Every Day is a Good Day

A Tapestry of Indigenous Wisdom

Every Day Is a Good Day is a powerful collection of reflections from twenty-one contemporary Indigenous women, curated by the legendary Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Moving beyond historical stereotypes, this book offers an intimate look at the spiritual, cultural, and political lives of Native women today. From the mountains of the Southwest to the shores of the Great Lakes, these voices speak on themes of resilience, traditional knowledge, and the vital role of women in tribal governance and community healing.

Through candid interviews and thoughtful essays, the contributors explore how they balance modern professional lives with ancestral traditions. They discuss the challenges of maintaining sovereign identities in a rapidly changing world while celebrating the joy found in ceremony, family, and the natural world. This anthology is more than a memoir; it is a foundational text for anyone seeking to understand the enduring strength and diverse perspectives of Indigenous women in the 21st century.

Wilma Mankiller was an author, activist, and former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Her roots were planted deep in the rural community Mankiller Flats in Adair County, Oklahoma, where she spent most of her life. She has been honored with many awards, including the Presidental Medal of Freedom, and has received honorary degrees from such esteemed institutions as Yale University, Dartmouth College, and Smith College. Wilma Mankiller died in 2010 after a long battle with cancer. Contributors include: Linda Aranaydo, Muscogee Creek (physician) Mary and Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone (traditionalists) Angela Gonzales, Hopi (professor) Joy Harjo, Muscogee Creek/Cherokee (poet/musician) LaDonna Harris, Comanche (warrior) Sarah James, Nee'Tsaii Gwich'in (human rights activist) Debra LaFountaine, Ojibway (environmentalist) Rosalie Little Thunder, Lakota (Lakota linguist/artist) Lurline Wailana McGregor, Native Hawaiian (television producer) Beatrice Medicine, Lakota (anthropologist) Ella Mulford, Navajo (biologist) Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Salish Flathead (artist) Audrey Shenandoah, Onondaga (Clan Mother) Joanne Shenandoah, Oneida (musician) Gail Small (Head Chief Woman), Northern Cheyenne (environmental activist) Faith Smith, Ojibway (educator) Florence Soap, Cherokee (grandmother) Octaviana Valenzuela Trujillo, Pascua Yaqui (educator)