She died on Tuesday:
With a last name like hers, some say Wilma Mankiller was destined for the history books.
But many friends and admirers nationwide aren’t waiting for those historical tomes to be written. Thousands of newspaper articles, Internet messages, and other tributes and remembrances have already surfaced in honor of the first woman elected to lead the Cherokee Nation, who passed away at age 64 on April 6 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The linked article tells about her life's work and its importance.
From her final message:
“I learned a long time ago that I can’t control the challenges the Creator sends my way, but I can control the way I think about them and deal with them,”