Following graduation Annie married George Wauneka and traveled around the Navajo nation with her father. Seeing the lack of medical treatment and poverty Annie found her calling. In 1951, she became the second woman to be elected to the Tribal Council, after Lilly Neil.Neithammer, p. 38.Several references, including Harrison Lapahie Annie Dodge Wauneka , 1999, have made the mistaken claim that Annie was the first women to be elected to the Council She was immediately appointed head of the council's Health and Welfare Committee. She served in that committee for her 27 years in the council and served as its head for three terms. Wauneka accomplished much during her years on the council including translating medical terms into Navajo, a radio show explaining health issues, and better care for the community. Her worked improved care for pregnant women, babies, eye and ear health, and alcoholism. Sanitation and housing improved under her term in the council. In 1953, her husband was running for the position that Wauneka had been holding, but she felt he was not a good candidate, so she ran against him and defeated him.
