Wilma Mankiller

Wilma Mankiller was born on November 18, 1945. She was the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation. In 1983 she was elected deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation. In 1985 the principle chief Ross Swimmer resigned making Wilma Mankiller the principle chief. She was elected principle chief in 1987 and re-elected in 1991. She remained principle chief until she resigned in 1995 due to health problems. The Cherokee Nation was male dominated. Wilma Mankiller helped to create a balance between the genders. She also helped the Cherokee nation grow from 55,000 to 156,000 during her three terms as chief principle.

She helped contribute to eradicate oppression by show the male dominated Cherokee Nation that women can also tribute to their cause. She got the nation to treat women and men as equal and work together. This helped open doors for other women because it showed the Cherokee Nation women can also pull their own wait for the common good of the Cherokee Nation.

I have never heard of Wilma Mankiller until reading about her for this blog. I think she can teach me not to under estimate any women. They want the same thing men want and try to work for the common good. Working together would make the fight easier.