West River Eagle

Marcella LeBeau honored by NCAI



Marcella LeBeau

There is not much to say about Marcella LeBeau that hasn’t been said already- she is an icon in Indian Country, a World War II heroic nurse who saved lives and provided care for “The Greatest Generation”, she is a leader among the Oyate, and a matriarch to her family.

For her many years dedicated in service to the people, the 100-year young respected elder was honored last week on February 12 in Washington DC during the National Congress of American Indians 22nd Annual Leadership Awards Banquet.

In her acceptance speech, Marcella shared a moving story of providing medical aid to a soldier who lost both his legs during a WWII battle. He was a Lakota from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and it would be 40 years before she was reunited with the veteran.

Many in audience were moved to tears by her words and presence.   

Native News Online wrote this about Marcella in their report of the banquet awards:

“Even at 100-years, LeBeau is still working to have the medals of honor rescinded of those U.S. Calvary servicemen who participated in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre that left close to 300 Lakota men, women and children dead. She was instrumental in getting the Remove the Stain Act introduced in Congress.”

U.S. Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) mentioned Marcella during her Congressional Response to the NCAI 2020 State of the Indian Nations.

“It is also a tremendous honor for me to say the name of Marcella LeBeau; a leader who has consistently represented her people with grace and unyielding courage. Ms. LeBeau has served Indian Country, and our country in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, tending bedside in surgical tents while bombs dropped around her. She was awarded the French Legion of Honor, and her legacy, will be carried forward for generations to come,” Haaland stated.

Marcella explained that last July, Haaland contributed greatly to introducing the Remove the Stain Act.

“Deb is such an amazing woman. I tied an eagle plume to her hair when she helped us with the legislation,” said Marcella.

From her home in Eagle Butte, the elderly matriarch took time and shared her thoughts on her most recent award.

“It was such an awesome event. There was a large crowd and there were others who received awards too. To think someone from our reservation would be honored in such a way by NCAI is awesome,” Marcella said before lauding the work that NCAI does for Indian Country.

She then shared that she gifted the NCAI delegation with two items: a DVD about the war, and story about Pat McLaughlin who served in WWII and was a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

“People need to know what the war was like, how horrific it was. I hope our boys never have to go through that again. Veterans are my heroes,” she said.

Marcella’s advocacy work is continuous and there seems to be no slowing down for her– she is looking forward to attending an upcoming workshop about Indian boarding school trauma and learning about healing through genetics.

Oftentimes Marcella is recognized during her travels, and there are stories of people stopping in their tracks to say hello, to offer a handshake, and to ask to take a photo with her. While boarding the plane with her granddaughter Nichol, two well-known musicians gave up their first-class seats so the women could travel in comfort during the flight to Washington.

“I didn’t recognize them, but my granddaughter did. She was excited about the encounter,” she said, softly chuckling as she recalled the wonderful gesture.

When I expressed my deep appreciation and adoration for everything she has done and continues to do, Marcella smiled with a sparkle in her eyes.

“It was my honor and my privilege,” she said.

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