This Native American Heritage Month, meet Wilma Mankiller, an activist, community leader, and former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. (1/5)

Mankiller was born in Oklahoma and was raised in a household that celebrated their Cherokee heritage. She was inspired to begin a career in activism and social work after the occupation of Alcatraz by Native American activists and supporters. (2/5)

She became a respected community leader and was elected to serve as Deputy Principal Chief, and later Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation where she served for 10 years. (3/5)

Under her leadership tribal enrollment increased dramatically, health (particularly in children) improved, and millions in federal funds were negotiated. In 1998 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton. (4/5)

For more about how Native Americans are preserving land with traditional techniques, check out Weathered from @pbsds: https://to.pbs.org/35J8dSx . (5/5)