Annie Dodge Wauneka
Encyclopedia
Annie Dodge Wauneka was an influential member of the Navajo Nation
as member of the Navajo Nation Council. As a member and three term head of the Council's Health and Welfare Committee, she worked to improve the health and education of the Navajo. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1963 by Lyndon B. Johnson
as well as the Indian Council Fire Achievement Award and the Navajo Medal of Honor. She also received an honorary doctorate in Humanities from the University of New Mexico
.
Annie Dodge Wauneka was the daughter of the Navajo leader Henry Chee Dodge
and his third wife Keehanabah. Since Keehanabah had already left Chee before the birth of Annie, Chee's first wife, Nanabah, raised Annie along with three other of Chee's children. Having been raised by her father, a successful rancher, Annie lived a privileged life for a Navajo girl of her time. She was sent to a boarding school in Fort Defiance, Arizona
in 1918, at the age of 8 where she spoke and read English. During that first year at school the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic struck the students and faculty. Annie recovered from a mild case of the flu and stayed at the school to help the school nurse care for the other student flu victims. This experience led to her later interest in public health.
After that she was sent to an Indian school in Albuquerque, New Mexico
where she completed grade eleven at the age of 19. She left school to married a George Wauneka, whom she had met in school.
After the death of her father in 1946, she became active in tribal politics and became the second woman to be elected to the Tribal Council, after Lilly Neil
,.Several references, including Harrison Lapahie Annie Dodge Wauneka, 1999, have made the mistaken claim that Annie was the first women to be elected to the Council She was immediately appointed head of the council's Health and Welfare Committee. She served in that committee for her 27 years in the Council and served as its head for three terms.
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
as member of the Navajo Nation Council. As a member and three term head of the Council's Health and Welfare Committee, she worked to improve the health and education of the Navajo. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
in 1963 by Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
as well as the Indian Council Fire Achievement Award and the Navajo Medal of Honor. She also received an honorary doctorate in Humanities from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
.
Annie Dodge Wauneka was the daughter of the Navajo leader Henry Chee Dodge
Henry Chee Dodge
Henry Chee Dodge , also known in Navajo by his nicknames ' and ' , was chairman of the Navajo Business Council from 1922 until 1928, and chairman of the then Navajo Tribal Council from 1942 until 1946. Thereafter, he became the first and only Navajo politician elected vice-president who died...
and his third wife Keehanabah. Since Keehanabah had already left Chee before the birth of Annie, Chee's first wife, Nanabah, raised Annie along with three other of Chee's children. Having been raised by her father, a successful rancher, Annie lived a privileged life for a Navajo girl of her time. She was sent to a boarding school in Fort Defiance, Arizona
Fort Defiance, Arizona
Fort Defiance is a census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 4,061 at the 2000 census.- History :...
in 1918, at the age of 8 where she spoke and read English. During that first year at school the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic struck the students and faculty. Annie recovered from a mild case of the flu and stayed at the school to help the school nurse care for the other student flu victims. This experience led to her later interest in public health.
After that she was sent to an Indian school in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
where she completed grade eleven at the age of 19. She left school to married a George Wauneka, whom she had met in school.
After the death of her father in 1946, she became active in tribal politics and became the second woman to be elected to the Tribal Council, after Lilly Neil
Lilakai Julian Neil
Lilakai Julian Neil, in 1946, was the first woman elected to the Navajo Tribal Council. After a serious automobile accident, she was forced to withdraw from public service....
,.Several references, including Harrison Lapahie Annie Dodge Wauneka, 1999, have made the mistaken claim that Annie was the first women to be elected to the Council She was immediately appointed head of the council's Health and Welfare Committee. She served in that committee for her 27 years in the Council and served as its head for three terms.