More than 30 years ago, Maria Pearson began working to preserve Indian burial sites in Iowa – something she made her mission in life from that moment on.

Now, after years of hard work that led to recognition around the world, the Ames resident may be awarded the highest honor she can receive for her work – the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1971, Pearson, a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe, became interested in burial discrimination that had been going on for centuries.

Pearson’s husband, John, and other workers for the Iowa Highway Commission were expanding Highway 34 near Glenwood when the workers came across a hidden historic cemetery that had been deteriorating for years. Needing the space for the highway to continue, the graves were exhumed and examined for historical artifacts.

“When they hit the cemetery and uncovered the graves, they uncovered 25 white people and one Indian woman and her baby,” Pearson said. “They took those white folk and buried them elsewhere, and took the Indian woman and her baby to study.”

From that moment, she said, Pearson knew she had a mission in life to stop the discrimination and protect the pride of her people.

Pearson headed straight for the governor’s office and demanded to speak to him.

“I went in there as an ambassador for my people, and I told him that he would give back my people’s bones and stop digging them up,” Pearson said. “He listened, and from there the first Indian Advisory Council was formed.”

Her influence began in Iowa, but she has since become known world-wide for her dedication to her people.

“I have spoken to many groups of people all over the world. I have been involved in councils and led meetings,” Pearson said. “I was even given the great honor of being the chair of the first Indian Council of the world.”

Lawrence Gross, assistant professor of religious studies, nominated Pearson for the Nobel Peace Prize.

He recently sent his nomination, a two-page letter detailing the beginning of her nearly single-handed journey and accomplishments, to the Nobel Peace Committee.

“I got to know Maria through our mutual involvement in the American Indian Community of Ames, and thoroughly admire her efforts,” Gross said. “The movement to protect Indian graves is one of the most important movements that has occurred in the past 30 years.”

Although she did much of the work on her own, Pearson said she never could have gotten through everything alone.

“My husband John stuck by me through everything,” Pearson said. “He passed away in ’91, but stuck by me every day until he died. He was such a wonderful man.”

Things were never easy with the work that she was doing, she said.

Racism and discrimination threatened her work and, at times, her life, Pearson said.

Gross wrote about the problems Pearson often encountered during her work in his letter.

“The task proved extraordinarily difficult, however,” he wrote. “Through her long effort, she received numerous death threats and was actually shot at three times.”

Though there were years of struggles and obstacles that had to be overcome, Pearson said it was worth every moment.

“For the sake of my grandchildren, I wanted to lead the way and stand up for the rights of my people,” she said. “There is beauty found in all races, and that’s what the world really needs to recognize. There needs to be that common respect and spiritual understanding world wide, not just for my people.”