There are certain names in history especially among Native Americans that make you stand a little taller. For example Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Red Jacket, Tecumseh and Handsome Lake just to name a few. I'm sure that none of you have heard of some of those names but they are all important in history for various reasons. There is a name that comes to mind when discussing unknown native names. For instance Wilma Mankiller who I feel made a name for native women all over Indian country as well as the "white world". Wilma was a member of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. After attending schooling in San Francisco she brought what she learned back to her reservation and used her education to help her tribe move forward. In 1983 she was asked to run for Deputy Chief of her nation and was successful on her bid for office. The Chief had decided to resign and take a better job and she then moved up to Chief of her tribe. In 1987 she successfully won the tribal elections. "With an enrolled population of over 140,000, and an annual budget of more than $75 million, and more than 1,200 employees spread over 7,000 square miles, her task may have been equaled to that of a chief executive officer of a major corporation" (
http://www.powersource.com/gallery/people/wilma.html). During this time she battled a lot of medical problems but she persevered to help finish what she had started for her tribe. She was the first woman to ever hold a such a high rank in her tribe. In April of 2010 she succumbed to cancer of the pancreas. She was strong woman had the compassion and education to take her tribe to the next level and to become self sufficient. Without her dedication and determination I think her tribe would not be as successful as it is.
In my tribe there has never been a woman elected as President. There has been a number of women who have held office of Tribal Councilor, Tribal Clerk and Treasurer. As we come into the "political season" of our tribe there has been talk of a woman running for President and I hope that we can have someone with the drive and determination that Wilma had for her people.
http://www.powersource.com/gallery/people/wilma.html
http://www.greatwomen.org/component/fabrik/details/2/103
Hello Sara!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your post! It was really interesting and informative to read about the history of a women who made such a huge impact and also had such large responsibilities. The fact that anyone- especially a native women who would have to work even harder to gain prestige- returned to their home to lead their people forward is a commendable action. I hope that in the upcoming political period in your tribe that you are able to see individuals with her drive come into office.