During history, most women who were considered great were the ones that fought back in the world but how come you don’t hear much about native women making history. Through the year’s women were known as the person who took care of the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. There isn’t a lot that is different between other races of women and native women. As one article says native women were more than just mothers of the tribes’ children. They were builders, warriors, farmers, and craftswomen. Their strength was essential to the survival of the tribe. Depending on the tribe most women oversaw gathering materials, building homes for the tribe and themselves to live in. They were typically known that they were needed to survive …show more content…
And Why aren’t more people talking about how they changed the path for the future tribe members? To go through these questions, I am going to tell you about three very important women who have made the world better for young women. In doing so I hope to make the point across that women shouldn’t be taken advantage of and we are much stronger than we seem.
You might be wondering who was Wilma Mankiller and why is she important? Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and was a descendent from a long line of full-blood Cherokee Indians. Wilma lived in Oklahoma through her teens until her family moved to San Francisco.
This move was part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs relocation policy. During this act, it was an effort to lure Native Americans off reservations and into cities with the promise of work. As you can imagine most promises were not kept, most didn’t find a job and those who had a job there were lower economic ladder. Over the years there is an estimated total of 750,000 Native Americans migrated to the cities between 1950 and 1980. (PBS, …show more content…
In 1985 she was named the principal chief for their nation and becoming the first woman to serve as chief. She remained in the job for two full terms winning the elections in 1987 and 1991. During her time, as chief she was credited with expanding social service programs for the people. Wilma received the presidential medal of freedom for her contribution in 1998. Throughout her time in office she grew the Cherokee nation from 55,000 to 156,000 tribal citizens. She later died on April 6, 2010 at the age of 64. When she passed away President Barack Obama had this to say about her legacy: “As the Cherokee Nation’s first female chief, she transformed the nation-to-nation relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the federal government, and served as an inspiration to women in Indian Country and across America. Her legacy will continue to encourage and motivate all who carry on her