Wilma Mankiller, the first woman elected as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, says tribes who hired disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff "went way overboard" with their attempts to gain influence in Washington.

Mankiller said the tribes were only trying to "get on the radar" of members of Congress and the executive branch. "In my discussions with tribal people, they simply thought this was how things were done in Washington, D.C.," she told The Denver Post

But the effort went too far, Mankiller said. She said she hopes Congress will enact curbs on lobbying to prevent future abuses.

Mankiller will be speaking at the Denver Indian Family Resource Center on Wednesday.

Get the Story:
A positive vision for Indians (The Denver Post 2/21)

Relevant Links:
Denver Indian Family Resource Center - http://www.difrc.org

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