Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins (Born Thocmentony- 1844 – October 16, 1891) was a Northern Paiute author, activist, skilled interpreter, an Army scout, a well-known lecturer, a teacher, and the first Native American woman to publish a book in english. She was born near Humboldt Lake about 1844 in the part of Utah Territory that later became Nevada, the fourth child of her father, Chief Winnemucca, called Old Winnemucca and mother, Tuboitonie.

She was very well-respected scout of the military who took on dangerous missions, including to help rescue her father and 75 others from a Bannock prison. Such was her success on this mission, she received a $500 reward.

She met with President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1881. He lectured her on Indian assimilation and as a result the meeting lasted five minutes.

In the span of three years she gave over 300 lectures across the country about the lives of American Indians and the poor treatment they received from the government. Much of it was met with support from the public but the government countered with character attacks in the newspapers and tried to smear her name. They ultimately were unsuccessful as her military superiors spoke out on her behalf, speaking to her bravery and loyalty.

General O.O. Howard wrote:
“She did our government great service, and if I could tell you but a tenth part of all she willingly did to help the white settlers and her own people to live peaceably together I am sure you would think, as I do, that the name of Toc-me-to-ne [or Shell-flower] should have a place beside the name of Pocahontas in the history of our country.” Read more about this remarkable woman here: http://biography.yourdictionary.com/sarah-winnemucca

Other Sources:

American National Biography

Britannica