Wilma Pearl Mankiller
Wilma Pearl Mankiller was a notable Cherokee leader and activist, born in 1945, whose life was marked by significant contributions to her community and the broader Indigenous rights movement. Her ancestry traces back to the forced relocation of her ancestors during the Trail of Tears in 1838, an event that deeply influenced her connection to her heritage. Mankiller's early life in Oklahoma transitioned to California in the 1950s, where she became involved in Indian activism, particularly during the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz Island, which was a pivotal event for Indigenous rights awareness.
Returning to Oklahoma in 1976, Mankiller dedicated herself to improving the living conditions of rural Cherokee communities. Her efforts led her to become the founding director of the Cherokee Nation Community Development Department in 1981 and, later, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma in 1985. Her leadership style and commitment to community development earned her respect and admiration from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, particularly among women across the United States. In 1993, she published her autobiography, "Mankiller: A Chief and Her People," which highlighted her journey and the challenges faced by Indigenous communities. Mankiller's legacy continues to inspire those advocating for Indigenous rights and empowerment.
Wilma Pearl Mankiller
Native American Leader
- Born: November 18, 1945
- Birthplace: Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- Died: April 6, 2010
- Place of death: Adair County, Oklahoma
Category: Chief
Tribal affiliation: Cherokee
Significance: After taking part in the Indian civil rights movement of the 1960’s and later working to improve conditions among rural Indian communities, Mankiller gained national respect in the 1980’s when she became the first woman to head a major Native American tribe
In 1838, many of Wilma Mankiller’s ancestors were forcibly removed from their tribal home in Tennessee and brought to Oklahoma along what became known as the Trail of Tears. By the time of Mankiller’s birth in 1945, Cherokee communities were firmly rooted in rural Oklahoma. After spending her early childhood at her family home on Mankiller Flats, near Tahlequah, Mankiller and her family moved to California in the 1950’s. During that time, they participated in an effort led by the federal government to relocate Indians to urban areas. In the San Francisco Bay area, Mankiller became acquainted with Indian people from many different parts of the country. She first became devoted to revitalizing tribal communities after joining the Indian activist takeover of Alcatraz Island in 1969. Mankiller worked as a community activist among the Pit River tribe before moving back to her childhood home in Oklahoma with her two daughters in 1976.
In Oklahoma, Mankiller worked to improve conditions in rural communities of the Cherokee. In 1981, she became the founding director of the Cherokee Nation Community Development Department and, in 1985, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Her leadership soon gained her widespread admiration, not only among Indian people but also among non-Indians—particularly women—throughout the United States. In 1993, Mankiller published her autobiography, Mankiller: A Chief and Her People, which she coauthored with Michael Wallis.