Lakota woman awarded

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The 1993 winner of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Award of San Francisco is an unassuming woman who looks forward to buying a rototiller for her garden with the proceeds of the award.

Because much of what Jo Ann Tall eats comes from her garden, she can't afford to buy a lot of food. But adversity such as poverty and crippling rheumatoid arthritis hasn't deterred this exceptional woman from risking all to protect and save her people's environment.

"Crazy Horse sacrificed his life for the love of his land and the Black Hills," said Tall, about where she finds the inspiration to lobfor the environment.

Tall, 41, is a Lakota woman from the Oglala band and mother of eight children. Since 1978 she has been active informing her people about health hazards associated

with uranium mining, blocking nuclear testing in the Black Hills, considered sacred to the Lakota, and preventing toxic waste dumps from being built on her people's land.

"I went to the site of the Battle of Big Horn to pray. And I asked (Crazy Horse) to come back in spirit to help his people," said Tall, who is guided her dreams and spiritual experiences.

Tall is one of seven grassroots environmental heroes awarded $60,000 each for their selfless dedication to protecting the environment. She felt amazed to receive the bounty and proud to carry on the legacy of Crazy Horse, Tall said.