Wilma Mankiller

Wilma Mankiller
Valerie Red-Horse (Director) · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Wilma Mankiller
Birth date	November 18, 1945
Birth place	Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Death date	April 6, 2010
Death place	Adair County, Oklahoma
Nationality	Cherokee Nation
Ethnicity	Cherokee people
Spouse	Eddie Wilma Mankiller and Hugo Olaya de Bardi

Wilma Mankiller was a renowned Cherokee Nation politician, community developer, and Native American rights activist, who served as the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1985 to 1995. She worked closely with various organizations, including the National Congress of American Indians and the Indian Health Service, to improve the lives of Native American communities. Mankiller's leadership and vision were influenced by notable figures such as Wilma Rudolph, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr.. Her work was also shaped by significant events, including the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears, which had a profound impact on the Cherokee Nation and other Native American tribes.

● Early Life and Education

Wilma Mankiller was born on November 18, 1945, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Charlie Mankiller and Clara Irene Vann Mankiller. She grew up in a family of Cherokee people and was raised in a traditional Cherokee household, where she learned about the history and culture of her people, including the significance of the Cherokee syllabary and the Trail of Tears. Mankiller attended Skyline College in San Bruno, California, and later transferred to San Francisco State University, where she studied sociology and became involved in the American Indian Movement and the Native American Rights Fund. She was also influenced by the work of notable Native American leaders, such as Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse.

● Career

Mankiller began her career in community development, working with organizations such as the Cherokee Nation and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve the living conditions of Native American communities. She was also involved in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and worked with the National Tribal Chairmen's Association to promote Native American self-governance. Mankiller's work was recognized by notable figures, including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton, who supported her efforts to improve the lives of Native American communities. She also collaborated with other prominent Native American leaders, such as Vine Deloria Jr. and Suzan Shown Harjo, to address issues affecting Native American communities.

● Tribal Leadership and Legacy

As the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, Mankiller worked to improve the economy, healthcare, and education of her community. She established the Cherokee Nation's first tribal college, which is now known as the College of the Muscogee Nation, and developed programs to promote Native American culture and language, including the Cherokee language and the Cherokee syllabary. Mankiller's leadership was recognized by the National Congress of American Indians, the Indian Health Service, and the United States Department of the Interior, which awarded her the Department of the Interior's Conservation Award. She also received support from notable organizations, including the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

● Personal Life

Mankiller was married to Eddie Wilma Mankiller and later to Hugo Olaya de Bardi, a Ecuadorian activist. She had two daughters, Gina Olaya and Felicia Olaya, and was a grandmother to several grandchildren. Mankiller was also a close friend and colleague of notable Native American leaders, including Vine Deloria Jr. and Suzan Shown Harjo, and worked with organizations such as the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. She was also influenced by the work of notable Native American artists, including Fritz Scholder and Allan Houser.

● Awards and Recognition

Mankiller received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was awarded to her by Bill Clinton in 1998. She also received the National Women's Hall of Fame award, the United States Department of the Interior's Conservation Award, and the Indian Health Service's Director's Award. Mankiller was recognized by notable organizations, including the National Congress of American Indians, the Ford Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation, for her contributions to Native American communities. She was also honored by the Cherokee Nation and the State of Oklahoma for her leadership and service.

● Later Life and Death

Mankiller passed away on April 6, 2010, at the age of 64, in Adair County, Oklahoma. Her legacy continues to inspire Native American communities and leaders, including Deb Haaland, Sharice Davids, and Tom Cole. Mankiller's work was also recognized by notable figures, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, who praised her contributions to Native American communities. She will be remembered as a pioneering leader who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Native American people and to promote Native American self-governance, and her legacy will continue to be celebrated by organizations such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the Smithsonian Institution. Category:Native American leaders