DECEMBER 2:

1615 Quebec Quebec - Father Jean Dolbeau departs from Quebec to minister to the Montagnais.

December 2, 1963: Annie Wauneka freedom award issued.
 
 

BACKGROUND:
 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America's highest civilian award and, among all American honors, it ranks second to only the Congressional Medal of Honor-the nation's highest military award. This great honor is reserved for individuals the President deems to have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Though it may be awarded for singular acts of momentous import, it is generally conferred only for a lifetime of service or at the conclusion of a distinguished career. The award is "given only after careful thought, always sparingly so as not to debase its currency." In the thirty years from the award's creation by President Kennedy through the close of the Bush administration, three hundred recipients were accorded this high honor. Of these three hundred recipients, only Ellsworth Bunker was twice awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Since then, Colin Powell (who received the award from President Bush) was awarded a second Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.
 

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Words Spoken:  Annie Dodge Wauneka
 

"You have to be honest with people. You have to have great respect for yourself.  If you see something that is not right you must do something about it."
 

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Annie Dodge Wauneka , 1910-1997

Navajo

Annie Dodge Wauneka was born in the Navajo Nation near Sawmill, Arizona. Wauneka's father was the first elected chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council after the tribe adopted the constitutional form of government. Wauneka was raised bilingual, with an emphasis on tribal tradition. She was the first woman elected to the Tribal Council. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from the University of Arizona and used this education to help the Navajo people. Wauneka was active in the Navajo Tribal Council Health Committee, and hosted a bi-weekly radio show on KGAK in Gallup. She also served as a board member of the National Tuberculosis Association and was appointed to the Surgeon General's Advisory Board. She died on November 10, 1997.
 

Awards and Honors 1.Arizona State Public Health Assoc.'s Outstanding Worker in Public Helath Award, 1959

2. Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1963
 

Online resources by or about Annie Dodge Wauneka:

Annie Dodge Wauneka (1910 - 1997) Author: Harrison Lapahie Jr. Type: authorbio Description: An extensive biography of Wauneka. URL: http://www.lapahie.com/Annie_Dodge_Wauneka.html (Ed's Note:  This biographical text was posted on November 10, the anniversary of Annie Dodge Wauneka's passing.)
 

Books by Annie Dodge Wauneka: Wauneka, Annie Dodge. The dilemma for Indian women Genre: Nonfiction Description: Wassaja 4=20 (September 1976): 8..
 

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>From http://www.ausbcomp.com/redman/clamor6.htm#wauneka
 

Navajo News A Tribute to Dr. Annie Wauneka

When I read of this amazing woman I just had to share it.

Dr. Annie Dodge Wauneka was so busy in her lifetime, when her daughter, Irma Bluehouse, unpacked all the awards in 1984, Annie Wauneka herself was surprised.

And the awards are still coming in, though Dr. Wauneka passed on November 10, 1997.

As a tribute to Dr. Wauneka, the Navajo Nation Museum presented a display of the achievements and personal memorabilia on April 9 - 10. She was born on April 10, 1910, in Sawmill.

Irma Bluehouse recalls her "mother's tireless efforts to eradicate tuberculosis on the reservation." Here is a list of some of the honors paid to Dr. Annie Wauneka.
 

1951: First woman delegate to the Navajo Nation Council. She was also the Health and Social Services Committee chairperson. 1963: Presidential Medal of Freedom. 1972: Doctorate of Humanities degree from University of Albuquerque 1980: Doctorate of Humane Letters from College of Ganado 1984: Legendary Mother Medal. An award from her Navajo people, and her "most cherished honor." 1985: Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoria Causa from University of New Mexico. 1996: Honorary Doctorate of Law degree from University of Arizona