Shallon Bordeaux

Shallon Bordeaux is currently a freshman at Hamline University. She was raised by her two older sisters, Kaylie and Aleese; true Lakota women and leaders. Her mother, the glue of the family, passed when Shallon was nine because of an enlarged heart, and soon after her father developed a narcotic addiction and alcoholism and left her life. Kaylie and Aleese guided Shallon on her path to becoming a level-headed, determined, and resilient young woman with an amazing head on her shoulders. Despite personal tragedy, Shallon wants to be known for being a woman who used the hardships she endured as motivation to endlessly pursue her dreams; “Life has knocked me down several times, but every single time I stand back up stronger.” Shallon is motivated to continue her education at Hamline University to not only educate herself, but to also educate people who are not familiar with Native American people or their culture. She wants to study anthropology and linguistics so that she can become fluent in her native Lakota language and help uncover the controversial past of her people.