NCAI names fellowship in Wilma Mankiller’s honor

WASHINGTON – The National Congress of American Indians has named a fellowship after the late Wilma Mankiller, the Cherokee Nation’s first female principal chief who passed away April 6, 2010, from complications of cancer.

According to an NCAI press release, the congress’ Special Recognition Award has been renamed the Wilma Mankiller Fellowship Program for Tribal Policy and Governance in honor of Mankiller’s outstanding contribution to Indian Country and tribal relations with other sovereign nations.

Mankiller was also the first recipient of the renamed award. She and other NCAI award recipients were honored Feb. 28 in Washington during NCAI’s Executive Council Winter Session.

“It is a personal honor to be able to posthumously recognize the lasting legacy of Wilma Mankiller. Her example as a tribal citizen and tribal leader is a standard that will live forever,” said Jefferson Keel, NCAI president and Lt. Gov. of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D – HI, earned the Congressional Leadership Award for becoming the chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs by virtue of his seniority and long standing commitment to Indian issues.

Billy Frank Jr. garnered the Native American Leadership Award for being an advocate of tribal treaty rights and natural resources. His courage resulted in the Boldt Decision, a federal case re-affirming tribal rights and establishing tribes in western Washington as co-managers of salmon resources.

The Governmental Leadership Award went to Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, whose commitment to made public safety in Indian Country has resulted in improvements in law and policy, including the enactment of the Tribal Law & Order Act.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation was also honored with the Public Sector Leadership Award for its work over many years to support American Indian and Alaska Native families through grant-making and direct services The investments of the foundation have filled an important gap in providing critical data on Native children and supporting Native institutions that inform effective policy making at the national, state, and tribal level.

“Unwavering leadership is an important quality of a hero in Indian Country. Each of the awardees have proven their commitment through actions, changing Indian Country for generations to come,” Keel said.
Founded in 1944, the NCAI is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. It advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information visit www.ncai.org.