Annie Dodge Wauneka, a born leader.

"A woman can be a leader! The Biligahna instilled that thinking that "Women are not suppose to lead" into our culture. We Diné are a matrilineal people, the Whites are a patrilineal race. Our first Leader was Asdzáá Náádleehé, she created six females of the original six clans, she then created the men. The first six women leaders were given the six canes to lead the people home to the land that Asdzáá Náádleehé prepared for us Nohokaa' Diyin Diné'é. In this way we know that women are born leaders. Don't believe that false teaching about Diné women not being leaders Shí Diné'é! Get it out of your heads." -Diné elder

-For 26 years, Annie Dodge Wauneka served her people on the Navajo Tribal Council. She worked to help educate Navajos about tuberculosis, a disease that was infecting thousands of Navajos. She also cooperated with doctors and nurses to bring better nutrition and child care to Navajo families, and she was always interested in education. She traveled to Washington, DC, more than twenty times to speak to the Senate and House of Representatives on behalf of the Navajos. But Annie started her life like most children of her day, as a sheepherder. She received the Medel of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson in 1963.