the election, but upheld the results, as did the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the South Dakota Senate
South Dakota Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 35 members, one representing each legislative district, and meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.-Composition:-Officers:-Members of the 86th Senate:...
, representing the 27th district, the first American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
woman to be elected to the state legislature. She served until 2008. That year she was elected president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, the second woman to serve in this position, and had one two-year term.
In elective office, Two Bulls has particularly worked to develop stronger relationships between tribal and local and state governments. She also served on a United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
task force to develop guidelines for and implementation of a study to reduce violence against Indian women.
Early life and education
Theresa Two Bulls was born into the Oglala Lakota Tribe in Oglala, where her mother worked for the Bureau of Indian AffairsBureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
(BIA) at the Lone Man School. She had to retire after becoming ill and the family moved to the town of Pine Ridge
Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Pine Ridge is a census-designated place in and the most populous community of Shannon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,308 at the 2010 census. It is the tribal headquarters of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.-History:By 2011, a gang culture...
in 1964. Theresa went to the Pine Ridge High School. She first earned an associate's degree.
Career
Two Bulls started her career as a legal secretary. Later she completed college, went to law school and worked as an attorney.Elected to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, she served four terms as Secretary of the Executive Committee. She was also elected as Vice-President of the Tribe.
In 2003 Two Bulls became a tribal prosecutor for the State Attorney General's Office in South Dakota. The next year she ran for the state senate. When she won, the AG's office gave her a sabbatical in order to serve in state office.
In 2004 Two Bulls was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the South Dakota Senate
South Dakota Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 35 members, one representing each legislative district, and meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.-Composition:-Officers:-Members of the 86th Senate:...
, representing the 27th district. She was the first American Indian woman elected to the state senate. Her district includes Bennett
Bennett County, South Dakota
As of the 2010 census there were 3,431 people in Bennett County, in 1,090 households . The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 33.3% non-Hispanic white, 0.1% black or African American, 60.4% non-Hispanic Native American, 1.1% Hispanic Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific...
, Haakon
Haakon County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,196 people, 870 households, and 620 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 person per square mile . There were 1,002 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the county was 96.40% White,...
, Jackson
Jackson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,930 people, 945 households, and 675 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,173 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, and Shannon
Shannon County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,466 people, 2,785 households, and 2,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 3,123 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
counties.
Two Bulls' election to the state senate followed a statewide Democratic voter registration drive in 2002 and rising political engagement by Native Americans. Since the 1990s, Bennett County, located between the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations
Rosebud Indian Reservation
The Rosebud Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in South Dakota, United States. It is the home of the federally recognized Sicangu Oyate, also known as Sicangu Lakota, the Upper Brulé Sioux Nation, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe , a branch of the Lakota people...
, has become majority Native American in population. In 2002, Oglala Sioux candidates were elected to positions as county sheriff, county commissioner and the county school board (the latter was the first time a Native American has had a seat on the board.)
While in the senate, Two Bulls served on the State/Tribal Relations Committee, as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee since 2005, and as member of the State Local Government Committee. She also served on a national task force to assist the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
to develop guidelines for a study on violence against Indian women, and to implement the resulting recommendations. She was re-elected to the state senate in 2006.
In 2008 Two Bulls was narrowly defeated for state office by Republican Jim Bradford
Jim Bradford
James Arnold "Jim" Bradford is a teacher, politician and Democratic member of the South Dakota Senate, representing the 27th district since 2009...
, a teacher and former state representative. After losing to Two Bulls in the 2008 Democratic primary
Primary
The word Primary when used alone may refer to any of the following:* Primary , the larger of two co-orbiting bodies* Primary is used for the name of the primary mirror in a telescope.* Primary , from Australia...
for the state senate, he had switched to the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and ran for the senate seat from that position. About a year after the election, Bradford switched back to rejoin the Democratic Party.
In 2008, Two Bulls was elected as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, defeating the actor Russell Means
Russell Means
Russell Charles Means is an Oglala Sioux activist for the rights of Native American people. He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement after joining the organisation in 1968, and helped organize notable events that attracted national and international media coverage...
, a former American Indian Movement
American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement is a Native American activist organization in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by urban Native Americans. The national AIM agenda focuses on spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty...
(AIM) activist, who had placed first in the primary. The position has a two-year term. Her vice-president was Shorty Brewer. Two Bulls was the second woman elected to that position after Cecilia Fire Thunder
Cecilia Fire Thunder
Cecilia Fire Thunder is a nurse, community health planner and tribal leader of the Oglala Sioux. On November 2, 2004, she was the first woman elected as president of the Tribe. She served until being impeached on June 29, 2006, several months short of the two-year term...
, who was elected in 2004.
Soon after their election, she and program directors went to Washington, D.C. to lobby for federal stimulus funds. The OST received monies for two road projects, an ambulance, Department of Justice grants for law enforcement, and money for tribal housing. Based on her work in the state senate, Two Bulls developed relationships with local (county) and state governments to deal with regional issues.
When the rate of suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
rose among youth on the reservation in late 2009, Two Bulls declared a state of emergency to address the problem, gathered counselors to work with residents, and organized a call-in to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's White House to highlight the issue. That winter she responded quickly to a severe blizzard, arranging for transportation of emergency supplies of propane, wood and food to people in outlying areas of the reservation. "When Native American veterans of the Korean War were honored recently [2009-2010] in Rapid City, Theresa Two Bulls was the only tribal president to show up...." She shook each veteran's hand.
In October 2010 Two Bulls and John Yellowbird Steele were the top two candidates for tribal president, so competed in the November election. She lost narrowly as Steele won with 51.1% of the vote. He had earlier served five terms as president of the tribe since 1992. Thomas Poor Bear won as vice-president.
Two Bulls and her Executive Committee filed a complaint about the election, alleging violations of election guidelines. The OST Election Commission did not certify the results until 25 days after the election, but upheld the results, as did the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court.
External links
- South Dakota Legislature - Theresa Two Bulls official SD Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Theresa B. Two Bulls (SD) profile
- Follow the Money - Theresa B Two Bulls