Ron His Horse Is Thunder

About Ron

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Decided to leave his home state of New York and move to his peoples’ tribal reservation lands in South Dakota to start working.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Prominent leader in the #NoDAPL movement on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, battling to protect water resources, sacred sites, and tribal sovereignty.