Invaluable Impact
Since 1987, the month of March has been celebrated as Women's History Month in the United States. This occasion rightly shines light on the numerous and lasting contributions of American women throughout our history. Certainly, we look back with admiration on trailblazers of the past and remember the invaluable role they played in shaping our past, present and future. But we also look ahead in anticipation, for the potential of the next generation of women leaders is great indeed.
As we all know, this year’s month of commemoration coincided with the recent passing of one of our most celebrated first ladies. Like countless others across the nation, I was grieved by the loss of Nancy Reagan—an American icon of grace, intellect, charm and resilience. But undoubtedly, Mrs. Reagan was best known for being a source of unwavering love and support to her husband. As the entire country mourns and celebrates her life and also recounts one of America’s greatest love stories, we remember that Nancy Reagan's was a life marked by the desire to make America and the world a better place. While that legacy was often an outpouring of the Reagans' marriage partnership, her impact extended far beyond her years loving and supporting her husband in the White House. Until the end, she was a committed advocate for causes to defeat substance abuse and further Alzheimer’s disease research.
Certainly, each of us can recall women in our families who, like Nancy Reagan, have made a dramatic difference in their communities and positively changed society. When I think of my own family history, I am always inspired by the impact made by two women: Te Ata Fisher and Helen Cole.
Born in Indian Territory in 1895, my great aunt Te Ata made an extraordinary impact on the arts, particularly the arts of Native Americans. It started while she was a young college student attending the University for Women’s Studies (now USAO) at Chickasha, where she became enthralled with drama and acting and had her first experience captivating audiences on the stage. Full of promise and potential after college, she moved to New York City in pursuit of a career as a Shakespearean actress. However, she soon found her impact was strongest and most compelling when she performed the stories, dances and rituals from her Chickasaw tribe and later tribes from all across America.
When Te Ata first began performing in New York, Native Americans were regarded as a disappearing race in a vanishing culture. During her career that spanned more than 60 years, she helped people understand that simply wasn’t the case. Using her unmistakable talent as a Native American performance artist, Te Ata helped both inspire and inform thousands of people around the world, including famous dignitaries and American presidents. The stories she told are still printed, still retold and still recorded today and help preserve the special culture and unique heritage of Native Americans. I am extraordinarily proud of her contributions and the manner in which she not only advanced the arts but also protected and drew attention to the art of Native Americans. Since she passed away, Te Ata’s legacy has been celebrated in a play written about her life, a biography published and distributed world-wide, a statue installed on the campus of her alma mater and an upcoming movie about her extraordinary life and legacy.
In addition to my great aunt Te Ata, I will always admire the impact and treasure the example of my mother, Helen Cole. While my mother wasn’t offered too many opportunities and didn’t graduate from college, she never let that hold her back; she was a firm believer in taking control of her own fate. She always gave selflessly to her family, her community and our tribe. And it was her genuine and consistent decency toward everyone she knew that eventually opened the doors for her political success and widespread influence. Because of her egalitarian attitude and her kindness, people from all walks of life were drawn to her. In fact, when it came time for her to run a tough race, there were volunteers lined up—from every corner of the community—to help her claim victory.
When I think about my role in Congress, I realize that it started with my mom’s strong influence and seeing her can-do spirit. Without her encouragement and guidance, I wouldn’t be in politics because I got my start discussing and debating the issues around the dinner table growing up and then by running my mom’s political campaigns. Interested in politics her entire life, my mom had incredibly profound insights and was very practical in her views.
Before her election to public office, she worked as a Republican activist for years. Anyone who served with her knew she was an incredibly formidable political figure, capable of shaping worthwhile legislation while serving in the minority and winning people over by reaching out. My mom never had the opportunity to serve in the Republican majority, but she served in both the Oklahoma House and Senate and was mayor of our hometown. The first Native American woman ever elected to the Oklahoma State Senate, she’s still the best politician that I ever worked with or for.
Our nation’s history is filled with women who have shaken things up, gone against the status quo and risen up to be the positive change they wanted to see. Given that rich history, I am optimistic that the future is brighter today and tomorrow than it was yesterday for the next generation of women leaders.