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This paper recounts the story of education pioneer Sarah Winnemucca (1844-1891), a self-educated Northern Paiute Indian who spent her life trying to improve the living conditions and education of the Paiutes. Most of what is known about Sarah comes from her autobiography, "Life among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims, " first printed privately in 1883. Sarah's life experiences are viewed in historical context. She started a school for Paiute Indian children after meeting with two socially prominent Bostonians who supported her endeavors, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody and Mary Peabody Mann. When it was established, Sarah's Peabody Indian School was a school taught by and for Indians. Children were not separated from their Indian life and languages as they were when they attended government schools. There were many struggles while trying to raise enough money to keep the school going with Sarah's particular educational vision. She was never able to get government funds and had to close the school in 1888. (Contains 32 notes and 9 references.) (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document