Of the 37 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, five are led by women.
The women leaders are: Chief Kay Rhoads of the Sac and Fox Nation; Gov. Jennifer Onzahwah of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe; Chairwoman Bernadette Huber of the Iowa Tribe; Chief Glenda Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe; and Chairwoman LaRue Parker of the Caddo Nation.
Wallace served eight years as secretary before being elected chief. "People want to know, 'What do we call you?' " she told The Tulsa World. "Like chief is a man's word."
Rhoads said women leaders still face some obstacles, citing her recent election as secretary of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma "I just knew they were going to make me the secretary," she said. "Men leaders have a tendency to stereotype in that regard."
Parker said women leaders aren't recognized for their achievements. "Even today, I've seen two or three men leaders on the other side of the state who have been given a lot of attention, more so than women," she told the paper.
Huber is leaving her post next month but will be replaced by another woman. "A lot of people are still sexist in regard to female leaders. I've been in groups of tribal leaders where people would assume I was some chief's secretary," she said.
Get the Story:Leadership finds balance: Women take charge of tribes (The Tulsa World 7/17)
