 |
| Wilma Mankiller |
The Wilma Mankiller video was a clip from a presentation at
a California college where Wilma visited.
She discussed what it is like to an American Indian today, and also
addressed the false notions that many people still have concerning Native
Americans. It was interesting to hear
her speak about all of the different ways in which tribal leaders are chosen by
different tribes. Wilma Mankiller
herself was a Cherokee leader. She
talked about some tribes where the leaders are elected by the people, and others
where a leading body is elected by the people first, and then that body elects
the leading chairperson. One fact that
she brought up in this discussion, that I enjoyed learning, was that in the Onondaga
tribes, to this day, women are in charge of electing a leader and only the
women can take that position away.
What
stuck with me most after listening to Wilma Mankiller’s presentation was when
she spoke about negative thoughts, and how that energy can eventually affect
the person. She was speaking about
values at the time, and how she likes to maintain a positive attitude; without it,
you won’t accomplish anything. I agree
with this point and respect her a lot for not relying on anger to make her
voice heard in this loud world.
 |
| Wilma Mankiller moved to San Francisco when she was young |
I have
really enjoyed learning about contemporary Native Americans through sources
including Wilma Mankiller’s video and Anton Treuer’s book, Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask. Many people, including myself, are too quick
to envision stereotypical or historic versions of different cultures, but never
take the time to learn what those cultures and people have become. It was good to hear it from Wilma, a Native
American, that just because Native Americans drive cars, and don’t wear
buckskin, and listen to ipods, it doesn’t mean that they do not think like
Native Americans anymore. Their tribal
values are still very much a part of who they are. Listening to Wilma Mankiller talk about what
it is like to be an American Indian today was an eye-opening experience that I
hope will stay with me after this course is finished.
Cite: CSU Sonoma. “Wilma Mankiller.” YouTube.com. Online video clip. YouTube, 6 Feb 2008. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVLgwpHSYv0
Treuer, Anton. Everything
You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask. St. Paul: Borealis Books, 2012. Print.
