Native American Heritage Month Spotlight, Mary & Carrie Dann
The Dann Sisters, Mary Dann(1923-2005), and Carrie Dann (1932-) are Western Shoshone ranchers and land rights activist.
Their work on behalf of the rights of others earned them the 1993 Right Livelihood Award. In 2008 American Outrage, a documentary film explored their leadership in the disputes with the federal government over the government’s breaking of the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley.
The Dann sisters persuaded the UN of their case. It ordered the US government to halt all actions against the Western Shoshone people. The government has yet to respond.