Wilma Mankiller

The source reviewed was an interview of Wilma Mankiller by the University of Arizona on September 29, 2008. Wilma Mankiller was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma who was the first female ever-elected Principal Chief of this nation. Mrs. Mankiller has done a lot of work to help develop the Cherokee Nation. She addresses that issues require change on a personal individual level as well as on a political policy making level. The interview was trying to convey the perspective of Native Americans, in particular Cherokee citizens. These web resources were selected to give a non-white, authentic Native American viewpoint of the issues that Natives are dealing with. A quality academic website draws upon factual information as well as gives different perspectives of issues. I believe a quality academic website also attempts to remove personal bias from subjects and tries to be as transparent as possible. I think the purpose of creating a blog is to be able to process, reflect and communicate the information learned. It also is good practice for learning to convey these important current issues; I feel that if this information is passed on to friends and relatives it will be a great help in raising awareness. As Mrs. Mankiller stated, there is a great degree of unawareness of Native American history and present condition on levels ranging from the general public to the Congressional political level. In raising awareness on at the personal level through a blog or though conversation, it can help initiate change on a grassroots level, as Mrs. Mankiller states, this is an excellent manner for initiating change.

Resources:

Mankiller, Wilma. "Governance, Leadership, and the Cherokee Nation." Leading Native Nations interview series. Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, University of Arizona. Tucson, Arizona. September 29, 2008. Interview.

Sorry i forgot my source

Hartman, susan, Beloved Women The Political Lives Of  LaDonna Harris And Wilma Mankiller,American Historical Review, June 2009

Thank you 

Wilma Mankiller

I thought i would share some details about the early life and some other things of Wilma Mankiller. Wilma was born in Northeastern Oklahoma to a white mother and a Cherokee father. However at the age of ten she moved to the San Francisco area due to a government relocation program where she would live for another two decades. During this time in California she participated in Native protests regarding land rights.By the mid 70's she also participated in community development projects for the Cherokee nation.By 1983 she was deputy chief. Mankiller was a well known feminist that was at times in the center of american politics and provocative discussion related to women empowerment.However Mankiller never criticized the lives of Native women before white contact calling their lives duties due to gender roles and that challenging gender constructs at such a time would have been bad, but times have changed. She died in 2010.

                                                                               

Disallusioned, time is circular

                                        We Weren’t First! 

     

(openlibrary.org)

First Nations individuals are all too familiar with other cultures thinking they are doing something for the first time in history, for example, electing a national leader who happens to be a woman, when in actuality, other cultures, specifically First Nations cultures, have already done so.  Wilma Mankiller, a world renowned indigenous leader, is the late and former Chief of the Cherokee Nation, and is an absolutely magnificent example of a primary source when discussing the trails, tribulations and accomplishments of the First Nations. (Mankiller, 2008)  As an ideal example and resource, Mankiller provides in depth knowledge and insight regarding life for a Native Person in today’s modern day and age, and she does so with the help of Arizona University and together they have compiled footage of one interviewing Mankiller and discussing how she has and encourages others to partake in politics and make the world what you want it to be.  Through this method of having direct dialogue with an individual such as Mankiller, the viewer is offered a window into the perspective of a wise, well-spoken and educated person who can illustrate their thought patterns and their views on happenings and provide greater depth than a history book retell.   When being asked about political process and how the development of a committee that oversees the growth and development of the constitution for the Cherokee Nation, Mankiller responds “So again, the lesson I think from our experiences is to have broad participation and take it very slowly and have a great deal of discussion before putting it up for a vote.” (Mankiller, 2008)  This shows that governing a group of people is a process that involves a lot of thought and patience; furthermore, she suggests that the key to working with the people, is to have a constitution that grows with the people.  The committee she is referring to allows for changes and alterations and interpretations to come into play with changing times and a changing populace.  This is actually in the U.S. constitution as well, but our political leaders obviously do not wish to see it, otherwise gay marriage would have not even been questioned.

Sources:

Mankiller, Wilma. "Governance, Leadership, and the Cherokee Nation." Leading Native Nations interview series. Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, University of Arizona. Tucson, Arizona. September 29, 2008. Interview.

m5 blog

After watching the video, which took about an hour to load, I found the video to be very intriguing. As the first Female Cherokee tribal leader can I just point out the elephant in the room that her name is mankiller?  I found it interesting that she didn’t actually get voted into the position but took over the role in 1985 when Chief Ross Swimmer became director of native affairs and stepped down. She also concluded that his whole tribal council opposed her. I went into this video thinking that a huge breakthrough for women’s rights had touched the native community, but in fact it fell into her hands after 82 percent of the votes made her deputy chief or second in command. Although the fact that they rest of the counsel did not oppose the position for ten years is a sign of equality within the sovereign government. I also love the fact that President Clinton gave her the highest civilian honor awarded in America and she accepted it. That is a testament to the bond that is slowly growing between two cultures in within the same country. During expansion Natives opposed becoming civilians of a U.S. Government, so for a Native Chief to be given that award with that title is groundbreaking in my eyes. As we learned this term President Clinton was known for his Native policies, which I’m sure helped the process. What I believe made her a successful leader was her remarks to running a tribe; “"I think the best advice I would give is to develop teams of interdisciplinary teams of people to help you in problem-solving; don’t try to do it by yourself”. That is very smart thinking when you have everyone watching you because you have changed the history of your people. It explains why she was leader for 10 years.

Mankiller, Wilma. "Governance, Leadership, and the Cherokee Nation." Leading Native Nations interview series. Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, University of Arizona. Tucson, Arizona. September 29, 2008. Interview.

Chief Wilma Mankiller – Icon and Advocate of the Cherokee Nation

Chief Wilma Mankiller: Icon and Advocate of the Cherokee Nation

By: Jeremy Valdes-Riccardi

     Throughout her tenure as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller dedicated her career to the advocacy, preservation, and prosperity of her people. Her call to action for the recognition of the inherent sovereign rights of indigenous people throughout North America garnered much respect and attention from world leaders and through her efforts served to create awareness and advocacy for Native Americans living today.

     Born on November 18^th, 1945 as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Mankiller cemented her place in American history by becoming the first female elected chieftain of a major Native American tribe serving from 1985 to 1995. Notably, her achievements include advocating for the preservation of Cherokee lands and sovereignty, improving healthcare and education on reservations, and being credited with more than doubling tribal enrollment throughout her ten year service as Principal Chieftain.

     In her 2008 “Leading Native Nations” interview with the renowned Native Nations Institute (NNI), Mankiller stressed the importance of local community involvement, both Native and non-native, and how in order to help build Native communities up in a positive light the essential ground works to thrive must be laid in the active and conceptualized understanding of the culture, heritage, and community that one is fighting for.

     “The basic work first, I think, is working with people and making sure that people trust their own thinking first and have a strong sense of self-efficacy and believe in themselves,” explained Mankiller. “Once they believe in themselves and have that strong sense then they can do anything.”

     

Wilma Mankiller receiving the Presidential Medal of Honor

     During her service as Principal Chieftain, and throughout the rest of her life, Mankiller’s accolades and dedication to the advancement of indigenous communities earned her much respect as a leader and advocate of her people and community, and eventually led to her receiving the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1998.

     

     Mankiller’s vision of rebuilding Native nations and equipping those communities with the tools necessary to thrive is a testament to her life as a leader, voice, and icon of the Cherokee Nation and would inspire countless generations, Native and non-native, to advocate for the advancement of indigenous people by understanding the history and direction of Native American Communities. “If they want to see our future they just simply need to look at our past to believe in ourselves, to believe in our intellectual ability, to believe in our skills, to believe in our ability to think up solutions to our own problems,” explained Mankiller. “I think that is critical to our survival."

Mankiller standing in front of the seal of the
Cherokee Nation

     Wilma Mankiller continued to fight for the advancement of the Cherokee Nation and other indigenous tribes throughout North America until her death on April 6^th, 2010. She left behind a legacy of activism and the desire for a positive society in which the contributions of Native Americans are not only acknowledged but celebrated. Her legacy is a testament to the endurance of the human spirit and a reminder to all that in order to garner the recognition one feels they deserve, a person must be willing to take a stand and lead the path for others to follow in order to truly change the world and ensure that the mistakes of the past are learned from and never repeated.

Sources:

"Wilma Mankiller: Governance, Leadership and the Cherokee Nation." Indigenous Governance Database. https://nnidatabase.org/video/wilma-mankiller-governance-leadership-and-cherokee-nation.

"Wilma Mankiller, the Inspiring First Woman Cherokee Chief.". http://www.aauw.org/2013/11/20/wilma-mankiller/.

Wilma Mankiller- a advocate for the Cherokee Nation

              I was directed to watch an interview by a women by the name of Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010).  To tell you the truth I was hesitant to watch anything with a title of Mankiller in it.  However, what i saw was a strong women who was the first elected female Chief of the Cherokee Nation who helped led her tribe during their transition to a sovereign nation.  I heard from a women who faced many obstacles in her career that the foundation of any leader is caring about the people, and involving the whole family instead of just a selected few.                                                                                                                                                                                  What I found the most interesting about Wilma Mankiller is that she is not full blooded Cherokee.  Her father Charley was, however her mother Clara was Dutch-Irish.  Yet, Wilma felt that she was not hindered by that status, and was still able to prove her willingness to improve the Cherokee Nation.  After reading so much literature on preserving blood lines in order to keep the Native American tribes pure, it is amazing that she was able to go so far and show everyone that it is a product of heart and soul rather than blood that makes you a part of the tribe.                                                                                        

              Wilma Mankiller status of an inspiration women was set in ‘stone’ when in 1993 she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.  In 1998, President Clinton awarded Wilma Mankiller the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her dedication to furthering Native American Communities.  Well-deserved Mrs. Wilma!

 

 

 

 

"Wilma Mankiller: Governance, Leadership and the Cherokee Nation." Wilma Mankiller: Governance, Leadership and the Cherokee Nation. Indigenous Governance Database, the University of Arizona, 29 Sept. 2008. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <https://nnidatabase.org/video/wilma-mankiller-governance-leadership-and-cherokee-nation>.

 

Editors, Biography.com. The Biography.com website. 2016. article. 27 04 2016. <http://www.biography.com/people/wilma-mankiller-214109 >.

Wilma Mankiller

This interview with Wilma Mankiller spoke volumes for me as she talks of morals that I wish still existed more frequently in the society of today. Communities really do need a sense of interdependence and I feel that is one thing that many of the white communities no longer possess. My girlfriend's dad talks of times where he could walk two houses down to the neighbors to get sugar in exchange for a dozen eggs that he had just recovered from the chicken coop. Nowadays, I would walk to the neighbors and ask for such an exchange and my neighbor would look at me like I am crazy. I couldn't say it any better than when Wilma Mankiller states that for a community or nation to prosper, the people truly have to take care of each other (Mankiller, 2008).

I also like how she talks of the concept that revitalization only is possible from the inside out. Those that know the community from the inside have to begin the process, not saying that they can't reach outside for resources and assistance, but it has to be initiated from behind the lines (Mankiller, 2008). This idea says a lot to me as I want my community to change to the way it used to be and even though I try to help my neighbors and offer support when I can and need be, I feel that I need to start being an advocate as well. I can't change it all by myself, but I can talk to others who will in turn talk to others and maybe just maybe someday I will see change and if I don't at least my children may see change.

The last idea that I want to address is that she talks of the qualities of a good leader. An effective and great leader will work with the people; teamwork is of the essence, will stay focused, and should conduct themselves in a manner that is right and respectful (Mankiller, 2008). In my current society, we do not all work together as we all have different political affiliations that guide many of our decisions. Where Wilma Mankiller talks of finding common ground in order to develop a strong society, my country has yet to do so (Mankiller, 2008). Instead, the parties find ways to knock other parties and beliefs down so that they can surpass the political candidates running for the other parties. Not only do you see the general populous doing this, but the running mates as well. Just in the news recently, the democrat party was knocking the republican party for the fact that Donald Trump said 711 instead of 911 in one of his speech conferences. Just as the Native Americans have had to rebuild time and time again due to the white man, I feel that it is time for the white man to look at himself and think about what our fore fathers wanted when they started the country. My belief is that we have strayed away from what their initial intentions were.

Mankiller, W. (2008). Wilma Mankiller: Governance, Leadership, and the Cherokee Nation. Retrieved from https://nnidatabase.org/video/wilma-mankiller-governance-leadership-and-cherokee-nation 

M5 Academic blog

The source that I reviewed for this blog was an interview of Wilma Mankiller that was conducted by the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy in 2008. The perspective of the interview to me is the strength, resilience and community that the Cherokee people continue to possess despite all the challenges they have faced. I was not aware of the population size of the Cherokee nation, over 250,000, in any group that large social challenges will be present and Mankiller speaks to the need for people to take action not wait for government assistance to improve their lives.

I believe that this web resource was selected because of the many achievements of the interviewee and her professional manner of presenting the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Wilma Mankiller was the first female elected Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and served in many high level tribal positions during a time of transition to a more sovereign nation. A quality academic website presents ideas in a manner that is conducive to learning and does not attempt to portray opinion as facts. The facts that are presented should be verifiable by outside sources for a quality academic site. I believe that this site is quality, facts such as the transfer of services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Cherokee Nation can be verified by outside sources.

It is my opinion that the purpose of the Native American blog was to allow a more personal dialog about the topics that are being taught in class. The ability to express ideas and opinions is better suited to using a blog rather than a classroom forum. Classrooms are focused on facts and are not conducive to discussions of a personal nature.

                                                       
                                                                 Work Cited

Mankiller, Wilma. "Governance, Leadership, and the Cherokee Nation." Leading                     Native  Nations interview series. Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, University of Arizona. Tucson, Arizona. September 29, 2008. Interview.

M5 Academic Journal Blog: Chief Wilma Mankiller

Wilma Mankiller

The focus of this M5 Academic Journal Blog is the influential female Chief Wilma Mankiller. Chief Wilma Mankiller was the first female principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation currently boasts close to 300,000 citizens, making it the largest federally recognized Cherokee tribe in America. Chief Mankiller served as principle Chief for a decade (1985-1995) and was responsible for nearly tripling the population through the success of her Cherokee Nation Community Development Department. In 1998 President Bill Clinton awarded Chief Mankiller the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her dedicated work improving indigenous communities. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest award that can be bestowed on a civilian. She is also the author of the best-selling book Mankiller: A Chief and Her People. After she stepped down as principal Chief she remained heavily involved in development efforts at a community level until her passing in 2010.

            Wilma Mankiller believed heavily in the concepts of sovereignty and community responsibility. She defined sovereignty for native nations as the inherent human right to determine your own destiny. That entails control over tangible things such as your own lands, resources, and assets, as well as intangible things like the vision for your future. She believed it was essential for a community to be sovereign if it ever wanted any hope to be healthy and productive.

            Mankiller learned the importance of support from within a community while growing up in the impoverished Hunter’s Point housing projects in San Francisco. Her family was moved there from Oklahoma as part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs relocation program. Since then she championed the need for a community to fix itself from within. She believed that the rebuilding of native nations must emanate from grassroots instead of top-down to be successful. She believed that it was essential to include regular families in the conversation instead of only tribal leaders in order to get a better picture overall. She also believed that the best way to help people is to provide them the means to help themselves. This is essentially the old saying, “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.” In order to accomplish this she advocated the pairing of members of the local populous (who are experts in their specific community) with external resources and experts in other areas that provide a benefit to the community.

            Wilma Mankiller firmly believed that things would get better for the indigenous people of America. She cited the incredible resilience that her nation, the Cherokees, have demonstrated throughout history. She believed that no matter what the world threw at the Cherokee, they would be able to weather it and persevere. Chief Wilma Mankiller felt that there was nowhere else to go but up. She serves as an inspiration to us all and will live on through the legacy of her work.

Sources:

"Wilma Mankiller: Governance, Leadership and the Cherokee Nation." Wilma Mankiller: Governance, Leadership and the Cherokee Nation. Indigenous Governance Database, the University of Arizona, 29 Sept. 2008. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <https://nnidatabase.org/video/wilma-mankiller-governance-leadership-and-cherokee-nation>.

"Wilma Mankiller." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.biography.com/people/wilma-mankiller-214109>.