Doris Leader Charge
A woman with short dark hair and olive skin
Doris Millard (later Doris Leader Charge), from a 1956 newspaper
BornMay 4, 1930
Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota
DiedFebruary 20, 2001 (age 70)
Mission, South Dakota
Other namesDoris Millard, Doris Mae Bravebird, Doris Mae Brokenleg, Doris Mae Whiteface
Alma materSinte Gleska University
Occupation(s)Translator and educator
Known forDances with Wolves (1990)
Children6

Doris Leader Charge (May 4, 1930 – February 20, 2001), was an American translator and educator. She taught Lakota language and culture courses at Sinte Gleska University for 28 years, and worked on the film Dances With Wolves (1990) as a translator and dialogue coach; she also appeared on-screen in a minor part.

Early life and education

Doris Leader Charge was born on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She was raised by her grandmother. She attended He Dog Elementary School, St. Francis Indian School and St. Mary's School for Girls until she left school at age 14.[1][2] At age 54, she earned a degree in education at Sinte Gleska University.[2][3]

Career

Doris Millard worked as a nurse's aide, a waitress, and a cook to support her family as a young woman and as a widow. Her son Gerald "Coco" Millard appeared in The Last Hunt (1956), when he was a toddler,[4] and she traveled with him and her newborn daughter to Sioux Falls for the premiere.[5][6]

Later, Leader Charge taught Lakota Sioux language and culture courses at Sinte Gleska University.[7] She took a sabbatical from her college job[8] to appear onscreen as "Pretty Shield" in Dances with Wolves (1990),[9][10][11] and to serve as a translator and dialogue coach in the making of the film, working with actors to learn to speak their Lakota lines with accents appropriate to their characters' stories.[3][12][13] "I thought they were pulling my leg," she said later, about being hired for the film. "Yeah sure, production companies come to South Dakota all the time looking for someone to translate Lakota."[7] When the film won a 1991 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, she stood beside the screenwriter on stage and translated his acceptance speech into Lakota.[1]

Leader Charge was also credited as language coordinator on the television miniseries Son of the Morning Star (1991).[14] In 1992, she made a national speaking tour, addressing audiences about her experiences with bringing better representation to the popular screen.[15][16]

Personal life

In 1947, she married her first husband, Wallace Millard.[17] They had three children and she was pregnant with their fourth when Millard died in a car accident in 1956.[5][18] Her second husband was Air Force veteran Fred Leader Charge; they had two more children together. She died in 2001, at the age of 70.[19][20] Her grave was moved to Black Hills National Cemetery.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 Giago, Tim (2012-04-02). "When Doris Leader Charge Spoke, Kevin Costner Listened". HuffPost. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  2. 1 2 Martz, Ron (1986-11-30). "Indian colleges urge preservation of heritage". The Herald. p. 29. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Thigpen, David E. (January 21, 1991). "Kevin Costner Said the Words but Doris Leader Charge Made the Dances Dialogue Truly Sioux". People Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  4. ↑ "Two West Riverites Get Hollywood Bid". Rapid City Journal. July 29, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Come for S. F. Premiere". Argus-Leader. 1956-02-15. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Indian Mother-Widow Watches Husband Again in 'Last Hunt'". Deadwood Pioneer-Times. 1956-02-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Walton, Kent (1992-08-07). "Lakota teacher revives Sioux tongue". The Daily Nonpareil. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Chatenever, Rick (1990-11-02). "'Dances' with Kevin; Native-American co-stars endorse movie's portrayal of their culture". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 59. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Grauvogl, Ann (1989-10-29). "Costner's magnetism: He believes". Argus-Leader. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Miller, Steve (2001-02-21). "Doris Leader Charge of 'Dances' Dies". Rapid City Journal. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Lew, Julie (1990-11-04). "American Indians Still Have Skirmishes in Hollywood Battle". Omaha World-Herald. p. 184. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Ross, Scott (1990). "'Dances with Wolves' - Natives portrayed honestly and sympathetically". AMMSA. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  13. ↑ Baum, Geraldine (1990-10-28). "Kevin Costner's Dance With the Sioux: How the director and star achieved authenticity in his unusual film tribute to the Sioux, 'Dances With Wolves'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  14. ↑ Giago, Tim (1991-02-24). "'Wolves' may prompt poor imitations". Argus-Leader. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Longsdorf, Amy (1992-11-15). "Native Americans relate film roles in dress and tongue". The Morning Call. p. 90. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Leaders in field to headline N.C. Women Writers' talks". The Herald-Sun. 1992-01-12. p. 71. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Jackson, Christine (1991-03-25). "Translator Brings Lakota to Movie Fans". Rapid City Journal. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Parmelee Man is a Victim of 1-Car Crash; Wallace Millard, 37, is Sixth Highway Fatality of Year". Argus-Leader. 1956-01-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Miller, Steve (2001-02-19). "Lakota teacher Leader Charge dies". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  20. ↑ "Friends Remember Lakota Studies Instructor". Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education. 2001-05-15. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  21. ↑ "The grave of Doris Leader Charge moved to Black Hills National Cemetery - Native Sun News Today". Native Sun News Today -. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
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