Annie Dodge Wauneka
Politician
Leader of the Navajo Nation tribe who worked to improve the health and education of her people, while serving on the National Tuberculosis Association. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 by Lyndon B. Johnson for her important work.
An influenza outbreak when she was eight killed many of the members of her tribe, including friends and classmates, and inspired her to help her tribe.
She educated her tribe about Western medicine, teaching them for instance the concepts of vaccination.
She grew up on a Navajo reservation in Arizona, her father one of the most influential members of the tribe.
The Navajo tribe that she once led counts among their members several popular actors, like Megalyn Echikunwoke .