Katherine Campbell has the most delightful laugh, kind of like Jennifer Lopez. It lulled me into thinking she was simplicity itself; but I was mistaken. I had only to scratch the surface to find the kaleidoscopic side of her. To start with, her many academic awards and honors and second, her life experiences are extraordinary. At 10-years-old, she performed a traditional dance in the dungeons of Alcatraz during its take-over by American Indians. Presently, she is working towards a doctorate of philosophy in educational administration at Pennsylvania State University (PSU), where she was awarded the prestigious American Indian Leadership Program Fellowship sponsored by the Department of Education. Indian educators from across the country recently elected her to the board of the National Indian Education Association. Campbell earned these honors by focusing on the two life-sustaining principles her parents instilled within her — to prioritize education and to be an activist.

Campbell has two Indian names: Waste Win, which means “Good Woman” in Lakota, and Wasnawin, which means “Bright Sunshine Woman” in Meskwaki. I find it fitting that she has two names; her accomplishments and goals speak of a woman with uncommon strength and integrity. Her leadership abilities have been recognized by many. Dr. John W.Tippeconnic III, director of the American Indian leadership program at PSU, said, “Kathy Campbell is committed and motivated to improve the education for Indian students by recognizing the value of tribal cultures and languages in the learning process… She keeps a sense of humor in the midst of serious efforts to address critical issues.”

Our interview took place in my car. To preserve the depth of Campbell’s answers, I have presented them in a question and answer format.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I was born in Sacramento, CA. My parents were Arthur Campbell and Pauline Peters. My father is Pomo of California, and my mother is Nebraska Winnebago and Meskwaki (Sauk & Fox) of Iowa. I grew up around Sacramento and Oakland, CA, until I was ten. My parents were always involved in the Indian community. When they took over Alcatraz, my parents were a part of that movement. I went out there and danced. They had a big meal out there. I think it was around Thanksgiving. In fact, we ended up in South Dakota because my parents were still in AIM (American Indian Movement) and went and helped during Wounded Knee. We ended up moving out there to Rosebud, SD. Also, around this time, my mother had a dream; she was fasting, and the dream told her to get her kids out of the city.

Q: What were the schools like that you attended in California?

A: I separated my Indian culture from my school life. It was like “OK, I’m Indian at home, but not Indian at school.” That really affected me, because [my culture] wasn’t taught in school. All I knew about was the Plains Indians, because that’s all that was taught in school.

Q: What about the schools on the Rosebud Reservation?

A: I attended Todd County public high school. I was real involved and outgoing (newspaper editor, cheerleader, boys’ basketball manager, yearbook, class officer, pep club, debate, salutatorian). I had real good teachers and role models; they took the time to talk to me. If there were any kind of scholarship opportunities, they made sure I was aware of them. Twice I was told I was a leader, when I was in sixth grade and when I was a sophomore.

Q: Were your teachers Indian?

A: No. they were white people.

Q: What were some other major influences in your life at this time?

A: I think the things that really guided me were the role models I found in my best friend’s mom, Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, and in Lionel Bordeaux, the president of Sinte Gleska University in Rosebud. I grew up with his kids; they were some of my best friends. These were two people doing well without drinking. They could speak their language and had an education and yet they didn’t give up who they were.

Q: I know you attended both reservation and public colleges; can you compare your experiences?

A: I went to Black Hills University; it was such a culture shock. I really had a hard time; I just wanted to stay in my room. I didn’t have the confidence to feel like I belonged there. I felt real intimidated. In time, because my family needed me, I went back to Rosebud and attended Sinte Gleska at night. I ended up being a teacher’s aide for my role model, Lydia. Eventually, I married and went to Germany. After coming back, I attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, where I graduated in 1989 with my undergraduate degree in elementary education and a minor in English.

This was a turning point for me, because it was a private college and usually they got the best of the best. It was an expensive and tough school, so I went in thinking it was going to be really hard. Actually, I didn’t find it any different from Sinte, and I couldn’t believe it. I realized I was up-to-par, that I had been given a good education in Rosebud. This motivated me.

After graduation, I began to teach in Winnebago, NE, where I am enrolled. I taught fifth and sixth grade for eight years. While teaching, I went to Nebraska Indian Community College, now called Little Priest Tribal College, where I took Winnebago history from Reuben Snake. Reuben was instrumental in establishing the Native American Religious Act. I also took a Winnebago language course. Tribal colleges figure in real strongly for me, because we are able to have the education we want on our own terms. We can preserve everything we have; I think that our colleges are a vital source in our communities.

Eventually, I decided to return to graduate school and enrolled in the University of South Dakota. I’m real proud of that time of my life. While working as a graduate teaching assistant, as well as being a mom, I got my master’s in educational administration in one year. As soon as I was finished there, I came right here to Pennsylvania State University. I would put PSU right up there with Sinte Gleska.

Q: What are your goals?

A: To be the superintendent of our public schools in Winnebago. Failing that, I would like to work in tribal colleges. I want to create a network for my reservation that connects public schools with tribal colleges. The sense of who I am was made stronger by attending both of these places. If we don’t preserve our culture, we are forgetting all the suffering of those who came before us, who sacrificed everything for us. If we give that up, we are saying that was for nothing.

Robin Powell is a member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe in Belcourt, ND, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the communications department at Penn State University.