TAHLEQUAH â Ask anyone anywhere in the U.S. if they can name a Cherokee woman and Wilma Mankiller would probably get the most mentions. During her 1985-95 tenure as the Cherokee Nationâs first and only â to date â woman principal chief, she became a nationally recognized public figure. She was also an activist for Native rights and an author. âIâve run into more discrimination as a woman than as an Indian,â Mankiller once said. Throughout her life, Mankiller chipped away at some of that undeserved stigma â toward women and Natives. She also said: âA lot of young girls have looked to their career paths and have said theyâd like to be chief. Thereâs been a change in the limits people see.â