Native American Authors
Wilma Mankiller
Cherokee
Wilma Mankiller was born in Oklahoma but was moved with her family in a governmental relocation to California as a young girl. She worked in educational programs for the Pit River Tribe in California, and later moved back to her family's ancestral lands in Oklahoma. In 1987, Wilma Mankiller was the first Cherokee woman to be elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the second largest tribe in the United States. Her autobiography describes her life and the experiences that led up to her election as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Awards and Honors
American Indian Woman of the Year, 1986Woman of the Year, Ms. Magazine, 1987
John W. Gardner Leadership Award, Independent Sector, 1988
Indian Health Service Award, U.S. Public Health Service, 1989
OSU Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Service Award, 1990
Member of the National Women's Hall of Fame
(Photo courtesy of Facts on File, American Historical Images on File: The Native American Experience )
Online resources by or about Wilma Mankiller:
Rebuilding the Cherokee NationAuthor: Wilma Mankiller
Type: etext
Description: Contains the text of a speech given by Mankiller in 1993 at Sweet Briar College.
URL: http://gos.sbc.edu/m/mankiller.html
Wilma Mankiller former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Author: Powersource Gallery /http://www.powersource.com
Type: authorbio
Description: Biography of Wilma Mankiller from Power Source Gallery.
URL: http://www.powersource.com/gallery/people/wilma.html
Wilma Mankiller
Author: The National Women's Hall of Fame
Type: authorbio
Description: A short profile of Mankiller from the National Women's Hall of Fame.
URL: http://www.greatwomen.org/profs/mankiller_w.php
Wilma Mankiller Talks Straight but Makes Mischief, too
Author: Mark Trahant
Type: authorbio
Description: An article about Wilma Mankiller from the 6/3/00 issue of Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America.
URL: http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues00/Co06032000/CO_06032000_Mankiller.htm
Books by Wilma Mankiller:
Mankiller, Wilma. A Chief and Her PeopleNew York : St. Martin's Press, 1993.
Genre: Autobiography
ISBN: 0312098685
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