Kimberly LaRonge

Kimberly LaRonge “Edge of the Sky Woman" is a citizen of La Courte Orielles Ojibwe (LCO) Nation and resident of the reserve in Hayward, WI. She is a mother of three, grandmother of two and has strong roots in her culture and language. For more than twenty years, Kimberly has created intricate pieces of regalia beadwork and jewelry. She has studied Ojibwe floral patterns from as far back as the 1800s and has unique skills that she puts into the pieces she creates. She has recently found solace and healing in painting, and it is no surprise that this is another one of her many gifts she is now sharing with the world.

Kimberly is an active member of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Coalition. Being a domestic abuse survivor herself, she is empathetic to women experiencing endangerment across the nation. She expresses her pain, survival, and the desire to bring attention to this crisis in much of her artwork. Kimberly has faced many hardships in her life, including chronic asthma. She finds strength and comfort in her tree of life paintings, “That which gives us breath." You will undoubtingly find yourself identifying with many of her pieces proving that she lives up to her spirit name. She will take you to the edge of the sky and show you there is beauty and strength in all of our survival.

Kimberly is currently the only Native American sidecar team racer comprised of a mother and daughter team, the "Ogitchida'kwe (Warrior Women)." She is also the only Native American female racer in her race class. She currently holds second nationally and novice light production class. She has reached intermediate level entering the vintage superbike lightweight class in February of 2020 at the AHRMA. Kimberly LaRonge has amazed the racing community since entering and taking second place in her first race in January of 2018 at the MIRA Ice Race in Solon Springs, Wisconsin. Kimberly trained for two weeks prior to the race while simultaneously taking radiation treatments for breast cancer. She attributes being a cancer survivor to her racing career stating "Racing is my reward for surviving cancer."

Having racers like Kimberly LaRonge provides role models for young women, especially Native American women, to identify with and aspire to. She can be seen regularly addressing today's youth on the importance of staying grounded in their culture and rising above adversity. She has faced many hardships in her life, yet continues to thrive in a low socio-economic community by selling her artwork and winning national dance competitions.