Donna Kipp

Photo from Browning Public Schools

Donna Kipp

Donna Kipp is a fighter for the Blackfeet Nation Boxing Club in Blackfeet territory in Montana. Her father opened the center for youth and young adults in the community and from a young age, Donna was there learning and listening to people’s stories of defending themselves. Donna started boxing at the age of 7 and has developed into a talented fighter. She was the top female contender in the 2019 Junior Olympic National Tournament, the first Blackfeet Nation woman to accomplish this in the ring. She was also a bronze medalist at the 2015 Junior Olympic Nationals. A documentary about Donna was featured on ESPN, titled, “Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible.”

Donna is our #matriarchmonday spotlight for so many reasons beyond her talent in the ring. For the last four years, Donna has dedicated her boxing career to Native women. At every fight she writes the letter MMIW on her boxing gloves to honor and bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. When Donna was a freshman in high school she learned about the many women from her community who go missing and are murdered at very high rates. It was then that she decided she would not ignore what was happening to our women and use her platform to educate. 

Donna is carrying her experience forward and wants to help other younger girls realize that they can accomplish their dreams, whether that's in the ring or not.