Montana’s Ronnie Jo Horse is making Native voices heard and building future leaders
Ronnie Jo Horse is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year’s honorees at womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.
Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, Western Native Voice Executive Director Ronnie Jo Horse went to Montana for a family gathering, and her parents decided to stay. Growing up in the quiet town of Ashland, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Southeastern Montana, Ronnie Jo Horse says she spent her childhood swimming in the local river with her friends and family.
As a young woman, the Ogala Lakota Nation Member was always interested in policy and law, but didn't expect to get into nonprofit leadership. "I didn't think I'd be writing laws and shaping policy," she said.
Ronnie Jo Horse works with Native communities on and off Montana's seven reservations to build political power, leadership and shape policy and law that affects Native communities. From registering voters to addressing the crisis of missing Indigenous women, from training future community leaders and advocating for Native representation in policymaking – Horse's leadership at Western Native Voice has helped the organization continue to fight for Native rights.
Ronnie Jo Horse is USA TODAY's Women of the Year honoree for the state of Montana.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Who paved the way for you?
My parents, elders and ancestors paved the way for me. I paved the way for my younger siblings, nieces, nephews and future generations.
What was your proudest moment? What was your lowest?
Graduating from college and graduate school – I am a first-generation college student. And then the proudest moment in my career was finding a permanent home for Western Native Voice.
My lowest moment was losing my dad – he just passed away in January.
What is your definition of courage?
Courage is having the will to continue in the presence of fear or when the odds are stacked against you.
Is there a guiding principle or mantra you tell yourself?
I like to tell myself when things get difficult, "If Creator didn't think you were strong enough to handle this they wouldn't have put it in your path."
Who do you look up to?
I had a lot of mentors along the way. I look up to all of them but I really look up to my mom. I didn't realize how hard she worked to get my siblings to where we are now until I got older. To start realizing the responsibility to be an adult and make conscious decisions for your children so they can have a good life.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself, "If it's not going to matter in five years, don't spend more than five minutes on it."
2022 Women of the Year: When women go missing in Montana, Cheryl Horn is a powerful, understanding ally for families
Women of the Century: Jeannette Rankin, first woman elected to Congress, among Montana’s influential Women of the Century
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ronnie Jo Horse is USA TODAY's Women of the Year honoree for Montana
