Statement by Wade Henderson on the Legacy of Wilma Mankiller

“The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights joins today in mourning the loss of former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller, one of our nation’s great unsung civil and human rights heroes. As the first woman to lead the Cherokee Nation, Mankiller served as an inspiration to Native Americans, women and girls everywhere who aspire to greatness. Her pursuit of equal rights and access to basic quality services helped to empower Native Americans and strengthen the Cherokee Nation, and her legacy lives on. On behalf of The Leadership Conference, we extend our deepest condolences to Mankiller’s family and her brothers and sisters in the Cherokee Nation.”