The Cherokee Word for Water (2013)

Kimberly Guerrero: Wilma Mankiller

Quotes 

• Wilma Mankiller : All my life I was taught to be of good mind was the Cherokee way. It sounds admirable and spiritual but it's also just plain useful.

• Wilma Mankiller : Chief Swimmer's a Republican and I'm a Democrat, doesn't seem to worry him. There are much bigger things to worry about. If I can help the community start to believe in their own ability to solve their own problems, it'll be worth it. I hope.

  [on deciding to run for Cherokee office] 

• Wilma Mankiller : I'm a terrible mother.

  Irene Mankiller : You learn from the best.

• Wilma Mankiller : Look at our history. You look at all we have endured. We are still here today because those that went before us, they faced those trials together, as one. In the spirit of gadugi.

  [Gudagi is Cherokee for community] 

• Paggy : I don't think he can connect that line, there's not enough money.

  [referring to Curly] 

  Wilma Mankiller : I wish there was something I could do on my end but that grant is just for Cherokee families.

  Mae Canoe : He's part of the community, just like all the other people here.

  Paggy : Hey, why don't we have a bake sale?

  Mae Canoe : It'd have to be one half of a big cake and I'm not baking it!

• Wilma Mankiller : Maybe it's strange but coming so close to death and seeing how beautiful it can be, I have a feeling it'll take a lot to rattle me from now on.

• Wilma Mankiller : I'm not considering running for Deputy Chief. I am running.

  Deputy Jackson : Well, I'm sorry but you have no idea about what it takes to run a tribe.

  Wilma Mankiller : Actually, I think I do.

• Chief Ross Swimmer : You and Charlie making progress out there can be seen as a threat, for some people. If you start registering new Cherokees out in Bell, well, that brings new voters into play. And there's plenty of folks lining up to run against me. Look, we're not saying do anything different. But I did think it was important to give you a heads up.

  Wilma Mankiller : Appreciate that. And I'll give you a heads up: this project will not fail.

• Chief Ross Swimmer : I wanna let you know that word's been getting out about your project.

  Wilma Mankiller : That's great.

  Deputy Jackson : Not everyone thinks it's a good idea.

  Wilma Mankiller : Why wouldn't they?

  Deputy Jackson : Thing gets a lot of attention. Poor Cherokees pulling themselves up by the bootstraps. Press will eat it up.

  Wilma Mankiller : Well that's a good thing isn't it?

  Deputy Jackson : Well if it doesn't work, we got front page stories about full-blooded Cherokees falling flat on their faces.

• Charlie Soap : Those were good hot dogs.

  Wilma Mankiller : I hate hot dogs.

  Charlie Soap : It was a good movie.

  Wilma Mankiller : I hate Rambo.

• Judge : You like Charlie?

  Wilma Mankiller : I thought in the old ways a Cherokee wasn't supposed to meddle in someone else's personal business?

  Judge : That's a myth.

• Charlie Soap : Wilma and I are out and about in the community, trying to bring the people together to find out what the needs are.

  Mae Canoe : Really?

  Charlie Soap : Yeah.

  Mae Canoe : Well, we're up to armpits in needs here. A couple months ago a tree fell on my roof. Winter's coming up, can you help me with that?

  Charlie Soap : I'm sorry, we're not at that phase yet. Chief Swimmer just sent us out here to talk to the people about...

  Wilma Mankiller : Well, I got a ladder and some lumber and tin over at my house. You think you could hop up there and fix it?

• Elizabeth Canoe : You might be able to get my mom with your fancy talk but you ain't fooling me.

  Wilma Mankiller : It's not talk, the tribe really wants to help out here.

  Elizabeth Canoe : Yeah, right! Tribes gonna build us a new house? Get my mom her job back at the chicken plant so I can finish high school and go off to a big, fancy college? Keep your dreams to yourself, lady!