Mona Polacca is a Native American spiritual elder from Arizona. She has worked to further social justice for indigenous people from an early age. She is an author in the field of social sciences, has held posts of responsibility as Treasurer for her tribe, served on several committees for Indigenous Peoples within the United Nations. and is widely known for her "leadership in the Native American revitalisation movement." In recent years, Mona has gained international recognition for her work as one of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers - a group of spiritual elders, medicine women and wisdom keepers founded in 2004.
Early years
Mona became interested in indigenous social justice at the age of 14 when she first heard about the occupation of Alcatraz Island by a Native American group called Indians of All Tribes in 1969. Although Mona was only 14 years old she wanted to visit the island and was allowed to do so by her parents. "Blessed with the gift of nearperfect oral memory, her elders spent hours teaching her the old ways and prophecies word for word, trusting their information would be safe in her hands."
Mona has held many positions relating to social justice including:
Serving as a U.S. delegate at the Indigenous Women's Inter-Continental Meeting in Lima, Peru
Serving on United Nations committees on indigenous people's issues. However, Mona has noted that although a draft on Indigenous Human Rights has been created, the draft has never been approved or adopted. Mona wishes for the draft to be brought back and considered by the General Assembly.
On the Board of Directors of Youth Advocate Programs Inc. In her work, Mona helps to "create opportunities to help them develop positive self identity."
She has done "research in the social sciences on alcoholism, domestic violence, and culturally appropriate treatments for Native Americans," and work on health issues with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. As of 2013, she is working on a Ph.D. in the Interdisciplinary Justice Studies department at Arizona State University.
Bletzer, Keith V., Nicole P. Yuan, Mary P. Koss, Mona Polacca, Emery R. Eaves, and David Goldman. "Taking Humor Seriously: Talking about Drinking in Native American Focus Groups." Medical anthropology 30, no. 3 : 295–318.
Polacca, Mona. "NATIVE AMERICANS." Age Through Ethnic Lenses: Caring for the Elderly in a Multicultural Society : 113.
Nicole P. Yuan, Mary P. Koss, Mona Polacca, and David Goldman, “Risk Factors for Physical Assault and Rape among Six Native American Tribes,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 21, no. 12 : 1566–90
