[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2535-H2537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF WILMA PEARL MANKILLER
Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1237) honoring the life of Wilma Pearl Mankiller
and expressing condolences of the House of Representatives on her
passing.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1237
Whereas Wilma was born November 18, 1945, at Hastings
Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and had her roots
planted deep in the rural community of Mankiller Flats in
Adair County, Oklahoma, where she spent most of her life;
Whereas at age 10, her family moved to San Francisco as
part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Relocation Program where
she lived for two decades before returning to Oklahoma in
1977;
Whereas upon returning to Oklahoma, Wilma found a job as a
community coordinator at the Cherokee Nation capital and
enrolled in graduate courses at the University of Arkansas in
Fayetteville;
Whereas in 1983 Wilma ran for the office of Deputy Chief
alongside Ross Swimmer, then Principal Chief of the Cherokee
Nation, and the two won the election and took office in
August, 1983;
Whereas on December 5, 1985, Wilma was sworn in to replace
Chief Swimmer as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation,
making her the first female to hold the office;
Whereas Wilma was formally elected to serve as the first
female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1987, and
was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1991;
Whereas during her time as Principal Chief, Wilma focused
on education and health care, overseeing the construction of
new schools, job-training centers, health clinics, community
development, and a award winning housing and water projects
in low-income communities;
Whereas over the course of her three terms, Wilma made
great strides to reinstate the traditional Cherokee culture
and values, especially the role of women, reinvigorating the
Cherokee Nation through community development projects where
men and women work collectively for the common good;
Whereas during Wilma's tenure she transformed the Nation-
to-Nation relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the
Federal Government, met with Presidents Reagan, Bush, and
Clinton to present critical tribal issues, and co-chaired a
national conference between tribal leaders and cabinet
members, which helped facilitate the establishment of an
Office of Indian Justice within the U.S. Department of
Justice;
Whereas upon leaving office Wilma continued her endeavors,
serving on several philanthropic boards, including 12 years
on the board of trustees of the Ford Foundation, 4 years on
the Board of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and 4 years on the
board of the Seventh Generation Fund and the board of the
Freedom Forum and its subsidiary, the Newseum;
Whereas Wilma presented more than 100 lectures on the
challenges facing Native Americans and women in the 21st
century and she served as the Wayne Morse Professor at the
University of Oregon for the fall semester of 2005 where she
taught class on tribal government, law, and life;
Whereas Wilma held Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Yale
University, Dartmouth College, Smith College, Mills College,
Northern Arizona University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma
City University, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa University,
Drury College, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Rhode Island
College, New England University, and Northeastern State
University;
Whereas Wilma held many honors, including the Montgomery
Fellowship, Dartmouth College; The Chubb Fellowship, Timothy
Dwight College, Yale University; San Francisco State
University, Hall of Fame; an Francisco State Alumna of the
Year (1988), International Women of Distinction Award, Alpha
Delta Kappa, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Women's Hall of
Fame, National Women's Hall of Fame, International Women's
Forum Hall of Fame, Minority Business Hall of Fame, and she
was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then
President Bill Clinton for her vision and commitment to a
brighter future for all Americans;
Whereas Wilma published several works, including ``Every
Day is a Good Day'', Fulcrum Publishing 2004, ``Mankiller: A
Chief and Her People'', co-authored, St. Martin's Press 1993,
``A Reader's Companion to the History of Women in the U.S.'',
co-edited, Houghton-Mifflin 1998, and she contributed to many
other publications, including an essay for Native Universe,
the inaugural publication of the National Museum of the
American Indian;
Whereas upon the announcement of her diagnoses in March of
2010, Wilma offered words of inspiration: ``I want my family
and friends to know that I am mentally and spiritually
prepared for this journey; a journey that all human beings
will take at one time or another. I learned a long time ago
that I can't control the challenges the Creator sends my way
but I can control the way I think about them and deal with
them. On balance, I have been blessed with an extraordinarily
rich and wonderful life, filled with incredible experiences.
And I am grateful to have a support team composed of loving
family and friends. I will be spending my time with my family
and close friends and engaging in activities I enjoy. It's
been my privilege to meet and be touched by thousands of
people in my life and I regret not being able to deliver this
message personally to so many of you'';
Whereas Chief Mankiller's final days were not marred by the
impending sorrow of her departure, but glowing reminiscence
of her influence in years past; and
Whereas Chief Mankiller passed away in the morning hours of
April 6, 2010, at her home in rural Adair County, Oklahoma:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses--
(1) gratitude to Wilma Mankiller for her significant
contributions to the Nation, an inspiration to women in
Indian Country and across America, and for leaving a profound
legacy that will continue to encourage and motivate all who
carry on her work; and
(2) deep sorrow at the passing of Chief Mankiller and
condolences to her friends and family, especially her husband
Charlie and two daughters, Gina and Felicia, as well as the
Cherokee Nation and all those who knew her and were touched
by her good works.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
[[Page H2536]]
Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris
Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great
woman, a lady who has been an inspiration to women and also throughout
Indian country, Chief Wilma Pearl Mankiller.
On the morning of April 6, 2010, Chief Wilma Mankiller, the first
female leader of the Cherokee Nation, steward of Native American
cultural traditions, and an advocate for advancing the role of women in
tribal affairs, passed away at her home in rural Adair County,
Oklahoma.
Chief Mankiller was a passionate activist for the continued
enhancement of native peoples and one of the country's most visible
American Indian luminaries. From her birth on November 18, 1945, at the
small Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to her service
as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma celebrated and
nurtured her intense tribal heritage which was deeply rooted in a
connection to the rural community of Mankiller Flats, Adair County,
where she spent a large part of her life.
As an accomplished social activist for Indian prosperity, she devoted
all her energies to the well-being of Native Americans and to expanding
roles for women through her participation in organizations like the
Ford Foundation, the Seventh Generation Fund, and the Freedom Forum.
She also reinstated dialogue between the Cherokee Nation and the
Federal Government, which ultimately helped establish the Office of
Indian Justice.
Wilma received numerous accolades for her tireless efforts at
improving the general welfare of both Indian country and our Nation,
not the least of which was the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to
her by President Bill Clinton.
{time} 1315
Despite all of her great personal accomplishments, Chief Mankiller
desired only ``to be remembered as the person who helped us restore
faith in ourselves.''
To fulfill that wish and to honor her, I have introduced this
resolution in gratitude to Chief Wilma Mankiller for her significant
contributions and service to the Nation. She remains an inspiration to
women in Indian Country and across America, and she leaves behind a
profound legacy which will continue to encourage and to motivate all
who carry on her work.
Finally, I would like to express our deepest condolences on behalf of
the U.S. House of Representatives to her friends and her family,
especially to her husband, Charlie Soap, and to the entire Cherokee
Nation for the loss of this wonderful lady.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. At this time, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).
Mr. COLE. I thank the gentlewoman.
Mr. Speaker, Wilma Mankiller led a remarkable life. As my friend
Congressman Boren so eloquently stated, her beginnings were awfully
humble. Frankly, they didn't get much better for a long time. She
traveled to California, and unlike a lot of Oklahomans, did not find
the prosperity that so many had found, so she returned home and went to
work for the Cherokee Nation. For over a decade, she worked through a
succession of posts of increasing responsibility. Eventually, she
became, of course, the principal chief of the second largest Indian
tribe in America, the first woman to do so and arguably the best leader
the tribe has had since its removal from North Carolina to Oklahoma.
During her tenure as chief, she more than tripled the number of
Cherokees. She doubled tribal employment. She added dozens of programs
in nutrition, social services, education, and cultural awareness.
Frankly, she made the Cherokee Nation even more than it was--a force to
be reckoned with, but a beneficent force, not only in northeast
Oklahoma, not only within the lives of its citizens, but, quite
frankly, in Indian Country and in American politics.
She was recognized for her extraordinary achievements over a
lifetime--honorary degrees, boards and foundations and, of course,
again, as my colleague and friend Mr. Boren mentioned, the highest
civilian award that any American can receive, the Medal of Freedom.
I knew Wilma Mankiller very well. She led a life based on principles.
The first one was just absolute personal integrity. She was one of the
most honest and honorable people I had ever met in my life. The second
was humility. She was the most approachable person you would ever want
to know. She had a total lack of pretension, and she believed very
profoundly in service to others--in service, yes, to her tribe; in
service, yes, to Native Americans; but in service beyond, as a creed
and as a value, that she lived and acted on every single day of her
life.
She was a remarkable person to talk to because she was completely
candid in her conversations, which is very unusual, particularly for a
political figure. If you are chief of the Cherokee Nation, I can assure
you, you are a considerable and skillful politician in your own right.
On many occasions, I remember getting advice, and I remember her
speaking in a very unvarnished way. I can't count the number of times
that I heard her say in speeches when she got up--she loved to speak
truth to power--that she identified herself: either I am or have been
the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. If the United States
Government had had its way, I would never have been a chief; there
would never have been a Cherokee Nation or it would have ended, and
also tribes would have been eliminated. That is where she began her
conversation.
She was a role model, of course, to women and to Native Americans
everywhere, particularly to my mother, who was the first Native
American elected to the State Senate in Oklahoma. She was a close
friend of Chief Mankiller's. Like me, my mother admired her quite
profoundly.
As a leader, she was always principled; she was determined; she was
visionary, but she was supremely practical in her political pursuits.
She was tough; she was shrewd; she was dedicated to the Cherokee
people, and she was dedicated to Native Americans. She was an
extraordinarily fierce defender of the concept of tribal sovereignty.
She understood it in her bones; she advocated it and, frankly, enhanced
it, not only for her own people but for Native Americans everywhere.
Having said that, she was always willing to partner with anyone. It
didn't matter what your point of view was. It didn't matter what your
values were. She was a very devoted Democrat. My mother was a very
fierce Republican. They found common ground again and again on issue
after issue.
In closing, I want to join my friend Mr. Boren in expressing my
profound sympathy to her family, obviously to the great Cherokee Nation
and to Native Americans everywhere. I mean this with all sincerity that
I have not seen her like before in my life. I don't think any of us
will see her like again.
Mr. BOREN. At this time, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from
California (Mr. George Miller).
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I want to thank both of my colleagues from Oklahoma for this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I had the great honor of working with Chief Wilma
Mankiller in my service on the Resources Committee and as Chair of that
committee. She was a magnificent person, and we honor her as one of the
great women in American history. She was all of the things that my
colleagues have said, but when she came through your door, you knew you
were about to do business. She was also very quick to humor and very
often would use humor as well as she would use knowledge in disarming
those who opposed her.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. BOREN. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
[[Page H2537]]
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I had a real opportunity to work
integrally with her on the issues of sovereignty at a time when the
Supreme Court was attacking at that moment some very essential parts of
tribal sovereignty.
I am sorry to hear of her passing; but I have great, great memories
of working with her, of her leadership, of her advocacy, of her
passion, and of her running so true to her values no matter what the
situation. If she couldn't succeed today, she'd be back tomorrow. Very
often, she was.
Thank you again so very much for this resolution, which recognizes
the contributions of this outstanding woman to the history of our
country.
Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, which honors the
life of Wilma Mankiller, and I wish to associate myself with the
remarks of the previous speakers in expressing the condolences of the
House of Representatives on her passing.
There are many of us who did not have the opportunity to meet Wilma
Mankiller. Nonetheless, as we deal with Indian affairs in Congress, all
of us touch some part of the legacy of her accomplishments left to the
great Cherokee Nation and Indian Country.
In a recent article on her death, Cherokee Chief Chad Smith states
that she was a patriot for the Cherokee Nation. In 1998, she received
the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton in
recognition for her success as an Indian leader.
Though Wilma Mankiller is further honored today by the House
resolution, what stands out is the outpouring of grief from the
Cherokee citizens upon hearing the news of her death. I think her
greatest honor is the esteem and respect in which she was held by her
fellow Cherokee people.
I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma for sponsoring this resolution
and for ensuring its consideration on the House floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, just a few closing comments. I have a quote
from the President of the United States, Barack Obama:
``I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Wilma Mankiller
today. 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. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, she was recognized for her vision and commitment to a brighter
future for all Americans. Her legacy will continue to encourage and
motivate all who carry on her work.
``Michelle and I offer our condolences to Wilma's family, especially
her husband, Charlie, and two daughters Gina and Felicia, as well as
the Cherokee Nation, and all those who knew her and were touched by her
good works.''
I would just like to say I knew Wilma as a young boy. I got to meet
Wilma through many festivals and pow-wows with my father when he served
in the U.S. Senate. She was always so kind, and she was always lending
advice to me. Then after I was elected to Congress--and Congressman
Cole was very correct--the term I would say is ``blunt''--she was very
blunt in her political advice. She would call me whenever something
would happen within the Cherokee Nation or here in Congress and would
give me some advice, very direct advice, and she was always right in
her advice. We are going to miss her deeply.
So, in closing, I would ask my colleagues to support this resolution
to honor this great woman.
Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Native American
Caucus, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1237, a
resolution recognizing and honoring the life of Wilma Pearl Mankiller.
Chief Mankiller was an ardent advocate for the Native American
community and an inspiration to the rest of the nation, and I am proud
to support this resolution honoring her.
I would like to thank Congressman Boren for authoring this important
resolution, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Speaker Nancy
Pelosi for their skill and leadership in bringing it to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, Chief Wilma Mankiller inspired Native American women and
girls across the United States when she became principal chief of the
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, the second largest tribe in the United
States. Born November 18, 1945 on family land at Mankiller Flats near
Rocky Mountain, Oklahoma, she attended San Francisco University, where
she became an activist for Native American causes. Chief Mankiller's
political career began when she was elected deputy chief of the
Cherokee Nation in 1983, before becoming principal chief in 1985.
This accomplishment gave her the opportunity and platform to become
an unyielding activist for the continued enhancement of the indigenous
population. She was successful in establishing tribally owned
businesses, such as horticultural operations, improving infrastructure,
and building a hydroelectric facility. In addition to this important
work, she also advocated for Native American and women's issues by
improving federal and tribal negotiations, as well as through her
participation in organizations like the Ford Foundation, the Seventh
Generation Fund, and the Freedom Forum. Because of her tireless efforts
towards improving the general welfare of Native Americans, Chief
Mankiller has received numerous awards, including the Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution
honoring the life and accomplishments of this extraordinary woman. Her
work and dedication have improved the lives of Native Americans across
the country, as well as given Americans across the country a better
understanding of the Native American community.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res.
1237.
Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1237.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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