Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, will serve next fall as the University’s Morse Chair professor, a position that will allow her to teach a class at the law school and deliver public lectures.
Mankiller served as deputy chief for two years, from 1983 to 1985. She also was the first
female principal chief of the 220,000 member nation, serving for 10 years.
Mankiller was asked to serve as the Morse Chair professor for her work with indigenous people, law and policy.
“She is the first woman leader of a major tribe,” said Margaret Hallock, director of the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics. “She is a genuine hero among Native American people. She has greatly improved the quality of life for her people.”
The Morse Chair has been a position since 1988 in
memory of Senator Wayne Morse, known for his opposition to the Vietnam War and support for civil rights education, Hallock said. Each year, a speaker, scholar or activist is appointed as the chair professor.
Mankiller will be co-teaching an upper-division ethnic studies class called Native American Life, Law and Leadership, with California Western Law professor Rennard Strickland.
The chair professor is asked to teach a class at the University in order to be a part of the community and the faculty, not just a frequent speaker.
Mankiller accepted the chair position for two primary reasons: The first is that Strickland is an acquaintance of Mankiller’s.
“I was given an opportunity to work with Rennard who is an incredibly gifted thinker,” Mankiller said. “He has had a huge and very positive impact on native rights issues.”
The second reason is the University’s reputation for its commitment to American Indian issues.
“The U of O has a great reputation among native people as a school committed to native people and other diverse populations,” Mankiller said.
Mankiller and her husband, Charlie Soap, will be leaving their home in Oklahoma to live in Eugene for fall term 2005.
“It requires some logistical planning,” Mankiller said. “We’re very tied to the land, to our home and our families.”
The couple rented a home near campus ; they will move to Eugene in September.
“We are just going to immerse ourselves in the campus and the community,” Mankiller said.
There are several items on Mankiller’s agenda for the class. These include educating the student and general population about contemporary tribal issues, putting contemporary issues in a historical context and trying to banish stereotypes.

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