Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, will deliver a free public lecture tonight analyzing the current state of Native American life by placing contemporary issues in a historical context.
The lecture, “Context Is Everything: History and Culture in Contemporary Tribal Life,” will be held at 7 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom and followed by a reception and book-signing.
Mankiller is the visiting chair of the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics. She is teaching an ethnic studies course titled “Native American Life, Law and Leadership.”
Director of the Wayne Morse Center Margaret Hallock described Mankiller’s presence at the University as “a gift.”
“She’s a feminist, a leader and a genuine heroine,” Hallock said.
Hallock said Mankiller’s lecture will blend information about Native American history with insights on the future of Native American relations with the broader American community.
“She’s excellent at placing current issues in a historical framework while also looking forward,” she said.
Hallock added that Mankiller’s visit to the University coincides nicely with the commemoration of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
“It’s important to look at the Native American perspective,” Hallock said.
-Joe Bailey