Sarah Winnemucca was one of the early American Indians from the West to work with white settlers to influence 19th century policies.

A member of the Northern Paiute tribe in northern Nevada, Winnemucca was one of the first American Indians to learn to speak and write English and became a translator for the U.S. Army.

Winnemucca later wrote “Life Among the Piutes” and served as a lecturer and school teacher before her death at age 47 of tuberculosis. Her statue is in the Capitol Visitors Center.