[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1133-E1134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MINERVA CRANTZ ALLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Minerva Crantz 
Allen, a bilingual Native American educator, linguist, and poet. It is 
my pleasure to commend Minerva for her lifelong commitment to 
preserving the Assiniboine (Nakoda) tradition, heritage, and culture. 
Her civic accomplishments for the Native American people truly make her 
the embodiment of leadership and service.
   Minerva was born in the spring of 1934 on the Fort Belknap Indian 
reservation, in North-central Montana. Her grandfather instilled in her 
at an early age the importance of education for her future. The 
daughter of a French Chippewa father and an Assiniboine-Gros Ventre 
mother, Minerva spoke her native languages, but also taught herself 
English by singing songs with the Presbyterian ministers' wife. 
Minerva's grandmother, aunts and uncles still conversed in the Sakoda 
language, because of their culture and belief system.
   Growing up was hard, not only because of the Great Depression. 
Minerva hid her language, culture and religion, and was scared of being 
turned into the law. Minerva thrived on following her passions, despite 
the sacrifices. At thirteen years old, she was sent to attend Indian 
Boarding School at Flandreau, South Dakota. Minerva was a very outgoing 
member of the student body--a cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, playing 
football and basketball. Despite the death of her grandfather and her 
parents' divorce, she went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from 
Central Michigan University, a master's degree from Northern Montana 
State College, and completed additional coursework a Weber State 
College.
   Minerva has proven herself time and again, holding various critical 
positions with the Hays' Lodge Pole school system. As the Head Start 
director for eight years, Minerva helped to establish the first Foster 
Grandparent Program, bringing grandmothers and grandfathers into the 
classroom to teach the students their language and culture. She has 
written several books that translate Indian history and folklore into 
English, and she has published two books of her own poetry which are 
used widely in Montana.

[[Page E1134]]

   Minerva is very active in her community, reservation, and state. 
Minerva has been invited to numerous schools in Montana, served as 
President and Vice-President of the Montana Association of Bilingual 
Education (MABE), as well as Montana Indian Education Association 
(MIEA). She is an Ambassador for Indian Education for All, telling 
stories about how all people can learn the truth about Native American 
history, culture and philosophy into their classroom, bridging the gap 
of racism and teaching about the richness of indigenous people's 
history and culture.
   Rarely does a single personal history reflect so vividly an 
individual's struggle and determination to make life truly meaningful. 
Minerva's strength and inspiring spirit match her drive to make the 
world a better place for her people. Today, as a widowed ranch woman, 
she still lives on her grandfather's land after three generations, next 
to the Little Rockies Mountains, where she was born.

                          ____________________