Tribe director makes history

PLUMMER - The Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Information and Technology Director, Valerie Fast Horse, has been awarded with the "Women Making History" award by the Boise State Women's Center.

"It means a lot to be recognized as a woman making history," Fast Horse said. "Traditionally the technology field is a male-dominated industry."

Fast Horse's achievements include being recently appointed to serve on the new FCC-Native Nations Broadband Task Force.

She has also brought much-needed Internet services to the rural Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, said Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allan.

For instance, she helped secure $3.5 million tribal and federal grant dollars to provide broadband services to residents across the 345,000-acre reservation in 2002.

"She is a technological visionary for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe," Allan said. "Her efforts have opened many doors on the reservation."

Her latest project is heading up the tribe's $12.2 million project to make fiber optic cables available to every home, business and anchor institution on the reservation.

The project will serve 3,500 homes with high-speed Internet.

"She is helping tribes overcome obstacles to bridge the digital divide in Indian Country," Allan said.

Fast Horse is also the creator of Rezkast.com, where Native Americans across North America network and share stories, music and videos.

A formal Tribal Council member, Fast Horse has served as co-chair on the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Telecommunications and Utility Subcommittee. She has provided testimony about telecommunications to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

She is also a U.S. Army veteran and served in Operation Desert Storm.

"She has the heart of a lion," said Sonya Rosario, who nominated Fast Horse for the award. "She is an incredible woman and is an incredible asset to Idaho, not just her tribe."

Fifteen women were honored this year by the Boise State Women's Center. The organization has honored more than 250 women since 2001 as part of the Women's History Month celebration.