Indianz.Com > News > Chuck Hoskin: Wilma Mankiller’s legacy at Cherokee Nation lives on
US Mint honors national influence of Chief Mankiller
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Cherokee Nation
The late Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller, the first woman elected to serve as chief of the Cherokee Nation, is widely remembered for her courage and resolve.
Those hallmarks are why the U.S. Mint has chosen our tribal nation’s former leader to be featured on quarters starting next year. She’ll join other pioneering women who are being similarly recognized in the American Women Quarters Program, a four-year celebration of the accomplishments made by women leaders to our country.
Chief Mankiller absolutely deserves this prestigious national honor. She did so much to elevate Native American tribes and tribal issues in this country. In an age when elected leadership at the tribal level was dominated by men, Chief Mankiller rose beyond her era’s gender limitations to lead Cherokee Nation. She guided us with strength and diplomacy through a pivotal time when our tribe was stepping into self-governance after decades of suppression by the U.S. government.
Chief Mankiller stood up for tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. She fought for civil justice and equality, and she promoted self-sufficiency among Cherokee people. She was bold in what she expected of the United States government: provide the resources it was obliged to provide, and then get out of the way of the Cherokee Nation so that we could chart our own destiny.
![Wilma Mankiller](https://live.staticflickr.com/3272/2926261927_d7cedf7e78_k.jpg)
We are extremely proud that she is to be forever honored by the American Women Quarters Program, alongside dignitaries like poet Maya Angelou, astronaut Sally Ride, suffrage leader Adelina Otero-Warren and actress Anna May Wong. Strong women have made innumerable positive contributions throughout our country’s history, and Chief Mankiller certainly belongs at the top of any such list.
Famously, Chief Mankiller once said, “Women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.” She did just that as a leader and was an embodiment of pragmatic kindness and perseverance whom history now remembers as one of the greatest leaders of Cherokee Nation and the whole United States.Chuck Hoskin Jr. is the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian tribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from 1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe’s Secretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years.
![Wilma Mankiller - 2022 American Women Quarters Program](https://indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/06/wilmamankillerusmint.jpeg)
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs adds business meeting to schedule
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 6489, H.R. 8942, H.R. 8955 & H.R. 8956
Investigating how the Biden Administration Ignored Cries for Help from Students at Haskell Indian Nations University
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1304, H.R. 3977, H.R. 6599, H.R. 7240, H.R. 8685, H.R.8791, H.R.8920, H.R.8940, H.R.8945, H.R.8949, H.R.8951 & H.R.8953
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Indian Country set for big and busy week on Capitol Hill
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation honors Wilma Mankiller with new park
Native America Calling: President Biden drops out and rethinking community landscaping
Source New Mexico: Republican lawmaker eyes Deb Haaland’s job
Native America Calling: The message from the sacred white buffalo calf
Native America Calling: Making the case for a Republican president
Native talent lands nominations for annual Emmy Awards
Source New Mexico: Tribal leader discusses public safety at Republican convention
TRANSCRIPT: James Crawford, Chairman of Forest County Potawatomi Community, at Republican Convention
VIDEO: James Crawford, Chairman of Forest County Potawatomi Community, at Republican Convention
More Headlines
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 6489, H.R. 8942, H.R. 8955 & H.R. 8956
Investigating how the Biden Administration Ignored Cries for Help from Students at Haskell Indian Nations University
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1304, H.R. 3977, H.R. 6599, H.R. 7240, H.R. 8685, H.R.8791, H.R.8920, H.R.8940, H.R.8945, H.R.8949, H.R.8951 & H.R.8953
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Indian Country set for big and busy week on Capitol Hill
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation honors Wilma Mankiller with new park
Native America Calling: President Biden drops out and rethinking community landscaping
Source New Mexico: Republican lawmaker eyes Deb Haaland’s job
Native America Calling: The message from the sacred white buffalo calf
Native America Calling: Making the case for a Republican president
Native talent lands nominations for annual Emmy Awards
Source New Mexico: Tribal leader discusses public safety at Republican convention
TRANSCRIPT: James Crawford, Chairman of Forest County Potawatomi Community, at Republican Convention
VIDEO: James Crawford, Chairman of Forest County Potawatomi Community, at Republican Convention
More Headlines