Wilma Mankiller

The descendant of Cherokee ancestors who had been forced to walk the Trail of Tears, Wilma Mankiller experienced her own forced removal from the land she grew up on as a child. As she got older and learned more about the injustices her people had faced, she dedicated her life to instilling pride in Native heritage and reclaiming Native rights. She went on to become the first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. 

Wilma faced many hardships in her life, including breaking both of her legs in a car accident. After the car accident, Wilma was able to persist because she “focused on ‘being of good mind’ as Cherokee elders teach using this experience as something to move forward from in a positive way.” Despite her injuries, Wilma never gave up and continued to help the Cherokee people. Wilma used her grant-writing abilities to help her community get “indoor plumbing for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms in every home, so residents could stop hauling water to use for everything.” Through community projects, Wilma was able “to bring Cherokee people together and address their own challenges.” 

Wilma recognized the importance of writing about the Cherokee Nation and other tribal societies. Most written material about the Cherokee nation was not written by the Cherokee people. Wilma recognized that “the voices of our grandmothers are silenced by most of the written history of our people.” This caused Wilma to write and speak about the Cherokee Nation and the contributions of its members. For Wilma’s contribution to society, President Clinton gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

To help keep readers engaged, Wilma Mankiller has short chapters and black-and-white illustrations that appear every three to five pages. However, some readers will have difficulty with the advanced vocabulary and complex sentences. The book ends by listing ways you can persist, just like Wilma. For example, “Visit with your family and elders. Listen to their stories. Create stories of your own.” 

Wilma left a lasting legacy by helping improve the lives of all Cherokee. Her story teaches Cherokee history and will motivate readers to make an impact on their community. Readers who are interested in learning more about Cherokee history should also read Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story by Andrea L. Rogers. You can also learn about another inspirational Indigenous woman by reading She Persisted: Maria Tallchief by Christine Day. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• “In 1838, the US government rounded up Cherokee people like Pearl’s ancestors at gunpoint to force them to move west. . . Over four thousand Cherokee young and old—died during the roundup before the forced march and also along the way.” 
• Wilma was in a car accident and “suffered a lot of injuries—two broken legs, many broken ribs, and a crushed face.” The driver of the other car died.

Drugs and Alcohol  

• When Wilma was diagnosed with a disease, “Wilma required surgery—followed by strong medicine to help her body recover.” 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• When Wilma died, “Indigenous leaders across the planet lit fires to help Wilma on her journey home to become an ancestor.”