Theda Nelson Clarke
| Theda Nelson Clarke | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Theda Rose Nelson 1924 South Dakota |
| Died | October 8, 2011 (aged 87) Crawford, Nebraska |
| Resting place | Crawford Cemetery |
| Nationality | American Indian |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Organization |
American Indian Movement PIE Patrol |
| Known for | Participant in the murder of AIM Activist Anna Mae Aquash |
| Spouse(s) | Edward Lamar Clarke (ex-husband) Julian Pokrywka (ex-husband) |
| Children | Edward "Chip" Samuel Clarke (son) Ida Rose Clarke (daughter) Michael Patrick Clarke (son) |
| Relatives |
Russell Means (biological nephew) Troy Lynn Yellow Wood-Williams (biological niece) |
Theda Nelson Clarke, born Theda Rose Nelson, was a Native American activist. She is perhaps best known for her involvement in the Wounded Knee incident with the murder of fellow American Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Aquash.
Nelson Clarke was born Theda Rose Nelson in 1924. According to Census records, Theda R. Nelson was born in the state of South Dakota.
Nelson-Clark lived in Scottsbluff, Nebraska at the time, and was the matriarch of a large tiyospaye (family), leading to her being designated 'aunt' and 'auntie' by many in the community, including Troy Lynn Yellow Wood and future accomplice in the murder of Anna Mae Aquash, John Graham.
Theda Nelson Clarke was aunt (whether this familial affiliation was biological or adopted is unclear) to Darlene Nichols (whom Nichols grew up with), a key material witness in the murder trials of Arlo Looking Cloud and John Graham for their roles in the murder of AIM activist Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash.
In the early 1940s, Ms. Clarke graduated from the St. Francis Indian School in St. Francis, South Dakota.
Theda Rose Nelson eventually married Edward Lamar Clarke, and had three children with him: Edward "Chip" Samuel Clarke (b. 23 September 23, 1962), Ida Rose Clarke (b. 22 December 1963) and Patrick Michael Clarke (b. 6 September 1965). Theda and Edward eventually divorced.
Nelson Clarke also married a Julian Pokrywka, although it does not appear that they were married at the time of their death.
Clark was a member of the Pie Patrol, a group of women active in AIM, consisting of Madonna Gilbert, Lorelei DeCora, Thelma Rios-Conroy, and other women within the AIM movement. and Lorelei DeCora Means.Mary Crow Dog (née Moore), wife of civil rights activist Leonard Crow Dog, who was also present during the siege at Wounded Knee, referred to the Pie Patrol as "loud-mouth city women, media conscious and hugging the limelight," who loved the camera and took credit for what the women of AIM were doing behind the scenes.
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