Episode Forty-Four - Kevin Kicking Woman

The State of Montana

1×

0:00

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -52:34

-52:34

Episode Forty-Four - Kevin Kicking Woman

Montana Teacher of the Year for 2023

Russell Rowland

Nov 17, 2024

Transcript

Kevin Kicking Woman grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation as the youngest of fifteen children. After his mother left the family, he was shuttled around to various foster families, where he suffered some of the most horrific trauma I’ve ever heard. After a stint in the military, and working hard to get his teaching degree in Missoula, Kevin moved back to the reservation about ten years ago for a teaching job, and last year he was the first Native American to be named Teacher of the Year for Montana. His story is one of the most remarkable examples I’ve come across of turning trauma into triumph.

Thanks to Buchanan Capital for sponsoring this podcast, and to Phil Aaberg for his fabulous musical accompaniment.

Discussion about this podcast

The State of Montana

Montana has a long history of very complicated politics, often influenced by major corporations, as with the Copper Kings in our early history, or oil money. But we also have a strong track record of very progressive milestones, the most significant of which was the election of the first woman to ever serve in Congress, Jeanette Rankin. We also have what most constitutional historians consider one of the strongest state constitutions in the country. We have always boasted a very significant balance of power as well, but recently that has changed, and I want to understand why, and what can be done about it. So I'm going to interview some of our more high-profile citizens, not necessarily politicians, to explore this issue. My first guest will be Dorothy Bradley, who was the first woman to run for governor of the state. Dorothy just barely lost to Marc Racicot in 1992.

Listen on