[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   HONORING GERTRUDE EVELYN BUCKANAGA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ILHAN OMAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 29, 2026

  Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dearly beloved 
community member, Gertrude Evelyn Buckanaga, also known as ``Baswewe-
Binewiik,'' which means Echoing Thunderbird Woman.
  Ms. Buckanaga was born in Pine Point on the White Earth Reservation. 
As a child, Ms. Buckanaga and her siblings were sent to Pipestone 
Boarding School by a Becker County social worker. She later graduated 
from the Flandreau Indian School before going on to receive an 
Elementary Degree in Education from Concordia University in St. Paul, 
and finally earning a Master's Degree in Counseling at the University 
of St. Thomas. The culmination of her life experiences and formal 
education prepared her for a life dedicated to improving the lives of 
Indigenous Minnesotans.
  Ms. Buckanaga was a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights and a 
guiding light for countless youth. Among her myriad accolades, she 
worked for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, helping with the development 
of their GED program and the incorporation of Ojibwe culture in the 
Head Start program on the Leech Lake Reservation. Ms. Buckanaga was 
also one of the founding forces behind the creation of both the Upper 
Midwest American Indian Center in North Minneapolis and the Four 
Directions Charter School, later starting the Foster Care Program for 
the Upper Midwest American Indian Center. She also aided in the 
creation of the American Indian Movement in the early 1960s.
  Although Ms. Buckanaga served the state of Minnesota in numerous 
ways, including serving on the American Indian Mental Health Advisory 
Council, she fought tirelessly against state-backed injustices and 
worked relentlessly to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act. She fought 
to preserve Indigenous cultures and ensure that future generations of 
children could grow up with the pride and security that had been 
deprived of Indigenous peoples for generations through government 
policy.
  Ms. Buckanaga is survived not only by her children, grandchildren, 
and great grandchildren, but also through the legacies she left behind 
and the impacts she made in Minnesota and across the country. She was a 
resilient champion for educational equity, a compassionate guardian for 
youth, and a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights. Please join me in 
honoring Gertrude Evelyn Buckanaga for her remarkable service.

                          ____________________