Sharon L. White Bear
Sharon White Bear, Native American Commission Chairwoman, Arikara: Growing up in White Shield, Sharon can still hear the voices of her grandparents, Mathew (Alice) White Bear Sr. and William J. ‘Bill’ (Leona) Deane Jr. as they instructed her in traditional ways and values – such as taking action to help people in need. Sharon acquired her education from: parochial, private, and public schools throughout the western United States. Her passion has always been in the medical field. Starting out as and ECT for Garrison Ambulance to receiving her National Certification of Surgical Technology from East Grand Forks Technical College.
Sharon acquired her dream of working in cardiovascular surgical procedures. She moved to Minot, ND in 1995 assisting in implementing a new Cardiovascular Program for UniMed Medical Center. She returned to Fargo in 2000, working at Essentia Health Hospital as a CST and first assistant. While working Sharon also went to school full time, receiving a Bachelor of University Studies from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND.
| Sharon has been a leader in many organizations. She is a founding member since 2006, of the Native American Commission City of Fargo, bringing a voice to the Native Community in an urban setting. She helps to organize cultural events, and find solutions to improve the Fargo Native Community. She is proud to have been a volunteer with the Northern Lights Council Boy Scout Troop 229 knowing she was able to be a part of her son, Wacey’s achievement rank of Eagle Scout. She currently works as the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation East Segment Liaison/Office Coordinator in Fargo, ND. She also is a member of the Young Hawk/Bear American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 253 of White Shield ND and recently accepted the nomination and is looking forward to serving as Vice President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Department of North Dakota. She will also be working with Change Network ND, in order to bring new ideas and increase leadership, in her community. |
Regarding the documentary content in particular, she has a unique perspective as the Garrison Dam impacted her entire tribe. As a young girl, she heard her grandparents and my parents talk about the dam. They talked about the promises made by the government: free electricity, better farming lands, new schools, a new hospital, and assurance that they could hunt and fish all they wanted year-round. She listened to how some people who did not want to move where literally removed from their homes and some of the homes were moved to the plains. During the seventies, many elders gathered together to testify before the corps of engineers and the United States government. These elders believed they were helping to get what had been promised them for giving up all their land.