Spirit Aligned Leadership honors the life of our beloved Circle Two Legacy Leader, Jennie Seminole Parker (Tongue River Country of Northern Cheyenne). Jennie’s leadership will endure for generations to come and we extend our heartfelt love and prayers to her family and all who were touched by her life.
In Memory Of Jennie Parker, age 83, of Ashland
April 11, 1941 – September 9, 2024
Jennie Seminole Parker was born on April 11, 1941 to Flora Redrobe (Sacred Corn Tassel Woman) and Miles Nelson Seminole (Big Spider) in Lame Deer, Montana. Her Cheyenne names were Otseemehe’e “Brave Woman” and One’ne “ Ree Woman” and her Lakota name was Ohitika Win “Brave Woman”. Jennie was a “change of life baby” as she would say, being the youngest of six children born to a family of Chiefs. Chief Two Moons was her great-grandfather and her mother held Whip in the Womans Warbonnet Society.
Jennie married Shirley Parker on February 19, 1959. Together they had four children and she welcomed numerous children into her home throughout the years and raised them as her own.
During her younger years, while her and Shirley raised their children and ran The Poor Farm ranch, she tirelessly pursued a greater education. She received both her Associates and Bachelor’s degrees as well as multiple certificates. In 1992 she was named Teacher of the Year by the Montana Indian Education Board. Grandma stressed to all of us the importance of obtaining as much knowledge as possible, living a good life and staying connected to our culture.
Jennie was a Sundance woman who always stood strong in her traditional beliefs. She openly shared her knowledge, wisdom, stories, the Cheyenne Language and lifeways; especially instilling them into her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her first language was Cheyenne and English was her second. Jennie was the last living direct descendent of her father who survived the Fort Robinson Outbreak that happened in Nebraska on January 9, 1879. Due to carrying the legacy of warfare and historical trauma, she devoted her life to sharing her wisdom and knowledge with younger Cheyenne people. Every year she ran the final steps on the Fort Robinson Run. She would say “I like to see the runners understand where they’re from, and what they have”. She shared a special bond with the Board and all of the Yellow Bird family and was considered grandma Jennie to all.
Jennie was an integral part of the Little Bighorn Ride every year. Since the beginning, she was involved in the planning and organizing. She and her family would make sure the riders were well taken care of; providing meals and opening their homes to our relatives from South Dakota. She stressed the importance of commemorating the Battle and honoring our ancestors. With that, she was adopted by many families including the Lone Hills, Jumping Eagles, Yellow Bulls, Brewers, White Hawks and Goings family.
Jennie served on many boards such as the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council, NC Board of Health, Northern Cheyenne Culture Commission, Boys and Girls Club Board of directors, Housing Authority Board of Directors and more recently she was elected to be the President of the Chief Dull Knife Board of Directors and was instrumental in all programming at the Yellow Bird Lifeways Center.
Jennie was selected as a legacy leader in 2020 by the Spirit Aligned Leadership program for her deep ancestral knowledge. Her knowledge of the Cheyenne way of life was invaluable. She was a strong Cheyenne woman who carried a deep love for the people, especially the youth.
Jennie played a huge role in our community. Not only was she a teacher, she was a mentor to many, everybody’s grandma, a story-teller, a historian, and is a great loss to the Northern Cheyenne Nation. We will continue to honor her legacy by sharing and cherishing everything she taught us. We love you grandma.
Source: https://stevensonfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/jenny-parker-age-83-of-ashland/
