Who We Are
Our founders Monique "Muffie" Mousseau and Felipa De Leon have dedicated their lives through education and community activism, from building awareness regarding current laws and accepted practices within the tribal nation and state working with local, county, state, tribal, and national law enforcement to address hate crimes, while developing programs and curriculums for schools and educators to engage our youth on the experiences and challenges of being Native Two-Spirit LGBTQ.
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The couple's journey begin in May of 2019 when they had to address the realities of their own tribe’s non-existing laws of protection or rights to marriage equality. On July 8, 2019, ordinance #19-24 was enacted recognizing Marriage Equality for the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, also, on September 4, 2019 ordinance #19-37 was enacted, amending the Hate Crime Law to include gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
These critical ordinances provide protections for all Two Spirit LGBTQ.
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Background
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The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, but not for the 573 federally recognized tribes. “Tribes have the right to make the decision themselves,” said Marcia Zug, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law who specializes in family and federal Indian law.
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“Muffie” and Felipa grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation reservation, but found they could not be married there in 2015. The couple received a license in Pennington County and wed at a group ceremony at Mount Rushmore.
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The two women began petitioning for changes in the reservation’s law, resulting in the passage of same-sex marriage.
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“We are looking out for future generations, for protections and for equality,” Mousseau told the Rapid City Journal. “These foundations of laws have to be in place because we have grandkids. And that next generation coming up, we don’t want them experiencing the same (gay) bashing, we don’t want them to get to a point where somebody says a bad word to them because they like somebody of the same sex and they hang themselves. We don’t want that.”
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Mousseau and De Leon live in Rapid City, but some of their children and grandchildren live on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
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Mission
To advance LGBTQ-2S (native two spirit) social and legal equality. This includes environmental action which is at the foundation of building a healthy and equitable life for all.
Our Mission in Action
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Through cultural and educational interaction with all indigenous tribes, cities, counties, states, and schools.
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Through multi media interviews and presentations
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Through grassroots organizational training and public events
Vision
Our vision is to see a society, both within and without Indian country that values all people equally.
We see the land we live on as our precious home, our mother – Unci Maka, which requires protection and is not merely a resource to exploit. We envision all living beings as our relatives, Mitakyue oyasin.
We bring this vision to our tribal communities, our local and national governments.
We do this through education, consultation, and community outreach. We work to make laws that include equality for all and that enact justice for hate crimes. We work through direct actions with the environment to be sure our lands and water are clean and that our air is pure for ourselves and our future generations.
Our Core Values
As Lakota we strive to be Wo Lakota which means walking the Lakota Sacred way of life. It embodies the qualities of Humility, Perseverance, Respect, Honor, Love, Sacrifice, Truth, Compassion, Bravery, Fortitude, Generosity and Wisdom.
Meet the Team
"We are advocates/activists for Native American Two Spirit LGBTQ to integrate the acceptance of ALL. We do this for our community, all people, and future generations."
Felipa De Leon
Co-Founder - Treasurer
Felipa's Lakota name is Tecigila Wi (She is Loved) FELIPA DELEON, she is Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Felipa is in a same-sex relationship with her wife Monique “Muffie” Mousseau for 15+ years and been married 6 years. They have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. They are both alcohol and drug free.
Felipa was in the workforce for 30 years. She studied business administration and management with the emphasis in accounting. She has certificates in early childhood development. She has many accomplishments in her life, the ones she is most proud of are her 5 children and 6 grandchildren. She is also proud of being part of monumental events which is passing the Marriage Equality Law on July 8th, 2019, passing the Hate Crime Protection Laws for the LGBTQ 2 spirit on September 4th, 2019, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, passing the Hate Crime Protection Law on December 11, 2019, on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation and helped bring together the Hate Crime Bill # 166 to the state of South Dakota.
She is native first and advocate for Native LGBTQ 2 spirit, Native American Rights, Elderly and Child Protection, Veterans and Disabled, Suicide Prevention, Domestic Violence, MMIWM, Minority Discrimination, Protector of Mother Earth (Water/Land/Air).
Monique "Muffie" Mousseau
Co-Founder - Chief Executive Officer
Muffy's Lakota name is Canupa mani Wi (Walks with Pipe Women) .She is a member of the Oglala Lakota oyate." I am alcohol and drug free and been in a relationship for 15+ years, married 6 years to my beautiful wife, Felipa De Leon. I am a True Rez’er and able to be an urban native."
She has a bachelor’s degree in Education, Associate Arts and a Science degree in Natural Resources Management, Pre-engineering. She has served as Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System Easement Coordinator and is an IPA Federal Certified Police Officer. Knowledgeable of Federal Laws which govern Native American Reservations.
Competed in all sports, traveled throughout the western United States for Pow Wow/Rodeoing Little Britches, High School, College, Professional and Indian Rodeo, Travelled for Golfing Tournaments along the West Coast. Also, learned how to curl while living in North Dakota. Advocate/Activist for: child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, Native American Rights, Minority Discrimination, MMIWM, Native American LGBTQ2S. Promotes culture, education, equity, Involved in many protections of Mother Earth (Water/Land/Air) marches and protests. Strong equality beliefs. Involved in community concept of pro-active teachings for the next generations. Strong in the belief of Mitakuye Oyasin, Mother Earth, all connections.
Roseanna Eagleman
My name is Roseanna Eagleman, my family and friends call me Ann. I’m a Proud member of Rosebud Sioux Tribe. I have two children, 14-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter. I identify as a proud Native Two-Spirit. My pronouns are she/her
Education: AA in automotive technology, currently enrolled in Central New Mexico (CNM) community college, studying Sociology.
Advocate/Activist: for child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, native American rights, native American LGBTQ2S.
Promotes: culture, education, equality, and protection of Mother Earth
Jesse Guecha
Jesse Guecha (he, she, or they pronouns) is Muisca, of Bacatá chiefdom, born in Bogotá, Colombia. Jesse identifies as Indigenous, TwoSpirt, Latine, trans masculine nonbinary, and a parent to his two children. Jesse is alcohol and drug free. He has a bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication from the University of Washington, a post-bachelors advanced paralegal certificate, a project management certificate, and is also an alumni of the JustLead of Washington Leadership Academy 2021-2022 cohort. Jesse’s career has spanned working in Healthcare IT as a technical writer, software designer and project manager, being a stay-at-home parent, working in a variety of non-attorney legal roles including in both tribal court and civil legal aid, and doing nonprofit work. Jesse currently works at Families of Color Seattle as a Program Manager.
Corey Stover
Corey Stover is the Director of Vocational Education at Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. Through his career in education administration, Corey’s focus is on enhancing the lives of community members through recruitment into Oglala Lakota College’s award winning technical training programs provided under the Vocational Education department. Corey is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe and holds a Bachelor's degree in Lakota Studies with emphasis in Indian Law as well as Associates degrees in Lakota Studies and Tribal Law from Oglala Lakota College. Along with his career, Corey is a self-taught traditional Lakota artist focusing on traditional Lakota beadworks and dance regalia. Corey is very knowledgeable of the Lakota culture and way of life as well as the Lakota language. Corey grew up in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation and has lineage tracing back to Chief Whistling Elk of the Northern Cheyenne. Corey graduated from Shannon County Virtual High School in 2008, making history in South Dakota for being the first Native American in the state to graduate from the first virtual high school in South Dakota while also being on an Indian Reservation. Corey is currently working on a Masters degree in Indignous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Corey has also served as the Vice President for the Medicine Root District Executive Board from 2019-2021.