Each month, we highlight a new Supermom of the Month, a volunteer who has gone above and beyond to advocate for clean air and children’s health.
This month, we are celebrating Stephanie BadSoldier Snow. Stephanie was nominated by Iowa Field Organizer Karin Stein.
Stephanie is HoChunk, Meskwaki, Lakota, and Umohon. She has a Meskwaki name and was born and raised on the Meskwaki Settlement in Iowa with traditional Meskwaki ways. She is an enrolled Tribal member of the HoChunk Nation of Wisconsin. One of Stephanie’s deep beliefs is that Mother Earth is a being that has inherent rights.
Over the years, she has supported Moms’ work for clean air and climate protections by testifying before EPA, participating in panel discussions about food sovereignty and traditional food ways, meeting with legislators to ask for climate action, and writing articles for our website. She is a fantastic singer and has participated in two music videos Karin produced for EcoMadres, “Legado” and “EcoMadres.”
We asked Stephanie a few questions about her motivation and activism:
Why did you join Moms?
I joined Moms Clean Air Force after years and years of contemplation over what we do to our Earth, and to each other. As an anthropologist, I know that societies can collapse after devastating their immediate environments and depleting resources. The point we are at today is something the Earth has never seen before, and it is noticeable on a global scale.
I was introduced to Moms by a close friend who is deeply involved. As a mother, taking on the role of matriarch in my Tribal culture means that I have a responsibility to my children and their children, and several generations after them, so it was a natural choice to be associated with an organization that reflected these values.
How do you talk to your friends and family about environmental issues and inspire them to take action?
Thankfully, many of my friends (who are family to me) also have a love for Earth and the environment, so conversations around climate or air quality come easily to us. Calling them to action comes in the form of encouraging them to vote, sharing ideas and information on social media (I even help manage a page about Indigenous foods ), and even inviting them on spiritual walks with Water. As a member of a Tribal operations department that directly works with food sovereignty and our organic farm, I teach a class to adult learners looking to improve their employability. Aside from career development topics in this class, I also teach about how our food choices have an impact on the environment and why sustainable agriculture is important.
How do you stay motivated to continue advocating for clean air and environmental protection?
My Tribal background and our spiritual beliefs teach me that my People were literally created from the Earth, and therefore I am connected to, and cannot be separated from Her. Therefore, I have a responsibility to care for what is around me, to not take more than I need, and to do what I can to give back more than what I have taken. My motivation comes from wanting to live according to this philosophy, from Love, and with the understanding that I am of the Earth who nourishes me.
What is your favorite eco-friendly activity to do with your family?
As a family, we are very physically active. Ever since my children were able to walk and run, I have taken them on trails to run and hike with me, teaching them how to identify trees and certain plants, and what they can be used for. I have also taken them out to forage for traditional foods as they come into season, then bringing those foods home to cook with them, or store them for later use. We also enjoy gardening, growing our traditional corn, squash, and other vegetables and herbs without the use of chemicals in any form. Being in the places where plants grow helped to establish their relationship with all that exists.
TELL PRESIDENT BIDEN & EPA: MOVE QUICKLY TO FINALIZE STRONG POLLUTION PROTECTIONS