Sarah Eagle Heart, a citizen of the
Oglala Sioux Tribe, has joined the board of the
Women's March, the organization behind the
massive rallies in Washington, D.C., and across the nation.
Eagle Heart is the former chief executive officer of
Native Americans in Philanthropy, where she promoted investment in Indian Country, and she has worked on a wide range of social justice issues, from mascots to the repudiation of harmful policies. She plans to elevate Indigenous issues in her new leadership role.
“As an Oglala Lakota womxn, it is an honor to bring my experience to The Women’s March board of directors to elevate the conversation on missing murdered indigenous womxn, protection of Mother Earth, and violence against womxn," Eagle Heart said in an
announcement on Monday. "No one person can represent all of our communities or issues, but I hope my presence will provide a pathway for more voices to join this very critical platform."
"Now is the time for truth, healing, and unity," Eagle Heart added in reference to turmoil within the Women’s March, whose board members have been plagued by
accusation of anti-Semitism and other controversies since their first rally on the day after Donald Trump's inauguration as president in January 2017.
Native women were a key part of the
initial event in the nation's capital, where they marched near the front of the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.
LaDonna Harris, a citizen of the Comanche Nation, served as an honorary co-chair.
The next major Women’s March event takes place on October 6 in D.C. The
#ReclaimtheCourt rally focuses on
Brett Kavanaugh, whose
nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court was opposed by Alaska Natives due to sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Eagle Heart is among 17 new members of the Women's March board.
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