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Mankiller, Wilma
1945 - Born on November 18th in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
1969 - Her concern for Native American issues was ignited when a group of university students occupied Alcatraz Island in order to attract attention to the issues affecting their tribes.
1974 - She divorced her husband after eleven years of marriage when their views of her role continued to widen.
1979 - She enrolled in the nearby University of Arkansas, and upon returning home from class was almost killed in a head-on collision in which one of her best friends who had been driving the other car, was killed.
1980 - She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes varying degrees of weakness in the voluntary muscles of the body.
1985 - Swimmer resigned as chief to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Cherokee law mandated that the deputy chief assume the duties of the former chief.
- She became the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the first female in modern history to lead a major Native American tribe.
1986 - Wilma married long time friend and former director of tribal development, Charlie Soap. Mankiller's love of family and community became a source of strength when again a life threatening illness struck.
- Mankiller's numerous awards include: Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, Woman of the Year, Ms. magazine and John W. Gardner Leadership Award, Independent Sector.
1987 - In the historic tribal elections, Mankiller won the post out-right and brought unprecedented attention to the tribe as a result. "We are a revitalized tribe," said Mankiller,"After every major upheaval, we have been able to gather together as a people and rebuild a community and a government.
1993 - National Women's Hall of Fame.
1969 - Her concern for Native American issues was ignited when a group of university students occupied Alcatraz Island in order to attract attention to the issues affecting their tribes.
1974 - She divorced her husband after eleven years of marriage when their views of her role continued to widen.
1979 - She enrolled in the nearby University of Arkansas, and upon returning home from class was almost killed in a head-on collision in which one of her best friends who had been driving the other car, was killed.
1980 - She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes varying degrees of weakness in the voluntary muscles of the body.
1985 - Swimmer resigned as chief to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Cherokee law mandated that the deputy chief assume the duties of the former chief.
- She became the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the first female in modern history to lead a major Native American tribe.
1986 - Wilma married long time friend and former director of tribal development, Charlie Soap. Mankiller's love of family and community became a source of strength when again a life threatening illness struck.
- Mankiller's numerous awards include: Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, Woman of the Year, Ms. magazine and John W. Gardner Leadership Award, Independent Sector.
1987 - In the historic tribal elections, Mankiller won the post out-right and brought unprecedented attention to the tribe as a result. "We are a revitalized tribe," said Mankiller,"After every major upheaval, we have been able to gather together as a people and rebuild a community and a government.
1993 - National Women's Hall of Fame.
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