Ron His Horse Is Thunder
Sitting Bull College
Fort Yates, ND USA
"Don’t wait to find the passion before you start an education. Start your education, then you’ll find the passion."
Career Roadmap
Ron's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Don't be a victim. I chose not to listen to them. I learned to walk with pride and a sense of purpose. Walk straight ahead and with confidence. My work as a college president has enabled me to challenge this idea first hand and empower my people to know that they too deserve an education.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Sitting Bull College
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science and Government, General
Black Hills State University
Doctorate
Law
University of South Dakota
Life & Career Milestones
1.
Born and raised in Hempstead, NY, to parents who were civil rights activists for Native Americans in South Dakota—credits this upbringing with instilling in him his passion for social justice.
2.
He is the great-great grandson of One Bull (the nephew and adopted son of Sitting Bull), is a member of the Hunkpapa Lakota, and is the former chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
3.
Says his life’s goal has always been to get his law degree, become tribal chairman, and “walk the good red road” by serving his people.
4.
Decided to leave his home state of New York and move to his peoples’ tribal reservation lands in South Dakota to start working.
5.
Initially couldn’t get financial aid for college, so he spent the next few years working a minimum-wage job at Sitting Bull College and going to school one semester at a time so he could afford it.
6.
He was eventually able to qualify for financial aid and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree from Black Hills State University and his law degree from the University of South Dakota.
7.
Has served as president of Sitting Bull College and the American Indian College Fund—in 2002, became Chairman of the President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities.
8.
Prominent leader in the #NoDAPL movement on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, battling to protect water resources, sacred sites, and tribal sovereignty.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Indians are good with their hands, they aren't meant for college. You should just get a high school education and go to work.
How I responded:
Don't be a victim. I chose not to listen to them. I learned to walk with pride and a sense of purpose. Walk straight ahead and with confidence. My work as a college president has enabled me to challenge this idea first hand and empower my people to know that they too deserve an education.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I learned to always have a job no matter the type of work or pay, and establish goals for savings (tuition payments).
Stayed out of college at first because no one could advise me on how to fill out all the financial aid forms, but I figured it out.
I learned to be proud of where I came from, and carry myself with confidence.