Beloved Woman.
“A ‘Beloved Woman’ was the leader of the women’s group that was governing the Cherokee through the Trail of Tears. There was no longer a ‘Beloved Woman’ when the Cherokee came to Oklahoma, but there was a tradition of matriarchy that survived. I always thought that Wilma Mankiller was the modern incarnation of the traditional Cherokee ‘Beloved Woman.”
- Native American Law pioneer, Rennard Strickland
The Wilma Mankiller Quarter is the third coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program.
Wilma’s Poetry
These poems are from one of the “Real People,” Cherokee Chief and change maker, Wilma Mankiller. Making poetry is demanding as the wind as it carves sky. Breath, when shaped by poetry, gives the soul a place to speak and sing. With the publication of Mankiller’s poems we are reminded of her presence when she walked among us. Her words are tracks made into songs on paper that still speak through the years of a life, a time, a generation. - Joy Harjo
Waiting for May
Cool spring days keep me huddled
by a warm stove and i
long to let
my feet touch the dirt
of the Earth’s calm ways
so I can be reminded again of
just why we are here
Wilma Mankiller, 1983
“Gadugi, or working collectively for the common good, is an abiding attribute of Cherokee culture.”
- Wilma Mankiller
Resources
We’ve collected a variety of resources to help you learn more about Wilma Mankiller, other Indigenous poets, the Cherokee Nation, and some of the important issues about which Wilma cared deeply. From children’s books and adult books, to documentaries, interviews, and articles, there’s something for all ages.
Wilma’s Stories
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Wilma's Life In Her Words
My early childhood in an isolated, predominately Cherokee community shaped the way I view the world. I learned a lot about community and reciprocity by observing how our extended family and neighbours depended on one another for support and survival.
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The Way Home
The question I am asked most frequently is why I remain such a positive person, after surviving breast cancer, lymphoma, dialysis, two kidney transplants, and systemic myasthenia gravis. The answer is simple: I am Cherokee, and I am a woman.
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Womanhood
My Great-Aunt Maggie Gourd was a very good storyteller who believed in the power of dreams. She once told us about a dream in which a large animal-a bull or a buffalo-tried to break into her house by repeatedly ramming her front door.
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Spirituality
When Cherokee people lived in our old country in the Southeast, there was little ambiguity about what it meant to be a good person. Everyone had clearly defined roles, and the rules of conduct governing right and correct actions were understood.