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Winona Laduke: Restoring Land and Culture in Native America (Women Changing the World)
Winona Laduke Restoring Land and Culture in Native America - Women Changing the World Author:Michael Silverstone When Winona LaDuke’s parents brought her from Los Angeles to White Earth reservation in Minnesota to experience powwows and see her grandparents’ home, she began to understand who she was. Overcoming the discouragement of teachers and hostility of white classmates, Winona became outspoken at an early age about the disproportionate difficulties f... more »aced by Native Americans, including large-scale pollution of reservation lands. At Harvard University Winona studied the destruction caused by unsound development. At 17, she became the youngest person ever to speak before the United Nations. After graduating Winona returned to White Earth, determined to combat poverty, defend against ecological destruction, and revive Anishinaabe culture by recovering stolen reservation lands. At 29 she received the Reebok Human Rights Award, and used the money to found the White Earth Land Recovery Project. WELRP bought back hundreds of acres of strawberry farms, maple forests, and wild rice lagoons. The project built sustainable, traditional livelihoods, while establishing reservation schools and education in the Anishinaabe language. Now Winona raises her three children at White Earth—the ultimate reward for her work. Winona also helped found the Indigenous Women’s Network, and raised awareness and funds in a concert tour with the Indigo Girls to benefit Honor the Earth. Winona ran twice as the Green Party’s vice-presidential candidate. This tireless fighter’s vision of justice catches the imagination, showing young readers the positive impact of one person’s determination to change her world.« less