Trailblazer Jeanne Givens inspired generations of Native women

Yahoo

17-05-2025

Jourdan Bennett-BegayeICTJeanne Givens exemplified everything it is to be a matriarch. 'She was a strong woman. Compassionate, humble, generous,' said her niece, Nikki Santos, whose mom, Teresa Williams, and Givens were sisters. 'She possessed values that we talk about as Native people that we all strive to embody, and she lived them, and she carried herself with so much grace.' Givens, also known as K'waysalqe he smi'yem, which means Cedar Woman, lost her battle to cancer and died on May 13, 2025, in Spokane, Washington, at age 73. Born on June 17, 1951 in Spokane, she was a citizen of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.From Jeanne's extensive resume, one could see that she was born to be a leader and a trailblazer for Native women. She became the first Native American woman elected to the Idaho House of Representatives for the 4th district, serving for two terms. In this role she 'worked tirelessly to build trust and strengthen the relationships' between the tribes and state, stated in the family's obituary. Givens was raised around politics. She told ICT in a 2020 interview that she would regularly attend gatherings with her uncle Joe Garry, who served in the Idaho House of Representatives and state Senate.'I was raised in the environment of pushing ideas to people,' she recalled and helped her uncle pass out pamphlets.
Longtime journalist Mark Trahant recalled Jeanne's impact in Idaho's state legislature on Facebook.'Like her Uncle, Joe Garry, she gave Idaho a chance to be better than its scenery,' wrote Trahant, the former ICT editor who now serves as board chairman for ICT's parent organization, IndiJ Public Media. 'My favorite story is when she served in the Idaho legislature the state was considering adding creation stories to school curriculum.'He continued: 'The idea was to use the Bible as a counterweight to science. 'I will vote for this bill on one condition. I want the creation story of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. I want the creation story of the Kootenai, the Nez Perce, the Shoshone-Paiute and the Shoshone-Bannock.' She told the story from her people about the Great Flood and the little beavers and otter that dug down and got the sand to create this island. 'They were shocked,' she said. 'I helped defeat the bill.''After serving in the state legislature, Givens continued to make history as the first Native American woman to run for U.S. Congress in 1988 – a moment to be marked in political and U.S. histories as it inspired more Native women to run for Congress, including Ada Deer, Paulette Jordan, Deb Haaland, and Sharice Davids. 'I felt like I wanted to take the next step out of the legislature. I wanted to do the next thing and I felt I had something to contribute,' she said. The possibility that she could be the first Native woman in Congress didn't weigh on her, she told ICT in an on-camera interview in 2020. She realized later it would be an 'awesome responsibility' if she won. She lost the 1988 race by one percentage point, which encouraged her to run again in 1990. She did not win but inspired others.
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When Haaland and Davids achieved their historic 2018 congressional wins, Jeanne's daughter, Maria Givens, wrote on Facebook, 'I also want to acknowledge my mom, Jeanne Givens for paving the way for Congresswoman Haaland and Davids ... It's a good day to be a Native Woman.'It's a sentiment that Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Nation, echoed on social media Thursday, May 16. 'Today is a day to remember that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us,' Flanagan said. 'She paved a path for many, including myself, to follow her footsteps into public service … I was sad to hear Jeanne has walked on, but it's an honor to be able to speak her name and remember her legacy. Miigwech, Jeanne.'Over her 73 years, Givens spent a lot of time focused on civic rights issues and advocating for Native rights. She served on the Kootenai County Human Rights Task Force, which fought against racism in north Idaho and the Aryan Nations. The Aryan Nations 'was a powerful organizing force for white supremacists that cultivated a wide spectrum of racist and anti-Semitic ideas,' according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. 'The Aryan Nations had set down their flag in north Idaho and they were present,' Givens said of the group in the 1980s and early 1990s. 'They were taunting the public. And the public had just become complacent and quiet, and people decided that we need to organize and we need to decide what we're going to stand up for.'The task force developed conversations with the community about different races, cultures and religions, she said. 'I think what we did as supporters of human rights, we advanced the thinking in northern Idaho,' she said. 'I'd do it again.' Givens would remind her kids and nieces that they are direct descendants of Chief Spokane, Chief Ignace Garry who was the last traditional chief of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Yakima Chief Kamiakin, and Nisqually Chief Leschi during the rise of the Aryan Nations and racism in north Idaho. And by being direct descendants, 'they run in our blood,' said her niece, Santos. 'She would always talk about it being our birthright to be here and that we belong. This is our traditional homeland, and that we are important people. I remember a lot of times her telling me, as a little girl, 'You are an important person.' I'd never heard that before,' Santos recalled. Her aunt Jeanne had 'a way of making people feel seen and worthy.' One of the tricks to building that relationship with family or collaboration was her humor. 'I think a lot is settled with a sense of humor,' Givens told ICT in 2020. 'And if you could get into a good conversation with someone and have a funny story to share or exchange, it builds the relationship.'
Over and over her niece, Santos, remembered her aunt for being funny. Santos remembered spending time at her auntie's house every summer with her cousins, Maria and Joe Givens. Santos said they called it 'Camp Jeanne.' 'We would all sleep out on the sofa, in the living room, all of us kids together. And she tried to wake us up one morning with some classical music, but didn't realize that Britney Spears was in the CD player instead,' Santos said. 'And so she woke us up to that, 'Oh, baby, baby,' one morning.' Santos laughed. Auntie Jeanne always found joy and humor in the little things. She always found a way to make the kids laugh, Santos remembered. 'I can say that memories of my childhood that are the happiest, they're with her.' When Jeanne wasn't writing for the Boise Statesman or spending time on the Spokesman Review editorial board, she was outdoors with her family. They'd hike at the lake or go huckleberry picking. In 2000, Jeanne wrote a column for the Spokesman Review with the headline, 'It's not about the berries but the experience.' She was a prolific writer, her family said. She also directed an award-winning documentary, 'Russell Jim, A Quiet Warrior,' which focused on Yakama tribal elder and environmental activist, Kiaux, or Russell Jim. The filmmaker and writer's media expertise contributed to IndiJ Public Media's growth and big vision. IndiJ is the owner of ICT. She served on the nonprofit's board until April 2025. Trahant, now board chair, said, 'Jeanne knew I loved huckleberry, and from time to time brought me one of her delicious jams.' 'Jeanne Givens contributed so much to ICT and the IndiJ Public Media where she served on the board of directors,' he said. 'She brought with her the experience of serving on other nonprofit and college boards, helping shape our business plans and fundraising strategy. As a former broadcaster and columnist, she knew first-hand the challenges of a media organization and she was always willing to champion our cause. She will be missed.'
She was appointed to several boards by Idaho Gov. John Evans, such as the Statewide Health Planning Council and the Idaho Association for the Humanities. Former President Bill Clinton appointed her to the Institute of American Indian Arts board of trustees in 1997 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Givens studied sociology at Whitworth University and received her master's degree in education from Gonzaga University. She kept on writing after she retired, 'building on stories of her mother Celina, working on a yet-to-be published memoir,' according to the family obituary. She also kept busy quilting and sewing, and raised her two kids, Maria and Joe, with her husband of nearly 47 years, Ray Givens. Ray and Jeanne were married in 1978. Givens is survived by daughter Maria Givens, and faithful 'grand-dog' Rusty; siblings: Jackie Koelbel, Judy Greene, Sue Garry, Teresa Williams, David Zarate; nieces and nephews: Mary Lease, Nancy Koelbel, Joanna Wolfe, Julia Koelbel, Sandy Martinez, Eric Greene, James Finley, Yvonne Santos, Nikki Santos, and Gabe Zarate.Givens was preceded in death by her father Jack Iyall, mother Celina Gary Goolsby, son Joe Givens, and husband Ray Givens. Santos said they now have a responsibility and want to continue her legacy. That legacy being Jeanne's 'leadership, always putting community first, putting our people first, fighting for our culture and our ways.'The family states in the obituary: 'In honor of Jeanne's lifelong dedication to advocacy and public service, donations may be made to ICT: https://indijpublicmedia.org.'
SERVICES FOR JEANNE GIVENSMonday, May 19, 2025Dinner to be served at 6 p.m. local time Rosary to follow at 7 p.m.With commemoration to Raymond GivensTuesday, May 20, 2025Mass at 10 a.m. Burial, feed and giveaway to followAll services will be held at Evangeline Abraham Longhouse DeSmet, Idaho