Ruth Buffalo is a citizen of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Chiricahua Apache. She has served on advisory councils focused on women's health, women's leadership development and local food systems. She is board President for the National Native Boarding School Healing Coalition. She is also the former board president of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.
In 2019, Ruth was named North Dakota Woman of the Year by North Dakota Women’s Network. As a former member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, she is the original bill author of a new law that requires Native American history to be taught in all schools, grades K-12. Ruth was appointed to the Not Invisible Act Commission. She founded the local grassroots MMIP taskforce in the Fargo Moorhead area that is still operating to this day.
In this week’s episode, we delve into the life and work of Ruth Buffalo, a dynamic leader who has dedicated herself to public service and community advocacy. Ruth shares with us her organizing experience from early childhood through college that laid the deep foundation for her future endeavors. Ruth provides valuable insights into her current role as the CEO of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. She emphasizes her commitment to serving the community and empowering Native women and families with resources such as advocacy, support groups, healing spaces, family services, housing and more.
What is Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine?
In Native Lights, people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce - a.k.a. Minnesota - tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community. These are stories of joy, strength, history, and change from Native people who are shaping the future and honoring those who came before them.
Native Lights is also a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities.
Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. Online at https://minnesotanativenews.org/