Former Cherokee Nation chief Wilma Mankiller dies

Source: Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY – Former Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller, one of the nation's most visible American Indian leaders and one of the few women to lead a major tribe, died Tuesday after suffering from cancer and other health problems. She was 64.

Mankiller, whose first taste of federal policy toward Indians came when her family ended up in a housing project after a government relocation project, took Indian issues to the White House and met with three presidents. She earned a reputation for facing conflict head-on.

As the first female chief of the Cherokees, from 1985 to 1995, Mankiller led the tribe in tripling its enrollment, doubling employment and building new health centers and children's programs.

"We feel overwhelmed and lost when we realize she has left us, but we should reflect on what legacy she leaves us," current Cherokee Chief Chad Smith said. "We are better people and a stronger tribal nation because her example of Cherokee leadership, statesmanship, humility, grace, determination and decisiveness."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100406/ap_on_re_us/us_obit_mankiller

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Perhaps the Cherokee Indians know the best way to put this transition into words. In the Cherokee language there is no word for "good-bye"; instead, there is (pronounced Do-nv-da-go-hv-i), meaning "until we meet again."

Fare you well Wilma Mankiller. You have left behind quite a legacy.

Very sorry to hear of her passing this realm.

Until we meet again, Chief Wilma Mankiller.

but very sick.

She did a great deal of good for the Cherokee. This will be her legacy.

I hope she is resting in peace now without all of the horrible pain.

She worked for her people and served them with her vision.

Go easy Chief, and thanks.

You have shown us "The Good Red Road Home"... for all of us to speak The Medicine of Truth directly and uplift our 6 billion plus SouL-Selves who need a little boost of acknowledgment and support....

We Thank You Eternally ....

Chief Mankiller was a force to be reckoned with, especially if you were black and a member of the Cherokee nation!

Know your history... On July 19, 1866, the Cherokee Nation signed a treaty with the United States extending Cherokee citizenship and enfranchisement rights to the freedmen and their descendants. The Dawes Rolls, takes almost 50 years later, were used by the Cherokee Nation to try and get out of their treaty obligation to the Freedmen. Mankiller established the law that limited tribal membership by excluding the Freedmen section of Cherokee Indians listed on the Dawes Rolls, generating the later Cherokee freedmen controversy. Know your history son.

We kick and scream when the United States government breaks its treaty promise to the great indigenous peoples of this land. We should kick and scream and hold the leaders accountable whenever an injustice, like the Freedman have suffered, occurs...

Mankiller was a racist.

http://www.afrigeneas.com/forume/index.cgi?md=read;id=13707

There is a very interesting discussion below.

I wish I knew of her sooner. I hope more is written and told about her. She sounds amazing and glad she was able to help uplift so many others.

I wish you peace in the next world.

I am part Cherokee and have admired Wilma Mankiller for many, many reasons. Countallvotes, I echo your words...

Do-nv-da-go-hv-i

:hi:

I too am part Cherokee. My great great great grandparents were both from Georgia and ended up being relocated to Arkansas territory c. 1840. Well you know the story I'm sure. :grr:

People like Wilma Mankiller did so much for the Cherokee people. I have a little book that she wrote for children back in the 1970s. And to think, she became chief of the Cherokee tribe besides all of the other things she managed to do!



RIP WILMA MANKILLER.

:dem:

is not fully versed in this person's history, I feel a bit ashamed. I dealt with BIA schools for over 12 years in my “day job,” and tried as best I could to understand the needs and struggles of our native citizens. This woman was obviously a great leader. From past readings, I know she was a tough egg...like me.

I hope she has a peaceful and powerful ascension.

RIP Wilma Mankiller.

The family surname, Mankiller, is a traditional Cherokee military rank and is Asgaya-dihi in Cherokee, which is alternatively spelled Outacity or Outacite.

Just FYI.

:kick:

So sad that she is gone from this earth.

It always puzzles me that the republicans who rant against illegal immigration don't see the irony since we stole the nation bit by bit from the origin inhabitants by breaking every agreement with them - but then I remember that those cretins are irony deficient.

Very inspirational! I have the C-Span recording somewhere around here. You can see me walk up to the mic to ask a question but because of time they didn't quite get to me, I always joke that that was my big C-Span debut. It was a wonderful night though, her words are still with me today. RIP, Wilma, you will be missed.

but for the record... She was not the first female chief. Just the first since relocation. Also, this is the western band of the Cherokee.

First Woman to Lead Cherokee Nation Dies

Indian Country Today, Posted: Apr 07, 2010

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. –- Wilma Mankiller, the only woman to hold the title of principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 64, following a battle with stage four pancreatic cancer, according to a report in Indian Country Today. Mankiller spent 12 years in leadership positions within her tribal government, including principal chief from 1985 to 1995. Mankiller’s work as an advocate for native people and women propelled her to the national stage, and in 1998 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, one of many honors she received throughout her career. After retiring from her position as chief, Mankiller remained active by serving on the board of Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations, and as an advisor to educational institutions such as the University of Arizona.

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=29cd6a4431aed88506a273044e2ab6c4