Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 6, 2006 22:02:21 GMT -5
Activist Speaker Favors Leadership Large crowds gather for Chief Wilma
Mankiller. by Kim Broback
<http://www.msureporter.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&au\
thorid=2326051> Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Campus News
<http://www.msureporter.com/news/2006/10/26/CampusNews/>
www.msureporter.com/media/storage/paper937/news/2006/10/26/Campus\
News/Activist.Speaker.Favors.Leadership-2409471.shtml?norewrite200610310\
602&sourcedomain=www.msureporter.com
<http://www.msureporter.com/media/storage/paper937/news/2006/10/26/Campu\
sNews/Activist.Speaker.Favors.Leadership-2409471.shtml?norewrite20061031\
0602&sourcedomain=www.msureporter.com> [Activist, feminist
and author Wilma Mankiller spoke Wednesday about the qualities possessed
by good leaders. She encouraged women in these roles. ] Media Credit:
Jason Zais
<http://www.msureporter.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&au\
thorid=2389254&page=mediacredits> Activist, feminist and author Wilma
Mankiller spoke Wednesday about the qualities possessed by good leaders.
She encouraged women in these roles.
In her lecture Wednesday, Chief Wilma Mankiller discussed what it means
to be a good leader, bringing with her some tales of struggles she's
overcome as a woman in a tribal government role.
The main section of seats in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom was
full within about 15 minutes from when the doors were opened. Additional
seating was opened and quickly filled as well. A mixture of students,
professors and others, both men and women, lined the back wall.
Mankiller is an activist, feminist and the first female Principal Chief
of the Cherokee Nation. She's also edited and co-authored two books.
Mankiller's discussion centered around the qualities she said belonged
to good leaders. She said these qualities included personal integrity, a
seamless link between public and private life, possessing passion,
compassion, a positive attitude and keeping focus.
"Women, by and large, tend to be more positive than men," Mankiller
said. She added that staying focused when in a leadership role helps
avoid "the tendency to do too many things."
She cited the leaders of Enron as an example of those lacking compassion
when they made decisions to put workers out of jobs.
Mankiller not only described her function as a leader, but also
discussed a historic look at women's roles and the misconceptions of
tribal life.
"[After being elected] my gender was an issue," Mankiller said. "There
was a man who kept interrupting me at the tribal council meeting, so I
had all the microphones changed so I controlled the microphones.
Everyone had one at their desk, and when we came back the second month
and he tried to interrupt me, I simply turned off his microphone and no
one could hear him."
Mankiller said she has had to come up with a number of
non-confrontational ways to address problems.
"I had someone say, "Don't ever argue with a fool. Someone walking by,
an observer, won't be able to tell which one the fool is."
She outlined some misconceptions about the Cherokee and Native Americans
in general found in the media and society.
"There's so little accurate history," she said. "Most of the things
reported on are about controversy. There aren't enough human interest
stories and stories about their everyday lives."
Mankiller said when Cherokees were forced to move in the late 1830s,
they rebuilt their families, communities and their nation. The tribal
people printed their own newspapers, Mankiller said, and Cherokee women
were consulted on important issues.
Mankiller has worked with women in various leadership roles, including
Hillary Clinton. Mankiller said there's "hope of Hillary Clinton running
for president in 2008."
She added that she learned to motivate herself because she wanted to
help people.
"I've thought about leadership, Mankiller said. "Sometimes the go-to
people in times of crisis aren't the ones with formal leadership roles."
Mankiller also listed some benefits women have over men, saying, "One
sign men aren't as good at multi-tasking is when they're driving in a
car and they get lost, they have to turn the radio down."
Mankiller said the leadership qualities also involve being a good
listener, especially to those whose opinion is far different. She said
she's had to face difficulties that have encouraged her to be more
positive, having endured "two kidney transplants and two separate bouts
of cancer."
She said sometimes it's a tense situation speaking in front of people,
though she's done so at various places throughout the country.
"I love being here [at MSU]," Mankiller said. "I had dinner with some
students and staff and it was wonderful getting to know everyone. There
was a woman who brought her baby by, and I thought that was wonderful."
It was Mankiller's first time visiting MSU, but she described the people
as "friendly and welcoming."
"I felt relaxed," she said. "There's a sense of community on this
campus. It's always nice to meet people before giving a speech."
Students were invited to ask questions after the event, which was
followed by a reception.
Mankiller. by Kim Broback
<http://www.msureporter.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&au\
thorid=2326051> Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Campus News
<http://www.msureporter.com/news/2006/10/26/CampusNews/>
www.msureporter.com/media/storage/paper937/news/2006/10/26/Campus\
News/Activist.Speaker.Favors.Leadership-2409471.shtml?norewrite200610310\
602&sourcedomain=www.msureporter.com
<http://www.msureporter.com/media/storage/paper937/news/2006/10/26/Campu\
sNews/Activist.Speaker.Favors.Leadership-2409471.shtml?norewrite20061031\
0602&sourcedomain=www.msureporter.com> [Activist, feminist
and author Wilma Mankiller spoke Wednesday about the qualities possessed
by good leaders. She encouraged women in these roles. ] Media Credit:
Jason Zais
<http://www.msureporter.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&au\
thorid=2389254&page=mediacredits> Activist, feminist and author Wilma
Mankiller spoke Wednesday about the qualities possessed by good leaders.
She encouraged women in these roles.
In her lecture Wednesday, Chief Wilma Mankiller discussed what it means
to be a good leader, bringing with her some tales of struggles she's
overcome as a woman in a tribal government role.
The main section of seats in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom was
full within about 15 minutes from when the doors were opened. Additional
seating was opened and quickly filled as well. A mixture of students,
professors and others, both men and women, lined the back wall.
Mankiller is an activist, feminist and the first female Principal Chief
of the Cherokee Nation. She's also edited and co-authored two books.
Mankiller's discussion centered around the qualities she said belonged
to good leaders. She said these qualities included personal integrity, a
seamless link between public and private life, possessing passion,
compassion, a positive attitude and keeping focus.
"Women, by and large, tend to be more positive than men," Mankiller
said. She added that staying focused when in a leadership role helps
avoid "the tendency to do too many things."
She cited the leaders of Enron as an example of those lacking compassion
when they made decisions to put workers out of jobs.
Mankiller not only described her function as a leader, but also
discussed a historic look at women's roles and the misconceptions of
tribal life.
"[After being elected] my gender was an issue," Mankiller said. "There
was a man who kept interrupting me at the tribal council meeting, so I
had all the microphones changed so I controlled the microphones.
Everyone had one at their desk, and when we came back the second month
and he tried to interrupt me, I simply turned off his microphone and no
one could hear him."
Mankiller said she has had to come up with a number of
non-confrontational ways to address problems.
"I had someone say, "Don't ever argue with a fool. Someone walking by,
an observer, won't be able to tell which one the fool is."
She outlined some misconceptions about the Cherokee and Native Americans
in general found in the media and society.
"There's so little accurate history," she said. "Most of the things
reported on are about controversy. There aren't enough human interest
stories and stories about their everyday lives."
Mankiller said when Cherokees were forced to move in the late 1830s,
they rebuilt their families, communities and their nation. The tribal
people printed their own newspapers, Mankiller said, and Cherokee women
were consulted on important issues.
Mankiller has worked with women in various leadership roles, including
Hillary Clinton. Mankiller said there's "hope of Hillary Clinton running
for president in 2008."
She added that she learned to motivate herself because she wanted to
help people.
"I've thought about leadership, Mankiller said. "Sometimes the go-to
people in times of crisis aren't the ones with formal leadership roles."
Mankiller also listed some benefits women have over men, saying, "One
sign men aren't as good at multi-tasking is when they're driving in a
car and they get lost, they have to turn the radio down."
Mankiller said the leadership qualities also involve being a good
listener, especially to those whose opinion is far different. She said
she's had to face difficulties that have encouraged her to be more
positive, having endured "two kidney transplants and two separate bouts
of cancer."
She said sometimes it's a tense situation speaking in front of people,
though she's done so at various places throughout the country.
"I love being here [at MSU]," Mankiller said. "I had dinner with some
students and staff and it was wonderful getting to know everyone. There
was a woman who brought her baby by, and I thought that was wonderful."
It was Mankiller's first time visiting MSU, but she described the people
as "friendly and welcoming."
"I felt relaxed," she said. "There's a sense of community on this
campus. It's always nice to meet people before giving a speech."
Students were invited to ask questions after the event, which was
followed by a reception.