Wilma Pearl Mankiller had a life of many achievements and many difficulties. She gained fame as the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.  She also endured many health problems and hit a few brick walls.  Her life has been a popular topic.  This is just one of many biographies, in addition to Mankiller’s autobiography.

 

Born in Oklahoma in 1945 of a white mother and full-blooded Cherokee father, she spent her early years embedded in the Cherokee community. The family moved to California’s Bay Area in 1956.  Wilma stayed for 20 years.  During those decades Wilma married, gave birth to two daughters, got her BA from San Francisco State and became an activist.

 

Her support of the Native American occupation of Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay in 1969-71 was a turning point.  She learned fund raising and organizational skills, realizing that she wanted more out of life than raising her family.  She went to college and eventually divorced her husband, who wanted a more traditional wife.

 

Returning to Oklahoma with her mother and daughters in 1976, she continued her education and became a social worker.  Her skill at grant writing brought lots of federal money to the Cherokees for a wide variety of programs.  This led to her being asked to run as Deputy Principal Chief by the incumbent Principal Chief, who was running for re-election. When he was appointed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1985, Wilma became Principal Chief.