Sacagawea gold coin model speaks in Los Alamos July 23

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (02-081)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., July 16, 2002 -- Shosone and Bannock-Cree Native American Randy `L He-dow Teton, who in 2000 was the model for the Sacagawea gold dollar coin, will speak July 23 in Los Alamos about the importance of education and higher education for Native Americans.

The talk begins at 1 p.m. in Fuller Lodge on Central Avenue downtown and is sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos National Laboratory. The talk is free and open to the public.

Los Alamos' Office of Equal Opportunity, the Nuclear Materials Technology Division ATOMICS program, the Laboratory's Women's Diversity and American Indian Diversity working groups and the Albuquerque/Santa Fe/Los Alamos EEO Council are sponsors of the talk.

Since the coin was minted and put into circulation, Teton has traveled around the country to promote the new coin and bring attention to American Indian and Alaska native issues and concerns.

Teton is the second oldest of five siblings. According to a biography from Teton, He-dow (pronounced he-dough) means "meadowlark" in Shoshone. In the Bannock language, He-dow is pronounced hi-though and means "close to ground."

Teton has a bachelor's degree in art history from the University of New Mexico and an associate's degree in museum studies from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Idaho.

Santa Fe artist Glenna Goodacre created the design for the Sacagawea dollar coin in 1998. "I can't believe I'm on a coin," Teton said during the creation of the coin. "It is a real honor for me and my family."

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.