Jeanne Givens

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Jeanne Givens (born c. 1951/1952) is an American politician and a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe. She was the first Native American woman elected to the Idaho House of Representatives, serving from 1985 to 1989 as a Democrat from the 4th district (Seat A).

Early life and family
Givens was born in Plummer, Idaho, and was raised in San Jose, California, and on the Coeur d’Alene reservation. She studied sociology at Whitworth University but did not graduate. She is married to Ray Givens. Her grandfather Ignace Garry was the tribe’s last chief, and her uncle Joseph Garry was the only full‑blooded Native American to serve in the Idaho legislature.

Career before and during the Idaho House
Givens worked as a probation officer and as an instructor of speech and communication at North Idaho College. She first ran for the Idaho House in 1982 but lost. She ran again and won in 1984, defeating Ralph Kizer, and began serving in 1985. While in the House, she served on the Indian Affairs, Business, Education, and Health and Welfare committees and was later appointed to the State Affairs committee in 1987.

National politics and campaigns
In 1988, Givens became the first Native American woman to run for the U.S. Congress, seeking Idaho’s 1st congressional district, but she was defeated by incumbent Larry Craig. She ran again in 1990 and placed second in the Democratic primary to Larry LaRocco. She also loaned money to support her campaigns.

Public service and later roles
Givens was appointed to the Statewide Health Planning Council by Governor John Evans in 1982. She served with the Idaho Association for the Humanities and helped plan Idaho’s centennial celebration of statehood. In 1992 she won a seat on the North Idaho College Board of Trustees. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the Board of Directors of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.

Legacy
In 2014, Paulette Jordan, another Coeur d’Alene tribal member who served in the Idaho House, said Givens was a mentor to her.