Ross makes bid for SD House Seat
By Natalie Hand
Native Sun News Today Correspondent
nativesunnews.today
PINE RIDGE - A record number of indigenous women from across the U.S. are running for state and federal office this campaign season; with a record number of Lakota women in South Dakota among them.
Margaret “Maggie” Ross, an Oglala Lakota educator and registered Democrat is seeking to unseat the incumbent Elizabeth May (R) for her SD District 27 Representative seat she has held since being elected in 2013.
Ross, the daughter of Sharon Martin and Duane “Hepi” Ross, Sr., was born and raised in the Porcupine District and currently resides in the Oblaya community on the allotment that belonged to her great great grandparents, Ellen Crooked Eyes and Louis Bush. Ross has one daughter, one son and two grandchildren.
Ross has B.A. in History from BHSU and acquired a Masters in Lakota Leadership from Oglala Lakota College. She is presently working on the dissertation for her PhD in Psychology.
Although this is Ross’s first bid in state politics, Ross has a long history of serving the people.
“My decision to run for SD House of Representatives has mostly to do with situation of current politics. I have worked in K-12 education for 20 years. My biggest concern is the children. I always think about how we can make life better for our children,” stated Ross.
"My biggest concern is the children," says Maggie Ross, who is running for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. She is seen her grandchild. Photo courtesy Maggie Ross
With her “how come” attitude, Ross has been a strong voice for the children while serving as a school administrator and a school board member. Ross admits that her outspokenness is sometimes controversial, but is a proud, staunch advocate for children.
“I want a better future for our children and to have them come into the classroom with their basic needs met,” added Ross.
Ross noted that in the Oglala Lakota County school system, many kids are classified as “homeless”, but not recognized as such by the state of South Dakota.
“We have been working to get homeless funding, but the State said no because they claim that multiple families living in one house is supposedly traditional on the reservation. However, in Rapid City, this situation is deemed as a homeless designation. I believe that this is a form of discrimination that is happening with our children. Once I started looking at how the State determines eligibility of funding and allocations, I realized that I needed to get involved,” noted Ross.
Additionally, Ross aims at reversing the State’s discriminatory policy on food stamp benefits.
“The State implemented a rule two years ago that states, if you’re a single parent and get food stamps, you are required to sign a paper that says the absent parent has to pay all of that money back for food stamps. Married couples are exempt from this rule. I believe that this specifically targets our Lakota men. It affects their ability to get a job, a driver’s license, etc. This is a policy, not a law, and I intend to address it when I’m elected,” added Ross.
Ross believes wholeheartedly that welfare aid for the reservations should be coming through the federal government’s Bureau of Indian Affairs agency, not the State of South Dakota. The State receives funding that is earmarked for the tribes and makes a lot of policies on how they will disperse it, according to Ross. One example is the Medicaid debate, according to Ross.
Contact Natalie Hand at nataliehand67@gmail.com
Copyright permission Native Sun News Today
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