Wilma Mankiller
1945 – 2010

Wilma Mankiller

Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1945–2010)

autobiographertraditional leader or chiefauthorwriterpoet
Born
1945-11-18, Tahlequah
Died
2010-04-06
Birthplace state
Oklahoma

Biography

Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1945 and served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the first woman elected to that position. She worked as a social worker in the early 1970s, concentrating on children's issues, and participated in the Occupation of Alcatraz and in land and compensation struggles with the Pit River Tribe. She was also an author, writer, and poet. Mankiller died in 2010.

Occupation

Wilma Mankiller is recorded as a autobiographer, a traditional leader or chief, a author, a writer and a poet, born in Oklahoma (1945–2010).

Connections to Oklahoma

Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1945. Explore other notable figures from Oklahoma, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Wilma Mankiller

Who was Wilma Mankiller?
Wilma Mankiller was Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1945–2010), born in Oklahoma (1945 – 2010).
When and where was Wilma Mankiller born?
Wilma Mankiller was born on 1945-11-18 in Tahlequah.
When did Wilma Mankiller die?
Wilma died on 2010-04-06.
What was Wilma Mankiller known for?
Wilma Mankiller is recorded as a autobiographer, a traditional leader or chief, a author, a writer and a poet.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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