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Culture March 25, 2020
This is it, Chief.
Who exactly is Wilma Mankiller? Particularly, what is significant about Wilma Mankiller? Well, we are here to answer those questions for you.
Wilma Mankiller was a Native Cherokee woman. She was born November 18th, 1945 and passed away on April 6th, 2010. She did not come from money or power.
To start off, she was born and raised in Tahlequah, OK and later moved to San Francisco, CA from the mid-1950s-1970s. Mankiller moved back to Oklahoma in the late 70s.
Mankiller had to battle sexism, racism, and poverty in the early stages of her life. Throughout her life, she was an activist, feminist, and was the first female principal chief of the Cherokee tribe.
In the late 1960s, some Native American students took over Alcatraz island to protest government indifference towards indigenous people. This inspired Mankiller to become an activist for Native Americans.
At the time, Mankiller’s husband expected her to be a stay-at-home wife. She knew that was not the life for her. She filed for a divorce and moved back to Oklahoma in the late 70s.
After officially winning the 1987 election, Mankiller’s life was in danger. Formally becoming the principal chief of the Cherokee tribe, her car was vandalized and she received death threats.
She relied on her confidence that women are capable of leading people, too. Mankiller was a feminist and fought for the equality of women. Her role as chief was a big step to restore the balance between the sexes in the Cherokee Nation.
Mankiller ran for Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1983. This marks the beginning of her time in the Cherokee Nation government. At the time, Ross Swimmer was the principal chief.
Swimmer resigned mid-term in 1985 and he appointed Mankiller to take his position and finish the rest of the term. In 1987, Mankiller ran for chief and won. This indicates her first full term as principal chief.
During her terms as chief, Mankiller helped build and progress the Cherokee Nation. She focused on education, healthcare, and job training for the Cherokee people. In addition to these, Mankiller helped with economic development and cultural preservation.
Mankiller ran again for principal chief in 1991 and began her second full term. However, this was her last term as principal chief due to chronic illness. Afterward, Mankiller returned to activism.
In addition to Mankiller’s life, she was listed as one of Ms Mazagine’s Women of the Year in 1987, due to her efforts in Bell, OK and being the first female chief.
Mankiller organized a self-help project to help the citizens of Bell have access to clean water. The small town was very unsafe, no running water, and run-down housing. Mankiller’s efforts inspired the movie The Cherokee Word for Water (2014).
Above all, many quotes Mankiller said during her life revolve around politics, feminism, and Native Americanism. Listed below are just a few quotes that encapsulate who Mankiller was as a woman and a leader.
There are two movies about Mankiller’s life. The first movie is called The Cherokee Word for Water (2014). TCWFW is about Mankiller’s Bell water project.
The second movie is simply called, Mankiller (2017). This film is about the main points in Mankiller’s life.
Undoubtedly, TCWFW and Mankiller are two important movies today more than ever. Mankiller demonstrated what it means to be a leader, to care for the people, and how to lead people to become better. Her message can set an example for our current President and other politicians.
The legacy left is empowerment to minorities and women. The power to stand up to government, sexism, and racism. To fight for what’s right. Being a woman in a position of power was not common in the 80s as it is today.
Mankiller is among the list of other women who was a leader to people. Additionally, Cleopatra was a Pharaoh of Egypt and the first woman who was not ranked below a man.
Wilma Mankiller was a feminist, activist, and a leader. Last but not least, Mankiller was the first chief of the second-largest Native American tribe. She faces a lot of challenges and overcame them with grace. Mankiller helped develop the Cherokee Nation and develop programs for the people.
