"Wilma Mankiller was a force to be reckoned, but she was a force that made a difference for her people in a changing world.

Mankiller, who served as principal chief for 10 years, died Tuesday from pancreatic cancer. She was 64.

Mankiller came to national and international prominence in 1985, when she became principal chief. It was a time when Native American tribes were beginning to challenge subservience to federal and state governments, and assert their own powers.

She was made for that role. As accounts of her life point out, during her tenure, Cherokee membership increased from 55,000 to 170,000 and the nation’s budget and employment nearly doubled."

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Editorial: Former chief leaves great legacy (The Muskogee Phoenix 4/7)

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