TAHLEQUAH — Former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller was honored throughout the Cherokee Nation State of the Nation address Saturday. Principal Chief Chad Corntassel Smith told the hundreds in the audience during his address that Mankiller left the Nation with great wisdom on maturity.
“Each day the creator gives each one of us a day of living. It is up to us to decide what to do with that day,” Smith said. “As she always said, ‘Every day is a good day.”’
Many speakers at Saturday’s gathering spoke of Mankiller and how she influenced their lives, many wiping tears away as they spoke.
Charlie Soap, awarded the 2010 Cherokee National Medal of Patriotism, remembered his wife in his acceptance speech.
“Our hearts were always to the people,” Soap said. “I continue to remember that through my work to the communities. God helps me. I don’t do what I do alone.”
He spoke in fluent Cherokee for a great deal of his speech. At one point, he said Mankiller’s name and paused for a moment of reflection before going on. The Cherokee Nation Color Guard presented Soap with an eagle feather to commemorate his award as he left the stage.
Smith’s message to the people Saturday centered on happiness, healthiness and maturity.
“Respect, determination, integrity, leadership, communication, confidence, cooperation, responsibility, teaching, patience, humility and strength,” Smith said during his speech. “A young person who has achieved happiness and healthiness and exhibits these Cherokee traits would be mature.”
Smith talked about strides the Nation has made in the last 10 years, creating jobs, language programs, community grants, new waterlines, a new food distribution site and giving more than $20 million to public schools for Cherokee children to receive a better education.
The principal chief asked the audience what they want to hand down to their children.
Many people have provided undeniable examples of patriotism, Smith said.
“Wilma Mankiller led us to personal and community responsibility and showed the world the strength of our Nation: our women,” he said.
The Cherokee Nation has a chance, duty, obligation and honor to become a happy and healthy people, Smith said.
“That is our designed purpose,” he told the Nation. “I ask you this: Are you now stirred and resolved to be a patriot of the Cherokee Nation?”
