UTTC student Elizabeth BlackDogBear breaks barriers, creates space for LGBTQ+ community

Two-Spirit Club President shares her story of identity, acceptance

Elizabeth BlackDogBear made history as the first female lieutenant in adult corrections for her tribe. Now, as founder and president of United Tribes Technical College’s 2 Spirit Club, she’s breaking new ground again.

Law enforcement runs in BlackDogBear’s genes. Her father, a former tribal police officer, graduated from UTTC with a degree in criminal justice and served as campus security while attending the school. Additionally, several of her aunts and uncles have worked as police officers and guards. Her mother, on the other hand, worked in land and real estate for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Continuing this tradition, BlackDogBear became a correctional officer at the Fort Peck Adult Correctional Facility, where she became the first female lieutenant in adult corrections for the Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux Tribe.

Now, as a student at UTTC, she works as a security guard on campus. “I’m on-call,” BlackDogBear said. “So when they need me, I answer. Usually, it’s for a few hours, sometimes a 12-hour shift. I like working at night by myself because it’s nice and quiet.”

She enrolled at UTTC to pursue a criminal justice degree and, since 2020, has earned her associate degree in science. The 45-year-old will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice this May.

Throughout her time at UTTC, BlackDogBear has participated in a variety of extracurricular activities. She is a member of both the Student Government Association and the Sage Club, but her most significant role is as president of the 2 Spirit Club.

BlackDogBear dedicates as much time as she can to the 2 Spirit Club. She and her wife often go grocery shopping to buy food for club meetings. “If we have to do fundraising, we’ll donate. I’ll also donate my time beading stuff so we can sell it.”

UTTC has had the 2 Spirit Club for the last two years, a development that followed student interest in creating a space for the school’s LGBTQ+ community. BlackDogBear and Lataya Brown co-founded the club after presenting their proposal to the Student Government Association.

“I know it’s difficult for young people to come out and be accepted by their families,” she said. “That’s why we created the 2 Spirit Club, to let them know that we’re here. You need help, we’re here. You need somebody to talk to –– we’re here.”

About ten students typically attend these meetings, which are held a few times each month in the conference room of the Education Building. Currently, they are planning their Halloween and Native American Heritage Month fundraisers and activities, focusing on ways to engage the community.

The community BlackDogBear has built and the acceptance she has found at UTTC are deeply meaningful to her.

Before moving to North Dakota, BlackDogBear worked at the Fort Peck Adult Correctional Facility. Years ago she had been married to her ex-husband, the father of her two daughters. Originally she had come out when she was 16, but decided to pursue “the traditional route” to not make waves. She recalls how things began to change for her after she came out again when she was in her 30s.

“She’s looking at me this way, or she said this,” she remembered overhearing. “It’s difficult. That’s why sometimes I don’t tell anybody I’m gay. But then again, I feel like I’m being ashamed of myself when I do. And I shouldn’t be ashamed of myself –– this is who I am.”

Eventually, BlackDogBear and her family moved to Bismarck for school. Initially, her wife, Reannon, was apprehensive about the move and worried about potential backlash. “She was so shy about holding my hand in public,” she recalled. “But now, she’s not. She doesn’t care, either.”

The 35-year-old first met BlackDogBear in third grade. At that time, her future wife was known as Elizabeth “Liz” Yellow Hammer, a name she changed after getting married. Back then Liz was a cheerleader at Brockton High School. Reannon had sneaked off to the school during a game, when a teenage BlackDogBear found her and escorted her home. Before Liz left, she gifted Reannon a pompom.

Years later, they would meet again at a local store called B&S Quick Stop. They began talking, and eventually began dating in 2016. From there, it was history. The couple got married in 2017. “We dated for less than 90 days,” Reannon said.

Since BlackDogBear’s cheerleading days, Reannon said she has witnessed a lot of her wife’s personal growth. “I’ve seen her accomplish a lot already from when I first started getting to know her and to after we got married,” she said. “She’s come a long way.”

Other family members also spoke highly of BlackDogBear. Her 14-year-old son, Gabriel Harlan, describes his mom as headstrong and confident. “She is very determined to finish whatever she starts,” Harlan said. “She can get a little too determined, which kind of concerns me a little bit, but I think that’s more positive than negative. She’s really assertive. If she wants something then she’ll let everybody know, and she’s not someone who lets other people throw her around.”

Harlan cherishes his mothers and enjoys spending time with his family, who love to joke around and play pranks on each other. At a family party with his aunts, they tricked BlackDogBear into dancing by herself.

“It turns out that they actually stepped out on her at the last second; she was the only one doing it,” he recalls. “She got mad at them after that but that was pretty fun.”

Christy Scott, BlackDogBear’s cousin, recalls going to Brockton High School together in the 90s. A grade apart, both were cheerleaders and often practiced together. The 42-year-old moved from the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana to Bismarck to pursue a degree in human services at UTTC. Two years ago, she graduated with her associate’s degree. Since relocating to North Dakota in 2020, she and her cousin have been creating new memories.

Scott has witnessed significant personal growth in BlackDogBear over the years. “I would say emotionally, mentally and physically, she really is a hard worker. And with her also graduating this coming year, it’s a really big accomplishment,” she said. “We’re all proud of her.”

She envisions a bright future for her cousin and is eager to see what she will accomplish in the next phase of her life. “She already helps others and guides them,” Scott said. “I see her continuing that in the future because that’s just the type of person she is, and I think she’ll make a big impact in the community.”

Harlan takes great pride in his mom. He wants her to achieve her goals and have a successful career, but he also hopes she finds her true purpose in life.

“I want a lot for her; she’s a very good mother,” he said. “Right now, I just want her to pass school so she can work in law enforcement. I also want her to find peace because I know she’s been through a lot her whole life. She deserves to focus on her own well-being without having to worry about bills and school.”

In terms of her career, BlackDogBear is considering becoming a probation or parole officer. She is also interested in joining the Highway Patrol to work with cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples. BlackDogBear’s main goal is to make a difference in her community.

“I’ve noticed that many Native people, even when they see another Native officer, can still be wary,” she said. “I want to help rebuild the relationship between Indigenous communities and law enforcement.”

Until graduation, BlackDogBear plans to support the 2 Spirit Club in every way she can. This Friday, the club will sell concessions at Horror on Harmon, a charity haunted house in Bismarck. She and other club members will be volunteering at the event.

BlackDogBear encourages folks to meet their local two-spirit community, outside of events such as Horror on Harmon.

“We’re not as bad as everybody says we are,” she said. “We’re good people. We just want people to be aware that we’re still here. And we’re here to help people too.”