Winona LaDuke: Restoring Land and Culture in Native America (Women Changing the World)

Overcoming discouragement from white teachers and classmates, Winona LaDuke became outspoken at an early age about the disproportionate difficulties faced by Native Americans, including massive pollution of reservations.

Winning acceptance to Harvard, Winona pursued environmental research and activism, becoming the youngest person to address the United Nations, and at age twenty-nine winning the Reebok Human Rights Award. At home at White Earth reservation in Minnesota, Winona founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project, fighting poverty and pollution by reclaiming treaty lands.

Winona’s remarkable vision was recognized by the Green Party, which chose her as their vice-presidential candidate in 1996 and 2000. Her achievements show young readers the positive impact of one person’s determination to change her world.

Michael Silverstone is an elementary school teacher and author of Rigoberta Menchú, among other biographies for children.