Amanda Takes War Bonnett, Oglala Sioux, has worked in the field of media for more than 30 years, she was a former editor and managing editor of the first Lakota Times and Indian Country Today for 14 years and was former publisher/owner of a tribal newspaper Lakota Country Times (Lakota Times) for five years from 2004 to 2009 and now works to promote healthy lifestyles for women and children. She is a graduate from Sinte Gleska University with a masters in mental health and bachelors from Oglala Lakota College in Human Services and Lakota Studies. For ten years was communications coordinator at a K-12 Little Wound School on the Pine Ridge Reservation for ten years and developed a successful interface model between school and community.

Amanda is currently public education specialist/trainer for the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, Reclaiming Our Sacredness, which is a coalition of domestic violence and/or sexual assault programs committed to the reclamation of the sacred status of women. She is also a part of the Tusweca Ska Okalokiciye, a traditional Lakota women’s society who support families with the cremony Išnáti Awíčalowaŋpi and cultural teachings events for young women. She has four children, three step children and 13 grandchildren. Her hobbies include beading, crafting, drawing, cake decorating, sewing, gardening, graphic artist and having fun with her grandchildren and teaching families genealogy. She is married to Dr. Archie Beauvais, Sicangu Lakota, a Vietnam veteran and PH.D graduate from Harvard University, retired.