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Wilma Mankiller
Valerie Red-Horse (Director) · CC BY 4.0
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Wilma Mankiller

Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1945–2010)

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Wilma Pearl Mankiller was a Native American activist, social worker, community developer and the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, she lived on her family's allotment in Adair County, Oklahoma, until the age of 11, when her family relocated to San Francisco as part of a federal government program to urbanize Indigenous Americans. After high school, she married a well-to-do Ecuadorian and raised two daughters. Inspired by the social and political movements of the 1960s, Mankiller became involved in the Occupation of Alcatraz and later participated in the land and compensation struggles with the Pit River Tribe. For five years in the early 1970s, she was employed as a social worker, focusing mainly on children's issues.

Quick facts

Born
wd
Place of birth
Tahlequah wd
Died
wd
Place of death
Adair County wd
Citizenship
United States wd
Occupation
writer, traditional leader or chief, autobiographer, poet, author wd
Political party
Democratic Party wd
Education
Skyline College, San Francisco State University wd

Positions held wd

  • Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1985–1995)

Awards wd

  • National Women's Hall of Fame (1993)
  • National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
  • Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame (1986)
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom (1998)
  • Humanitarian of the Year (1986)
  • Elizabeth Blackwell Award (1996)

Questions

When was Wilma Mankiller born?
Wilma Mankiller was born on 18 November 1945 in Tahlequah.
What positions has Wilma Mankiller held?
Positions held by Wilma Mankiller include: Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1985–1995).
Where did Wilma Mankiller study?
Wilma Mankiller was educated at Skyline College, San Francisco State University.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (English): Wilma Mankiller · CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Wikidata item Q2327358 · CC0 1.0
  3. Image: Wilma Headshot.png by Valerie Red-Horse (Director) (CC BY 4.0)

Last updated · facts checked 6 November 2026

Cite this page

"Wilma Mankiller". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/wilma-mankiller. Retrieved 6 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Wilma Mankiller, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Wilma Headshot.png — Valerie Red-Horse (Director), CC BY 4.0.

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