Wilma Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  Her father (Charlie Mankiller) was of Cherokee heiritage, while her mother, Irene, was Dutch-Irish.  Centered right in the middle of the Cherokee capital, Mankiller was born into poverty; and even after moving to San Francisco, unemployment and unkept promises of money left the family stranded.  Additionally, the United States' Burea of Indian Affairs was, even into the mid-20th century, attempting to "settle the 'Indian problem' by removal" (Mankiller).

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Mankiller's youth and experiences with Cherokee culture allowed for her to become aware of the injustices that the U.S. government inflicted upon her people.  After a divorce in 1974, she returned to her home state of Oklahoma and began, once again, to participate in Cherokee affairs.  She attended the University of Arkansas.  Despite various near-death experiences in the late '80s with illnesses and even an almost fatal car crash, Manikller prevailed to become the principal chief of her nation.

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In her time as Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Mankiller focused on the major problems of lack of education and healthcare in Cherokee communities.   She was a monumental activist of both Native Americans and women, and compled several philosophical accounts and autobiographies.  Although she resigned from her position due to health problems, she recieved a variety of honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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She died of pancreatic cancer on April 6, 2010.  Although she only served for a total of three terms in her position as chief, her legacy has outlived her and she continues to stand as a symbol of both the Native American movement and feminism.