Pauline Small (November 30, 1924 – March 9, 2005) was the first woman to be elected to office in the Crow Tribe of Montana. In 1966 she was elected to Vice-Secretary of the Crow Tribal Council, holding office de facto to 1972, and served in various positions within the Crow Tribal Offices, many to do with supporting education.

Pauline Small
Strikes Twice In One Summer
Pauline Small on horseback. She carries the flag of the Crow Tribe of Montana. As the first female official, she is entitled to carry the flag during the Crow Fair Parade.
Vice-Secretary of the Crow Tribal Council
In office
1966–1972
Lodge Grass Board of Trustees
Crow Tribal Education Committee
107th Committee of the Crow Tribal Council
In office
1996–2000
Personal details
Born
Pauline White Man Runs Him

(1924-11-30)November 30, 1924
Crow Indian Reservation, Lodge Grass, Montana
DiedMarch 9, 2005(2005-03-09) (aged 80)
Spouse(s)Ivan James Small, Sr., Northern Cheyenne
RelationsGrandfather, White Man Runs Him; cousin, Joe Medicine Crow
Parent(s)Blake and Florence Annie Blaine Whitemanrunshim
Alma materHaskell Indian College, Sheridan Business College
Known forFirst woman to be elected to office in the Crow Tribe

Early life and education

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Pauline White Man Runs Him was born on the Crow Indian Reservation in Lodge Grass, Montana. The youngest of three children, she was raised in the Valley of the Chiefs district on the reservation. Small was a granddaughter of White Man Runs Him.[1]

Marriage and family

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She married Ivan James Small, Sr., a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Indians. They made their home in Busby, Montana. Eventually they moved to the family allotment of Packs The Hat in the Rotten Grass area.[1]

Tribal politics

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Small was active in Crow tribal politics. In 1966 she was elected to the position of Vice-Secretary of the Tribal Council, the first woman to hold any office. She served in that position until 1972, and has been active on various committees of the Tribal council.

Deeply interested in education, she was a member of the Lodge Grass Board of Trustees, serving as Chair for eight years; Crow Tribal Education Committee; and the 107th Committee of the Crow Tribal Council. A member of the Crow Tribe, she was very involved with tribal government.[1] Small was an active supporter of Indian rodeo for 30 years.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Pauline Whiteman Runs Him-Small". Billings Gazette. 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  2. ^ Kusek, Joe (2005-09-08). "Crow Agency to host NPIRA regional finals". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
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