Randy’L He-dow Teton is a Shoshone woman who posed for the image of Sacagawea on the Sacagawea dollar coin, that first issued in 2000. She is the only woman (besides Martha Washington) to appear on US currency, the only Native American woman to pose for an American coin, and the only living person whose image appears on American currency.
Ms. Teton graduated from the University of New Mexico at 24 with a BA in Art History and a minor in Native American Studies. She continues to make public appearance as Sacagawea to bring attention to American Indian and Alaska Native issues and concerns.
“The image doesn’t represent me; it represents all Native American women. All women have the dignity of the Golden Dollar’s image.”
“There is a great deal of Native American art in museums, but very few Native Americans who can adequately represent the significance of this art within the cultural context—and I want to be in a position to help educate the next generation.”