Randy 'L He-dow Teton stands in front of an image of the Sacagawea gold coin at Fuller Lodge on Tuesday. Teton spoke about the importance of higher educations to Native Americans and her experiences as the model for the coin.It is important for Native Americans to attend college not just for the individual educational benefits, but to help the larger Native American community, according to Randy `L He-dow Teton. Teton spoke at Fuller Lodge Tuesday about the importance of higher education for Native Americans while also promoting the new Sacagawea gold dollar coin, which she modeled for in 1998.
"As Native Americans, we are taught that family values are first and foremost. However, for me it was important to travel and become educated somewhere else to learn what the mainstream is doing," said Teton. "I help my family and others realize that by doing this it helps to build our economy and helps our rights as Native Americans."
Teton has spent the last two years representing and speaking on behalf of Native American people across the country. According to Teton, "Modeling for the coin opened doors for myself and for Native American concerns [but] there are issues that still need to be dispelled."
At her talk, Teton also provided historical information on Sacagawea's life and her journey with the Louis and Clark expedition. "I wish Sacagawea could have lived forever so that I could sit down with her and share all these historical accounts," Teton said.
Teton is a recent graduate of the University of New Mexico with a bachelor of fine arts degree in art history and a minor in Native American studies. She also has an associate's degree in museum studies from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. This fall she will pursue a master's degree in museum studies and native education at the University of Idaho.
Santa Fe artist Glenna Goodacre created and designed the Sacagawea dollar coin, which was minted in 2000. Goodacre noted that Teton shares facial characteristics of a Shoshone woman and served as an excellent model. Teton said, "How do you comprehend that your face is on a coin and that you are a part of history?"
The talk was sponsored by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) and the Albuquerque/Santa Fe/Los Alamos EEO Council and cosponsored by the Nuclear Materials Technology (NMT) Division ATOMICS program, the Women's Diversity Working Group and the American Indian Diversity Working Group.
 | Polly Harrison, left, and Randy 'L He-dow Teton pose for a photo at Fuller Lodge after Teton's talk on Tuesday. Harrison said she attended the talk partly because she had written a letter to and received a response from Teton. Photos by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs |