The Black Bears traveled to Washington, D.C. in the 1950s to press Congress to allow Rosebud's citizens to openly hold religious ceremonies.
[6] Black Bear greatly credits her character from the example her family set, believing that all the effort and resistance she was surrounded by at a young age helped her become the woman she lived on to be.
[1] In first grade, Black Bear was torn from her family and forced to attend the St. Francis Indian School, a Catholic mission at the time.
[1] In 1974, Black Bear's partner became abusive and began to beat her frequently, and it was when he was drunk he would quickly go from calm to violent and aggressive.
[1] Black Bear was very aware of the violence that was occurring and seeing the need for her work, she began a doctorate in counseling at the University of South Dakota.
[1] Black Bear founded the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society to end domestic and sexual violence in 1977.
[11] Black Bear spoke about the basic resources that help women confront domestic violence that were absent on Rosebud, like housing assistance, education, and child care.
In 2003, she led a Wiping of the Tears ceremony at the Senate Building, launching the struggle for the VAWA 2005 Safety for Indian Women Act.