"Wilma Mankiller, a great American Indian leader has walked on. After struggling with metastatic pancreatic cancer, she died at her home April 6 in Adair County, Oklahoma, at the age of 64, surrounded by friends and relatives. I first met Wilma in Portland, Oregon, when I was working as a staff photographer for the daily paper there. Humble and down-to-earth, she seemed more interested in hearing about me and my life as a native journalist working at a mainstream newspaper than in telling me about her accomplishments. But that was how Wilma was. Although I don’t’ see it included in any of the memorial articles, Wilma really liked Motown music. I joined her and a group of women at a Patti Labelle performance in Atlanta during the first Unity: Journalists of Color Conference. I was blown away to see a chief rocking out with the girls. She was a very real woman who saw herself as one of a community. Concerned with others and her community, she was a class act right to end. I will miss you, Wilma, chi migwiich (thanks a lot) for breaking the trail for me and the other American Indian women who follow." Get the Story:
Mary Annette Pember: Wilma Mankiller, Lead On (The Daily Yonder 4/15) Relevant Documents:
House Resolution 1237 | CNO Press Release | White House Statement | DOI Statement Related Stories:
House passes resolution to honor Wilma Pearl Mankiller (4/14)
Dean Chavers: Wilma Mankiller was activist in California (4/14)
Tribute: Wilma Mankiller devoted life to Cherokee Nation (4/14)
Opinion: Wilma Mankiller inspired men, women, children (4/14)
Paul Chaat Smith: Wilma Pearl Mankiller's trail of triumph (4/12)
Joplin Globe: Wilma Mankiller was a truly inspiring leader (4/12)
Opinion: Mankiller's death a huge loss for Indian Country (4/12)
Johnny Flynn: Wilma Mankiller, the legendary Indian leader (4/9)
ICT Editorial: Wilma Mankiller a woman of undaunted spirit (4/9)
VOA: Remembering Wilma Mankiller, former Cherokee chief (4/9)
Sue Masten: Wilma Mankiller stood strong for tribal nations (4/8)
Details for Wilma Mankiller memorial on Saturday, April 10 (4/8)
NPR: Remembering Wilma Mankiller, former Cherokee chief (4/8)
Nation mourns loss of Wilma Mankiller, ex-Cherokee chief (4/7)
Tulsa World: Wilma Mankiller led Cherokees to prominence (4/7)
Muskogee Phoenix: Wilma Mankiller leaves a great legacy (4/7)
Wilma Mankiller, former Cherokee Nation chief, passes on (4/6)
Former Cherokee chief Mankiller diagnosed with cancer (4/3)