CHEROKEE LEADER - WILMANKILLER

SHE WAS ELECTED AS 1ST LEADER WOMAN CHIEF OF LARGEST TRIBE IN US IN 1987. HER SURENAME IS AN ANCIENT TITLE GIVEN TO A PERSON WHO WATCHES OVER A CHEROKEE VILLAGE. EARLY ON SHE WAS FROM A TIGHT COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. SHE SAW PEOPLE HELPING EACH OTHER SHE DREW ON LESSONS FROM HER YOUTH AND NOT BEING SELF ABSORBED. HE DREW ON LESSONS FROM HER YOUTH TO GUIDE HER NATION. WHILE IN OFFICE THE TRIBAL ENROLLMENT EXPANDED, EMPLOYMENT DOUBLED AND THERE WERE NEW HEALTH CENTERS CREATED AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS WERE FORMED. IN 1998 CLINTON GAVE HER THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR GIVEN TO AN AMERICAN. SHE HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISTORY OF HER PEOPLE. SHE ASKS HER PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR WORK AND ISSUES, INTO HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. SHE ASKS HER PEOPLE TO JOIN HER ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND AND WORK ON BEHALF OF PIT RIVER INDIANS. THESE EXPERIENCES GAVE HER AN ABILITY TO LEAD HER TRIBE. SHE EMPHASIZES SELF DETERMINATION, SPIRIT, AND SELF DETERMINATION. SHE CONSIDERS THE FUTURE AS A BETTER TIME FOR SHARED CONCERN OF ALL INDIANS.