Lakota Woman Characters

According to Lakota lore, First Man was the second human. He was born from First Woman’s menstrual blood. His secondary arrival speaks to the important role that women play in Lakota cultural traditions.

Pedro is Mary’s oldest child, whom Mary gave birth to while protesting at the Occupation of Wounded Knee with the American Indian Movement (AIM). In the memoir’s Epilogue, Mary notes that Pedro now actively engages with Lakota and Native American cultural traditions.

Morning Star is Frank Clearwater’s wife. When Frank Clearwater was brought to a hospital to treat his wounds from the Occupation of Wounded Knee, federal officials jailed Morning Star overnight for participating in the occupation.

Bessie Good Road was a medicine woman whom Leonard Crow Dog asked to teach him. Leonard tells Mary of Bessie Good Road’s power to reassure her that women are important in Native American religious ceremonies.

Richard Erdoes and his wife, Jean Erdoes, were defense coordinators for Mary and Leonard Crow Dog’s lawyers during Leonard’s trial. Richard and Jean served as examples to Mary of “white people who were on [Native Americans’] side.” Richard is also the editor of Mary’s memoir.

Jean Erdoes and her husband, Richard Erdoes, were defense coordinators for Mary and Leonard Crow Dog’s lawyers during Leonard’s trial. Mary became very close with the Erdoes family during the two years that they were engaged in the legal battle to free Leonard from prison.

Bill Kunstler was a lawyer who defended many American Indian Movement (AIM) activists, including Leonard Crow Dog. Bill Kunstler was a white man, and it was through getting to know him that Mary “learned to like white people who were on [Native Americans’] side.”

Judge Robert Merhige was the judge on Leonard Crow Dog’s case. He eventually decided to release Leonard from prison because he received such an influx of letters from around the world that advocated for Leonard’s release.

Sandy Rosen is a lawyer who, along with Bill Kunstler, worked to free Leonard Crow Dog from prison.

Delphine was Mary’s sister-in-law. She was beat to death by a drunk police officer, and her death was not investigated. Her violent death and the lack of investigation speak to the misogyny and racism that Native American women experience.

Gina One Star is one of Mary’s best friends from missionary school.

Sandra is one of Mary’s sisters. When Sandra was pregnant (and, Mary implies, unmarried), their mother berated Sandra for getting pregnant.

Ellen Moves Camp is a Native American activist. Mary believes that she may have been the one to suggest occupying Wounded Knee to protest Wilson’s violent regime.

Gladys Bissonette is a Native American activist. Mary believes that she may have been the one to suggest occupying Wounded Knee to protest Wilson’s violent regime.

Cheryl Petite is a woman who, like Mary, was pregnant during the Occupation of Wounded Knee. While Mary had her baby at Wounded Knee, Cheryl left to give birth in a hospital.

Josette Wawasik is a Potawatomi woman who acted as midwife for Mary when she gave birth at Wounded Knee.

Jake Maloney was Annie Mae’s first husband who physically abused her.

Nogeeshik Aquash is Annie Mae’s second husband who was both mentally and physically abusive.

Rogers Morton was the Secretary of the Interior during the Trail of Broken Treaties.