[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INDEPENDENCE IN INDIAN COUNTRY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, October 11 is, in South 
Dakota, Native American Day.
  Now, when America turns its eyes to Indian reservations, so often--
too often--the focus is on poverty, despair, dysfunction. But there are 
wonderful stories from Indian Country as well, stories of hope, 
opportunity, hard work, success, entrepreneurship.
  With that in mind, I want to talk to you about Tashina Red Hawk. She 
is a 17-year-old member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She is an excellent 
student, and she is a rodeo queen. She is my friend, and let me tell 
you, Madam Speaker, she is impressive.
  Tashina graduated early from high school, and then, when the pandemic 
hit and her college classes went online, rather than do what so many 
teens did, spending more time on social media or video games, she 
decided to become an entrepreneur. It is just an amazing story.
  Her local coffee shop had remained closed during the pandemic, so 
Tashina saw an opportunity. She wanted to save money for college.
  Again, as I said, she is an excellent student. She wants to be a 
veterinarian. Now, she knows that path is not going to be easy, and it 
is going to take a few dollars in the bank. She knew that this business 
opportunity would give her a wonderful chance.
  Here she is in front of Tashina's Coffee. She also wanted to make 
sure that her local community, her small town, had the same amenities 
that large towns do, and I think we can all agree that a powerful cup 
of coffee is a great amenity. From firsthand experience, I can tell you 
that her coffee really is excellent.
  She works so hard, Madam Speaker, long days, long weeks, to make this 
business a success. Tashina is passionate about instilling a sense of 
independence and hard work among other young people on her reservation.
  This woman is going places. I am proud to say that she is my friend.
  Her father sums it up well. He said, Tashina ``is not a victim. She 
is an advocate.''
  Now, Tashina's story is one of many throughout Indian Country and the 
State of South Dakota that don't get the attention that they deserve. I 
think of so many Tribal leaders that I have met with over the years who 
choose self-reliance: Leslie Crow, our office's inaugural Ben Reifel 
fellow. She is a teacher, a college instructor, a small business woman.
  I think of Lakota Vogel. She is the executive director of the Four 
Bands Community Fund, and she works with Tribal members to build 
economic opportunity on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
  I think of Myrna Thompson, secretary of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, 
whose long-term service as secretary of that Tribe has been a 
consistent and reliable source of leadership for her people.
  Madam Speaker, there are so many others. It has been clear to me that 
Native American people across this country are resilient. And those who 
choose hard work and independence over reliance, they are so often 
successful, and they are so often strong.
  They provide us a great opportunity. We can be more like them. We can 
be more like Tashina and Lakota and Leslie and Myrna.
  This Native American Day, we should all take a moment to admire their 
hard work and entrepreneurship, and we should follow their example. If 
there were more Tashina Red Hawks, we would have a better Nation.

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