Wilma P. Mankiller

born 1945

In 1985, Wilma Mankiller was named to be principal chief of the Cherokee
Nation. This made her the first woman to be installed as a chief of 
a major Native American tribe. In 1987, she ran for a four year
term and won in a run-off election. Before becoming chief, Mankiller
had been deputy principal chief. The Cherokee in Oklahoma are the 
second-largest United States Native American Nation, with 67,000 
registered members.