HOW A WOMAN FROM HERZEGOVINA BECAME A NATIVE AMERICAN CHIEF

Manda Čiroki, born Perić, from Popovo Polje, emigrated from her native Herzegovina to the United States during the era of American prohibition in the 1920s.

There, she started the first private bottling operation of illegal homemade alcohol and smuggled tobacco from Herzegovina to America through Dubrovnik's trading routes.

She married the chief of the Wanachake tribe, and due to her wisdom, became the leader of the northern tribes east of Ontario.

Not being greedy, she donated much of her savings to Herzegovinian immigrants in North America, helping them expand their businesses. Half of the profits were sent back to their homeland to support the people.

The natives were fascinated by her knowledge of medicinal herbs, and she became known as a healer, called Manda the Shaman, the Good Spirit with the Pipe.