Nellie Red Owl is a Native American elder of the Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Born only 16 years after her tribe's massacre at Wounded Knee, she lives with the conviction that her land and native traditions must never again be compromised. Most Native American women have carried on an immense struggle to keep their tradition from being destroyed and absorbed into a culture that has little understanding or appreciation of its worth. Nellie Red Owl has risked her life, more than once, in order to be able to pass on to her children and grandchildren the values of nature-based living and ritual expression.
This is part of the 1993 series "The Face of Wisdom: Stories of Elder Women," by filmmaker Catherine Busch-Johnston, which focuses on the wisdom and experience of women who are models for others trying to realize their potential and express their values, creativity and cultural traditions. These films remind us to appreciate and cultivate our own
relationships with one of our most valuable
resources, our elders, who can serve as our mentors and guides.
Grade Levels: 7 to Adult