Across Indian Country, more and more women are leading their tribes but they still face sexist attitudes and other stereotypes.
Cecilia Fire Thunder, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, was ridiculed by her male opponent for showing her emotions in public. Some women opposed her candidacy and still don't like her.
"It's not that she is a woman that I have a problem with, but I would trust her only if she would be herself as a woman," Marie Randall, an 86-year-old who tried to impeach Fire Thunder, told The New York Times.
Wilma Mankiller was the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. "I remember people saying that I wasn't � quote, unquote � chief material," she recalled one man as saying. "If we elect a woman," the man said, according to Mankiller, "we'll be the laughing stock of all tribes."
That was in 1985. Today, 133 tribes have women tribal leaders, according to the National Congress of American Indians. In the past-quarter century, the number of women tribal leaders has doubled, The Times said.
Get the Story:
As Tribal Leaders, Women Still Fight Old Views
(The New York Times 2/4)
pwnyt
Related Stories:
Fire Thunder removal hearing
delayed a second time (12/20)
Opinion:
The life story of Cecilia Fire Thunder (12/19)
Fire Thunder removal hearing delayed a week
(12/13)
White Earth chairwoman sees success,
setbacks (11/14) Fire Thunder credits women for Pine Ridge
victory (11/08)
Fire Thunder calls
election at Pine Ridge symbolic (11/4)
Cecilia Fire Thunder declared winner at Pine Ridge
(11/3)
Harjo: Pine Ridge election about
character (10/29)
Vizenor finally sworn in as White Earth Band
chair (07/14)
Women tribal leaders making history in
Arizona (07/06)
Election pits convict against Harvard
graduate (06/07)
National
Women tribal leaders confront sexism, stereotypes
Monday, February 6, 2006
Stay Connected
Contact Us
indianz@indianz.com202 630 8439 (THEZ)
Search
Top Stories
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
More Stories
Sandia Pueblo leaders mum on Abramoff relationship Cuts to Indian programs feared as Bush rolls out budget
News Archive
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000