The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page B4

B4 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008 2nd THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR INDYSTAR.COM Tully Wilma Mankiller ABOUT WILMA MANKILLER Born Nov. 18, 1945, in Tahle-quah, Okla. Family moved to San Francisco in 1956 as part of a Bureau of Indian Affairs relocation program. Elected first female deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation with Chief Ross Swimmer in 1983. Sworn in as chief in 1985 after Swimmer resigned.

Re-elected as chief in 1987 and 1991 and retired in 1995, mostly for health reasons. Lives in Stilwell, Okla. Works as a public speaker and serves on national boards. representation in U.S. government.

Women still are not men-tored enough in businesses and moved into leadership positions. Certainly, there's been a lot of progress, but, by and large, there are still a lot of problems that need to be addressed by society. Overall, how do you feel that the country is doing in terms of addressing the issues that face Native Americans? I don't think Native Americans are on the national radar at all. I don't even think we're a blip on the screen, particularly during the last eight years. We live in a country where Americans have been living in our former towns and villages for hundreds of years, and they know very little about us.

I think there is still a lot of inaccurate information and stereotypes about Native people. I believe very strongly that public perception drives public policy, and if we allow these stereotypes to continue about Native people, they will impact public policies toward Native people. What can be done to try to advance an accurate perception? Some things are being done. There are more Native journalists, historians, filmmakers, authors, musicians, curators. All those people collectively are helping to reshape the image of Native people.

So I think it is changing. But we have to tell our own story. We have to tell stories about the great leadership in our community, about the innovation, the creativity, about the people that have contributed greatly to our community, and to society at large. Call Star reporter Francesca Jarosz at (317) 444-6310. Photo provided by Butler University LECTURE: Wilma Mankiller, former leader of the Cherokee Nation, speaks at Butler University.

on health care, not so much. Do you think Native Americans' concerns tribal sovereignty, health care, business development, education are things that the candidates have addressed adequately? They're just now beginning to focus more on the economy and the large question of what needs to be done to generally stimulate the economy. I think we'll see more discussion from this point forward, given the current crisis. But, to me, a lot of the presidential campaign has been a lot about nonsense you know, who's the real maverick and that sort of thing. And the country has so many serious, deep and abiding problems that it seems like an incredible waste of time and talent to spend time on silly things like that.

You initially faced a lot of opposition as the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation. How would you say things have changed, if at all, based on the country's reception of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin as female candidates? It's a time of celebration that we've had both a viable candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination and Sarah Palin, who is running for vice president. (But) what concerned me a lot during Clinton's run is the degree of sexism that I think still existed. I found myself going through that primary and being angry a lot at the way she was treated. Sarah Pal-in's candidacy is too new to see if the same sort of thing is going to happen to her.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing women in 2008? Pay equity is still a huge and maddening issue. We live in a very advanced country, and there still are many people who think it's OK to not pay women the same wages you pay men for the same work. Another huge issue is that so few women are in the U.S. Congress, and so essentially we don't have equal Jobs announcements earn points for governor. From B1 on the county for news and jobs.

You won't find many people who follow the day-to-day debates at the Indiana Statehouse. Democrats benefited for 16 years by having the late Frank O'Bannon, a Southern Indiana resident, on the ballot, both as governor and lieutenant governor. Without a big southern name leading either ticket, this part of the state is up for grabs. And while it is a Democratic region, locals from New Albany to Jasper and beyond remind you that they are conservative Democrats who often vote Republican for higher-ticket races. For many residents, the race hasn't really begun.

In Floyds Knobs, 15 minutes from Louisville, Barbara Fischer runs the Hobknobb Coffee Bar. She follows politics, hates the tax code and supports Sen. John McCain for president. I asked if she'd be voting for Daniels. "Is he a Republican?" she asked.

I said he was. "Then yes," she said. Both campaigns know Southern Indiana is a tricky place to campaign. Spending money on the Louisville and Cincinnati TV stations that bleed into these counties is not cost-effective. "This is probably more of a retail politicking area than other areas," said Jeff Harris, Long Thompson's spokesman.

He said Long Thompson will benefit from Sen. Barack Oba-ma's efforts in this part of the state and from the two Southern Indiana congressional races in which the Democratic candidates are favored. But it's clear many people here know little about Long Thompson, a former congresswoman from Northern Indiana. That helps explain why she selected a running mate, state Rep. Dennie Oxley, who is from English.

On the other side of the aisle, Daniels' aide Cam Savage pointed to a more favorable environment for Republicans in recent years, as people have moved across the river from Kentucky. He also said the area has benefited from a series of jobs announcements. At a breakfast joint called Headquarters in Jasper, in Dubois County, a group of retired and semiretired men who meet regularly for coffee agreed. On Wednesday morning, the group, which jokingly calls itself the "Table of Knowledge," discussed the proposed Wall Street bailout and the economy. The men didn't hesitate when I asked them about the race for governor.

"Vote for Mitch," said a former banking executive named Joe Miller. "He's done a great job for business." Miller and the others were impressed that "Mitch's crew" had beat out Kentucky in a competition for a new employer and that Daniels' controversial Indiana Toll Road lease is helping fund the long-stalled 1-69 extension. To a man, the group, which included five Republicans and two Democrats, said they planned to vote for Daniels. Still, they said, Daniels has lost support over an old issue that refuses to go away. "The only thing my wife is (griping) about Mitch over is the time situation," one man said.

The others agreed the issue is sensitive in these parts. So while the economy has replaced other issues as the top concern among voters this fall, one thing never changes: Indiana's longstanding debate over how to set its clocks remains politically potent. Reach Matthew Tully at (317) 444-6033 or via e-mail at matthew.tullyindystar.com Gala Prize 'puts Indianapolis on the says zoo trustee. From B1 videos about the work of each finalist. Former zoo board Chairman Steve Schenck and his wife, Becky, were asked to make Wa-terston and his wife, Lynn, comfortable during the VIP reception.

No problem for the Schencks: Becky is one of the "Law Order" star's biggest fans and is happy to report that Wa-terston is delightful. Business leader and philanthropist Mickey Maurer and his wife, Janie, provided the same VIP reception escort service to Laurie Marker, the prize finalist who is founder and executive di- By Francesca Jarosz francesca.jaroszindystar.com More than two decades before politicians talked about Hillary Rodham Clinton cracking the glass ceiling, Wilma Mankiller was the first woman serving as the leader of the second largest American Indian tribe in the country. Since retiring in 1995 after leading the Cherokee Nation for 12 years, Mankiller has remained an advocate for women's rights, health care and tribal sovereignty, even while battling cancer and undergoing kidney transplants. She's a regular on the speaking circuit and kicked off the Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series at Butler University last week. Before her speech, Mankiller spoke to The Indianapolis Star about women's issues, American Indians and the presidential candidates.

Here is some of the discussion. Question: In your endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton earlier this year, you mentioned her stances on health care and tribal sovereignty as things that impressed you. How would you assess each of the current candidates' stances on those issues? Answer: Senator Obama's health proposals are fairly similar to Hillary Clinton's, so I'm much more comfortable with what he's proposing for health care. On tribal issues, he has consulted with a number of tribal advisers that I think will give him good policy advice and has reaffirmed his support for tribal governments.

Senator McCain is a strong advocate for tribal sovereignty, as well. He has a very good position on tribal sovereignty SEE MORE: A photo gallery of the event is online at lndyStar.commultimedia. rector of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. AES parent company of Indianapolis Power Light was the gala's presenting sponsor, and Eli Lilly and Co. has funded the $100,000 prize awards in 2006 and 2008.

Event management firm Maribeth Smith Associates organized the evening's festivities. The closing ceremony included performances by the Eastern Star Church Choir and Electric Cirque. How the prize focuses attention on this community isn't lost on zoo trustee Mike Gorey. "It really puts Indianapolis on the map," he said. Call Star reporter Susan Guyett at (317) 444-6067.

I M-T 5 A day to create a masterpiece Victor Montanez (above), 45, Chicago, created a large multicanvas acrylic painting at the 2008 Masterpiece in a Day competition Saturday in Fountain Square. A terra cotta sculpture (at left) created by Duane King, 47, Southport, was also part of the competition. The top prize was $1,000. MORE ONLINE: Go to lndyStar.commultimedia for an audio slide show of the competition. MICHELLE PEMBERT0N The Star MEET THE WINNER George B.

Schaller, 73, has been called a real-life Indiana Jones for his work in saving animals and preserving wilderness. "He's taken animals like a chiru and turned them from a strange collection of vowels and consonants into a living, breathing creature," said Michael Crowth-er, chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Zoo. The chiru, a Tibetan antelope, was in danger of being hunted to extinction for its fur until Schaller's research helped lead to the creation of a nature preserve. The German-born resident of Connecticut intervened in the "ivory wars" that threatened Africa's elephant herds, and was one of the first Westerners to research pandas in China. MATT KRYGERThe Star ACTOR EMCEE: Becky Schenck (left) talks with actor Sam Waterston, his wife, Lynn, and Charles Bantz (right), chancellor of IUPUI, during the Indianapolis Prize gala.

Saturday night's party was held Downtown at the Marriott..