Ruth Anna Buffalo
-Mandan, Hidatsa, Chirichua Apache
Ruth Anna Buffalo, carries her late grandmother Ruth’s Hidatsa (Nuxbaaga) name, Mia E’desh, Women Appears, she is a member of the Awa xia clan (Dripping Earth). She is the granddaughter of the late Ruth (Rabbithead) and Theodore Buffalo Bolman Sr. Her mother is Maxine Buffalo and her father is Santos Hawks Blood Suarez III. Her father, retired Air Force, returned from Iraq after 6 yrs of service the night of Ruth’s birthday last August. She is a proud mother of two beautiful children, Mya and BJ.
Ruth Anna Buffalo is a Susan G. Komen for the Cure Scholar in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at KUMC and works as a Graduate Research Assistant with CAICH, where her work focuses on breast cancer research where her work focuses on breast cancer research for both men and women. Her passion lies in improving the quality of life within her hometown tribal community of Mandaree, ND which is located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Her grandmother Ruth passed away at an early age from breast cancer. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor of eight years.
Ruth served 7 years at United Tribes Technical College as the director of the Strengthening Lifestyles’ comprehensive wellness program which served elementary students, college students and their families, employees and their families. During her time at UTTC she also taught CPR/1st Aid classes as well as Fitness, Wellness classes, co-facilitated weekly Fitness/Nutrition group sessions for the students and employees and coached basketball. Ruth carries certifications in Worksite Wellness, Cooper Fitness specialist and Tai Chi Easy group facilitation.
Most recently she served her tribe in the capacity of Summer Youth Work program coordinator in which she oversaw 120 youth and 12 district coordinators. Ruth has extensive experience in working with our tribal youth as a volunteer, mentor as an Indian Education tutor, YMCA Afterschool program room leader, Boys and Girls club intern, Substance Abuse Prevention coordinator and Youth Leadership Development worker.
Ruth obtained a Master’s in Business Administration the Summer of 2010 from the University of Mary located in Bismarck, ND. In 2010, ND Business Watch named Ruth as a “40 under 40 leader”. Ruth holds a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from Si Tanka University, Huron, SD. Ruth is a 2011 Alumni of the Tri College National Education’s Womens Leadership Development Institute.
Currently she is a member of the Cohort 2 of the Native Nation’s Rebuilder’s program through the Bush Foundation and partner Native Nation’s Institute/ Harvard Project.
Ruth hopes to return to the Fort Berthold Indian reservation to continue serving others. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, running, playing basketball and learning her tribal language while maintaining her tribal cultural way of life.