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.