Wilma Mankiller
was a Cherokee women activist for all Native Americans and was the first female
Cherokee Chief. She fights for the vast range of rights that they deserve and
to set the record straight on 21st century Indian stereotypes. A
goal of Mankiller’s is to preserve tribal culture by embracing many different
aspects of native life such as language, medicine, ceremonies and stories and
supporting the efforts to continue education on the topics. In the video
Mankiller says that preserving this knowledge will give her people a sense of
continuity and help to understand and know their place in the world.
(Mankiller)
Mankiller
encourages tribes’ people to work together in an interdependent way to help all
Native Americans in general gain rights and preserve their history and culture.
Mankiller is realistic in her hopes for Natives and also understands the
challenges of modern day life. Mankiller talks of the importance of staying
connected to one’s home land and values regardless of where or how they live.
She encourages everyone to enter the meetings with a clear and positive mind to
resolve issues without other problems weighing on their mind. Mankiller strives
to show the benefits of the tribal community such as sense of community,
willingness to see positive in problems and the Native ceremonies rather than
to focus on the poverty and run-down buildings that cannot afford to be fixed. Mankiller
wants to present a different kind of truth to those who are only exposed to
mainstream media
Overall Wilma
Mankiller strives to spread knowledge and gain equality for all Native
Americans. However valiant her effort, it will take the effort and banding together
of many groups to bring notoriety and support to the issues she is presenting
and culture she is striving to preserve.
Work Cited
Mankiller, Wilma. "Wilma
Mankiller." YouTube. YouTube, 6 Feb. 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVLgwpHSYv0>.
Illustrations
"Wilma Mankiller, Lead On | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural." Wilma Mankiller, Lead On | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. <http://www.dailyyonder.com/wilma-mankiller-lean/2010/04/14/2693>.
