--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are a revitalized tribe. After every…" description: "\"We are a revitalized tribe. After every major upheaval, we have been able to gather together as a people to rebuild a community and a government. Indiv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_we-are-a-revitalized-tribe-after-every-m_1652463.jpg" --- # We are a revitalized tribe. After every major upheaval, we… ![“We are a revitalized tribe. After every major upheaval, we have been able to gather together as a people to rebuild a community and a government. Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward. We are able to do…” quote by Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_we-are-a-revitalized-tribe-after-every-m_1652463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_we-are-a-revitalized-tribe-after-every-m_1652463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_we-are-a-revitalized-tribe-after-every-m_1652463.jpg) > “We are a revitalized tribe. After every major upheaval, we have been able to gather together as a people to rebuild a community and a government. Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward. We are able to do that because our culture, though certainly diminished, has sustained us since time inmemorial. This Cherokee culture is a well-kept secret.” [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Resilience of a people to rebuild community and governance after crises, rooted in enduring culture. **In simple terms:** Culture sustains resilience. Key Takeaway Preserve cultural heritage. Themes resilience community culture rebuilding Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational historical When to use this quote - Post‑disaster recovery - community organizing - cultural education Key Concepts Indigenous studies social cohesion collective identity Questions to Reflect On - How can modern societies learn from Cherokee resilience? - What practices keep cultural memory alive? A Different Perspective Challenges of cultural loss and external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Cherokee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherokee/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribe/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) [Upheaval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upheaval/) ## Related quotes > [Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/individually-and-collectively-cherokee-people-possess-an/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [It should be remembered that hundreds of people of African ancestry also walked the Trail of Tears with the Cherokee during the forced removal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/it-should-be-remembered-that-hundreds-of-people-of-african-ancestry/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Prior to my election, young Cherokee girls would never have thought that they might grow up and become chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/prior-to-my-election-young-cherokee-girls-would-never-have-thought/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [My name is Mankiller, and in the old Cherokee Nation, when we lived here in the Southeast, we lived in semi-autonomous villages, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/my-name-is-mankiller-and-in-the-old-cherokee-nation-when-we-lived/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A significant number of people believe tribal people still live and dress as they did 300 years ago. During my tenure as principal chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-significant-number-of-people-believe-tribal-people-still-live-and/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Negative thoughts were treated by Cherokee healers with the same medicines as wounds, headaches, or physical illness. It was believed that unchecked negative thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/negative-thoughts-were-treated-by-cherokee-healers-with-the-same/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-an-indian-does-is-in-a-circle-and-that-is-because-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [“I come from a family of Cherokee master storytellers. Listening to stories, reading them, and creating new tales is my life. These tales reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-ann-barton/i-come-from-a-family-of-cherokee-master-storytellers-listening-to/) Louise Ann Barton > [ \[last words\] What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crowfoot/last-words-what-is-life-it-is-the-flash-of-a-firefly-in-the-night/) [Crowfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crowfoot/) > [Give me strength, not to be better than my enemies, but to defeat my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself. Give me strength for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-strength-not-to-be-better-than-my-enemies-but-to-defeat-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father was one-eighth Cherokee indian and my mother was quarter-blood Cherokee. I never got far enough in arithmetic to figure out how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/my-father-was-one-eighth-cherokee-indian-and-my-mother-was-quarter/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [I'm just another non-native whose mom told him we were part-Cherokee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/i-m-just-another-non-native-whose-mom-told-him-we-were-part-cherokee/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [Recorded engine sounds, however, are a deliberate deception. They're like going to a concert and listening to a recording. On the other hand, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-schmemann/recorded-engine-sounds-however-are-a-deliberate-deception-they-re/) [Serge Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-schmemann/) > [Lt. Carson: My grandmother was a full-bodied Cherokee Indian. Lili: How exciting. Lt. Carson: It was for my grandfather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lt-carson-my-grandmother-was-a-full-bodied-cherokee-indian-lili-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Wilma Mankiller > [Negative thoughts were treated by Cherokee healers with the same medicines as wounds, headaches, or physical illness. It was believed that unchecked negative thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/negative-thoughts-were-treated-by-cherokee-healers-with-the-same/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Remember that I am just a woman who is living a very abundant life. Every step I take forward is on a path paved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/remember-that-i-am-just-a-woman-who-is-living-a-very-abundant-life/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A significant number of people believe tribal people still live and dress as they did 300 years ago. During my tenure as principal chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-significant-number-of-people-believe-tribal-people-still-live-and/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Look forward. Turn what has been done into a better path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/look-forward-turn-what-has-been-done-into-a-better-path/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [People say that crisis changes people and turns ordinary people into wiser or more responsible ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/people-say-that-crisis-changes-people-and-turns-ordinary-people-into/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [My name is Mankiller, and in the old Cherokee Nation, when we lived here in the Southeast, we lived in semi-autonomous villages, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/my-name-is-mankiller-and-in-the-old-cherokee-nation-when-we-lived/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Every single person has leadership ability. Some step up and take them. Some don't. My answer was to step up and lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/every-single-person-has-leadership-ability-some-step-up-and-take-them/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/women-in-leadership-roles-can-help-restore-balance-and-wholeness-to/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A lot of young girls have looked to their career paths and have said they'd like to be chief. There's been a change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-lot-of-young-girls-have-looked-to-their-career-paths-and-have-said/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/individually-and-collectively-cherokee-people-possess-an/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I don't think anybody anywhere can talk about the future of their people or of an organization without talking about education. Whoever controls the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-don-t-think-anybody-anywhere-can-talk-about-the-future-of-their/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [An Indian is an Indian regardless of the degree of Indian blood or which little government card they do or do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/an-indian-is-an-indian-regardless-of-the-degree-of-indian-blood-or/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal circumstances, but in the world, makes anything possible. When I am asked about the important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/recognizing-the-good-not-just-in-one-s-own-personal-circumstances-but/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [We must trust our own thinking. Trust where we're going. And get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/we-must-trust-our-own-thinking-trust-where-we-re-going-and-get-the/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I've run into more discrimination as a woman than as an Indian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-ve-run-into-more-discrimination-as-a-woman-than-as-an-indian/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) [Explore all 42 Wilma Mankiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are a revitalized tribe. 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