Sarah Winnemucca
Sarah Winnemucca , later Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins , (* 1844 as Thocmentony , † October 17, 1891 in Idaho ) was an American Indian politician and writer.
Life
Sarah Winnemucca was the daughter of Old Winnemucca , the chief of the Northern Paiute , and had great influence on her tribal members. She was raised in white households in California from the age of ten. She worked for government Indian agencies and the US Army, which is why she is sometimes referred to as an apple Indian (red outside, white inside).
Their commitment, however, belonged to their tribe. For example, she founded a school in Nevada, tirelessly criticized the discrimination against Indians in interviews and on lecture tours across the USA and advocated giving Indians US citizenship (this did not take place until 1924). In return for Sarah Winnemucca's agitation, white politicians staged a smear campaign against her that slandered her as an alcoholic and sexually permissive violent criminal. Their four unhappy marriages and an inclination to gamble fueled such rumors. She found support from other whites. The wealthy sisters Elisabeth Peabody and Mary Mann helped her with her school project and her publications.
Works
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Winnemucca, Sarah |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Thocmentony (maiden name); Winnemucca Hopkins, Sarah (later name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American Indian politician and writer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1844 |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 17, 1891 |
| Place of death | Idaho |