Viola Jimulla
Encyclopedia
Viola Jimulla was the Chief of the Prescott Yavapai
Native American
tribe. She became Chief when her husband, who was also a Chief of the tribe, died in an accident in 1940. She remained Chief until her death.
Viola Jimulla was born in 1878 on the San Carlos Apache Reservation
. She was named Sica-tuva, "Born Quickly," by her parents, Who-wah, "Singing Cricket" and Ka-hava-soo-ah, "Turquoise Bead in Nose." When attending Rice Indian School and the Phoenix Indian School she took the name Viola and her stepfather’s last name, Phelhame.
In 1900 she went to live with her family in the vicinity of Prescott
. In 1901, she married Sam “Red Ants” Jimulla, raised a family, and became an active part of the tribal community as well as the Prescott community
. Viola added in her own energy and action to her husband’s quiet leadership. Her ability to care for and work with both the Indian and Anglo
cultures would have a long lasting benefit for her tribe and for the greater Prescott area
. In 1935, the Jimullas worked with local and national officials to set aside 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) of land for the Prescott-Yavapai Indian Reservation
. In the 1950s, the reservation was enlarged to 1327 acres (5.4 km²). That same year Sam was appointed chief of the Prescott Yavapais
by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
and was officially elected chief by the tribe.
After Sam’s accidental death in 1940, Viola became Chieftess of the Prescott Yavapai
Native American
tribe. For twenty-six years, until her death on December 7, 1966, Viola guided her tribe with wisdom and kindness. Her leadership helped the Yavapais
achieve better living conditions and more modern facilities than most other tribes.
Jimulla's personal strengths and skills helped her people adapt and grow with the surrounding Anglo
community. Although, Jimulla formed a bridge between the two cultures, Anglo
and Indian, she still honored the traditions of her tribe. Not only was Jimulla a great leader for her tribe, was also influential in the religious area. She was the first Yavapai
to be baptized into the Presbyterian Church
. In 1922, she and others of her tribe revitalized the Yavapai Indian Mission
to become the Presbyterian Mission
. Jimulla served the mission as an elder, a Sunday School superintendent, and an interpreter. In 1950, she became a commissioner to the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church
in Cincinnati where she made a speech on behalf of the mission. In 1951, the mission became an organized church and later, in 1957, it was reorganized as the Trinity Presbyterian Church
which recognized the three founding entities – the new Presbyterians in Prescott, the founding church, and the Presbyterian Indian people.
Under Jimulla’s leadership, The Prescott Yavapai
Tribal Council was formed to better ensure the people's voice in their own governing. Jimulla's descendents continued to guide her people. Two of her daughters, Grace Mitchell and Lucy Miller, became chieftess in the years following their mother's death. In 1986, Viola was elected to the Arizona
Women’s Hall of Fame
. A statue of Viola teaching basketry
to a young Yavapai
is in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel. The young girl in the statue is her granddaughter Patricia McGee, who, in 1972, became tribal president.
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe
The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe is located on a reservation of 1,413.46 acres in central Yavapai County in west-central Arizona. There are less than 200 tribal members. The tribe has a shopping center, two casinos and a hotel where the reservation abuts State Highway 69 at Prescott, Arizona. There...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe. She became Chief when her husband, who was also a Chief of the tribe, died in an accident in 1940. She remained Chief until her death.
Viola Jimulla was born in 1878 on the San Carlos Apache Reservation
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, in southeastern Arizona, United States, was established in 1871 as a reservation for the Chiricahua Apache tribe. It was referred to by some as "Hell's Forty Acres," due to a myriad of dismal health and environmental conditions.-Formation:President U.S....
. She was named Sica-tuva, "Born Quickly," by her parents, Who-wah, "Singing Cricket" and Ka-hava-soo-ah, "Turquoise Bead in Nose." When attending Rice Indian School and the Phoenix Indian School she took the name Viola and her stepfather’s last name, Phelhame.
In 1900 she went to live with her family in the vicinity of Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
. In 1901, she married Sam “Red Ants” Jimulla, raised a family, and became an active part of the tribal community as well as the Prescott community
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
. Viola added in her own energy and action to her husband’s quiet leadership. Her ability to care for and work with both the Indian and Anglo
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
cultures would have a long lasting benefit for her tribe and for the greater Prescott area
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
. In 1935, the Jimullas worked with local and national officials to set aside 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) of land for the Prescott-Yavapai Indian Reservation
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe
The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe is located on a reservation of 1,413.46 acres in central Yavapai County in west-central Arizona. There are less than 200 tribal members. The tribe has a shopping center, two casinos and a hotel where the reservation abuts State Highway 69 at Prescott, Arizona. There...
. In the 1950s, the reservation was enlarged to 1327 acres (5.4 km²). That same year Sam was appointed chief of the Prescott Yavapais
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe
The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe is located on a reservation of 1,413.46 acres in central Yavapai County in west-central Arizona. There are less than 200 tribal members. The tribe has a shopping center, two casinos and a hotel where the reservation abuts State Highway 69 at Prescott, Arizona. There...
by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
and was officially elected chief by the tribe.
After Sam’s accidental death in 1940, Viola became Chieftess of the Prescott Yavapai
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe
The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe is located on a reservation of 1,413.46 acres in central Yavapai County in west-central Arizona. There are less than 200 tribal members. The tribe has a shopping center, two casinos and a hotel where the reservation abuts State Highway 69 at Prescott, Arizona. There...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe. For twenty-six years, until her death on December 7, 1966, Viola guided her tribe with wisdom and kindness. Her leadership helped the Yavapais
Yavapai people
Yavapai are an indigenous people in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai were divided into four geographical bands that considered themselves separate peoples: the Tolkapaya, or Western Yavapai, the Yavapé, or Northwestern Yavapai, the Kwevkapaya, or Southeastern Yavapai, and Wipukpa, or Northeastern...
achieve better living conditions and more modern facilities than most other tribes.
Jimulla's personal strengths and skills helped her people adapt and grow with the surrounding Anglo
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
community. Although, Jimulla formed a bridge between the two cultures, Anglo
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
and Indian, she still honored the traditions of her tribe. Not only was Jimulla a great leader for her tribe, was also influential in the religious area. She was the first Yavapai
Yavapai people
Yavapai are an indigenous people in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai were divided into four geographical bands that considered themselves separate peoples: the Tolkapaya, or Western Yavapai, the Yavapé, or Northwestern Yavapai, the Kwevkapaya, or Southeastern Yavapai, and Wipukpa, or Northeastern...
to be baptized into the Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. In 1922, she and others of her tribe revitalized the Yavapai Indian Mission
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe
The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe is located on a reservation of 1,413.46 acres in central Yavapai County in west-central Arizona. There are less than 200 tribal members. The tribe has a shopping center, two casinos and a hotel where the reservation abuts State Highway 69 at Prescott, Arizona. There...
to become the Presbyterian Mission
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
. Jimulla served the mission as an elder, a Sunday School superintendent, and an interpreter. In 1950, she became a commissioner to the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
in Cincinnati where she made a speech on behalf of the mission. In 1951, the mission became an organized church and later, in 1957, it was reorganized as the Trinity Presbyterian Church
Trinity Presbyterian School
Trinty Presbyterian School is a Christian day school located in Montgomery, Alabama. The student body represents various Protestant denominations...
which recognized the three founding entities – the new Presbyterians in Prescott, the founding church, and the Presbyterian Indian people.
Under Jimulla’s leadership, The Prescott Yavapai
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe
The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe is located on a reservation of 1,413.46 acres in central Yavapai County in west-central Arizona. There are less than 200 tribal members. The tribe has a shopping center, two casinos and a hotel where the reservation abuts State Highway 69 at Prescott, Arizona. There...
Tribal Council was formed to better ensure the people's voice in their own governing. Jimulla's descendents continued to guide her people. Two of her daughters, Grace Mitchell and Lucy Miller, became chieftess in the years following their mother's death. In 1986, Viola was elected to the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
Women’s Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame
The National Women's Hall of Fame is an American institution. It was created in 1969 by a group of people in Seneca Falls, New York, the location of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention...
. A statue of Viola teaching basketry
Basket weaving
Basket weaving is the process of weaving unspun vegetable fibres into a basket or other similar form. People and artists who weave baskets are called basketmakers and basket weavers.Basketry is made from a variety of fibrous or pliable materials•anything that will bend and form a shape...
to a young Yavapai
Yavapai people
Yavapai are an indigenous people in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai were divided into four geographical bands that considered themselves separate peoples: the Tolkapaya, or Western Yavapai, the Yavapé, or Northwestern Yavapai, the Kwevkapaya, or Southeastern Yavapai, and Wipukpa, or Northeastern...
is in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel. The young girl in the statue is her granddaughter Patricia McGee, who, in 1972, became tribal president.