"Everyone Must March on the Road to Victory" : Wisconsin American Indian Women and the Off-Reservation War Effort During World War II

Abstract

During World War II, approximately 12,000 American Indian women moved off their reservations to find employment. American Indian women in Wisconsin were no exception. This paper follows six Wisconsin American Indian women and their experiences with off-reservation employment throughout the war. Four of the women enlisted in various branches of the military. The remaining two found work in the booming war industry, filling jobs that were normally held by men. Still more women took work in domestic fields, including one of the military women before she enlisted. Utilizing interviews with these women and the few secondary sources on the topic, this paper seeks to explain why these women sought work off their reservations, how they were recruited to these positions, and how they benefited from their experiences. By seeking off-reservation employment, American Indian women were able to take advantage of opportunities that were otherwise unavailable to them.