As communities undergo change by replacing those in official capacities, there are noticeable parallels in Charlie Soap's description of the challenges of casting an actress to fulfill the role of his late wife, Wilma Mankiller in the film he directed, "The Cherokee Word For Water."
Mankiller was the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
"Wilma was the most difficult to cast. Wilma had such a strong personality, character, and was smart. There was a finesse about her which not many people possess. Yet, (she had a) personality that one can feel comfortable around but the same time a solid, well-grounded person and nobody to mess with."
Soap goes on to describe Wilma as easy to be around and very polite -- but also capable of being direct and confrontational. Her resoluteness is depicted in the film when she abruptly tells a contractor, who provided faulty equipment, "You're fired."
Mankiller became a charismatic leader, who not only knew how to outline a budget in a grant proposal, but also convinced unskilled labors they could learn hands-on techniques of digging a waterline and connecting pipe all the while believing in the end result. She challenged their way of thinking and dared a community to believe in their own capacities motivating them to seek success -- as a community-organizer.
One doesn't have to travel very far to find an example of unorthodox leadership bringing about positive, lasting change. Just over the state line in the community of Bell, Okla., in the 1980s Mankiller and Soap, with the backing of then Cherokee Principal Chief Ross Swimmer, persuaded area residents to dig 18 miles of waterline to bring running water to homes and families, revolutionizing an entire community.
Mankiller wrote a grant in which HUD funds were dispersed to connect Cherokee homes up to the new water system. Working closely with Soap, who she would eventually marry, they convinced residents skeptical of government programs based on unfulfilled promises to do the work, even drawing participation of non-Indian members of the Bell community. Battling tribal politicians who sought to circumvent community self-initiative, determined residents labored to complete the 18-mile-long trench while Cherokee women organized a bake sale to pay for the costs of hooking up a non-Indian's home to the water system. The same non-Indian gentleman tirelessly ran the backhoe daily until the job was done. When Cherokees demonstrated their appreciation for his contributions he was overwhelmed.
The story has been turned into a full-length feature film, "The Cherokee Word For Water," inspired by the true story of struggle, opposition and ultimate success of a rural community using the traditional Cherokee concept of "gadugi," which means working together to solve a problem. There is one scene in which a simple prayer is offered, "God, thank you for giving us what we already have." Kimberly Guerrero (Hidalgo, Seinfeld) plays Mankiller. Moses Brings Plenty (Hidalgo, Cowboys & Aliens) plays Soap, who is now campaigning for Cherokee Principal Chief, a position Mankiller once held as the first woman elected to that office.
Mankiller's devotion to empowering the Bell community to accomplish the waterline project led to her election as deputy principal chief. She succeeded Swimmer as Principal Chief in 1985, when he was appointed as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Mankiller was elected twice as principal chief before retiring from public office in 1995. She died April 6, 2010.
Guerrero writes on the sleeve of the DVD, "Wilma wanted Cherokee families to come together to build a stronger nation," and hopes families will watch the film together and talk about how to preserve the greatness of community. Ironically, a new waterline from Siloam Springs to Lincoln is in the works and "gadugi" is a concept we can all learn from.
More information about the film can be found at its website, www.cw4w.com.
MARK HUMPHREY IS A REPORTER FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE HIS OWN.
General News on 04/08/2015