Wilma Mankiller - One of the Pioneers for Native Americans

Wilma Mankiller is a former Chief of the Cherokee Nation and was the first woman Chief and served in that capacity for ten years beginning in 1985.   She began working for the Cherokee Nation in an entry level position in 1977.   By 1983 she was a Deputy Chief and in 1985 she succeeded Ross Swimmer when he resigned to become the first female principal chief.   She was subsequently elected in 1987 and re-elected in 1991 receiving 83% of the vote which was no small feat in a typically male dominated role.   She was a tireless worker for the Cherokee Nation as well as for all native people in their legal struggles with the government and the dominating white culture. 

In 2008 she spoke at Sonoma State University at the invitation of the Associated Students and the Intercultural Center of the University.        Her message and the stories in her presentation reflected many of the feelings of the native people on various topics.    She stated that very few Americans know very much about native culture, issues and ideas and in particular the government to government relationship with the Native Americans and the U.S. government.    She pointed out that when American children learn of the New World in their schools few teachers let those children know that the Native American people were already there in the “New World” when the white people arrived.    The white people named it the New World because it was new to them.    What the children in this country still learn for the most part is a version of “history” that has been skewed and perpetuated in large part toward the white culture.  This is a topic that is central to the feelings of the native people’s whose history has been and continues to be misrepresented.     Prior to my studies of Native Americans I was one of those people.   I thought I knew information about that culture but I realize now (and as we all should know) there are two sides to every story.    It never occurred to me that what I was learning could possibly have another side.  

Wilma Mankiller has worked to do her part to make people such as myself aware of the native culture over the years.   Her presentation explained the various qualities and beliefs of the native people and how they have been able to continue to stay in the fight for the issues that have not as yet been resolved after all these years.    She explained how the native people have adapted to all that has been dealt them over the years and their tenacity and resolve to do so is what has allowed them to continue to flourish today.  

 As their numbers continue to grow year by year the native people are working together on the issues that they continue to face such as treaty rights and the protection of their tribal governments and sovereignty.      Their survival success story has been based on their cultural beliefs and traditions that have remained with the native people since the beginning of time.    Ms. Mankiller stressed the importance of maintaining a sense of interdependence and responsibility for one another.     She stressed the importance of living by a set of certain values that has been passed down from generation to generation through the oral histories of their elders.    She passed on what had been told to her by a Cherokee elder about important traits a person should possess.   Those include being respectful to others, respecting yourself, keeping your word and helping other people.

 My take away from the Mankiller video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVLgwpHSYv0)

 reaffirms what I have been learning about native people in that the values taught and followed by the native people are ones that I should strive to follow.    I admire these qualities that are used in every facet of their lives including their personal and their business relationships.    The perspective I have gained from listening to people like Wilma Mankiller has changed the way I view things in my own life now and certainly the way I think of Native Americans.     It's a lesson we probably all can learn from!