Wilma Mankiller

I watched a lecture done by Wilma Mankiller on YouTube. Wilma Pearl Mankiller was the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation. In her lecture she addressed some good topics. First of all she spoke on the play of native women in their culture. Native women play an important role in tribal life. Yet, Native women are stereotyped by the media and only seen in a sexual way or as innocent children of nature. Most people only know of Sacagawea, who was a Shoshone women that led Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Navajo women once controlled the economy and livestock of the Navajo nation. Ojibwa women trap small animals and built canoes. Cherokee women were consulted in matters importance to the community, clan, and nation. When a Cherokee man married a Cherokee women he took up residency with his wives clan. Cherokee people trace their clan ancestry thru women. There was once a council made up of 7 Cherokee clans. Also, women warriors who made decisions to go to war with men were called war women and considered tribal dignitaries. A women’s power was considered so great that special women declared the punishment to those who committed offenses against the people. Today, women are getting their voice back and working with men to protect tribal sovereignty and treaty rights.


The battle is hard because the congress does not know the history or present life of native people. Americans are not taught about Natives, yet Natives had to be taught everything about the American people. The lack of information about Native people leaves a void that is filled with stereotypes, which either romanticize or vilify Native people.


Next she touched on how there is concern of tribal culture and traditions being lost. She believes that the entire system of knowledge must be saved. While some people may think medicine, ceremonies, or language is most important. Natives rely heavily on elders to preserve culture and traditions. Traditional elders pass down information from generation to generation orally. Thus, when a traditional elder dies, so does thousands of years of unique knowledge. A majority of the Natives history is told through stories. Stories help us understand and know our place in the world.


Another topic Wilma Mankiller brought up was the issue of Natives living in two world, heir tribe and the outside world. She believes Natives can live in urban area and still keep traditions and values. Cherokee values are to be respectful to yourself and others and always keep your word and be helpful. As well as having a good clean mind. They conduct a ceremony to renew the mind and erase past offenses, in order to stop animosity and grudges. The goal is to promote unity. You must keep negative thoughts out of your mind, before they take hold of you and because bad actions. This goes beyond positive thinking, because you must keep a clean mind as a discipline. Outside people only see the problem tribes face. They don’t see the way they keep in the community through being positive. Natives may appear to live like everyone else, but that does not mean they think the same way. Traditional tribal people do not view the world in the same way.


At the end of the lecture Wilma Mankiller answered questions in the audience. One of those questions was about the amount of Native women in leadership positions today. She explained how tribal women are in more leadership roles since tribes now control more things, like medical centers. A majority of tribal administrative positions are held by women. Additionally, more tribal women are earner bachelor’s degree over men. Lastly, due to the fact that more tribes are looking into traditional ways in tribal history. They see that things are out of balance when only men are in control.









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVLgwpHSYv0