Norton Encourages Members and Staff to Attend a Film on the Life of Wilma Mankiller, First Female Chief of the Cherokee Nation

Washington, DC – As Women's History Month begins, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will attend a pre-screening of The Cherokee Word for Water, a movie about Wilma Mankiller, who became the first female Cherokee Nation Chief, and her successful struggle leading a rural Cherokee community to bring water to their families. Yesterday evening, Norton attended a dinner with Wilmer Mankiller's husband and the movie's cast and producers. The screening will take place this evening, Monday, March 4, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. in the Capitol Visitor Center Orientation Room North.

"We were delighted to work with Kristina Kiel and the producers of this film about a woman whose work in her community led her to a history-making leadership role in the Cherokee Nation," said Norton. "The film comes to the Capitol at an especially good and welcome moment as we celebrate last week's passage of the Violence Against Women Act, including a breakthrough section that will particularly benefit American Indian women."

Published: March 4, 2013