Viola Jimulla

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭!

𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙖 𝙅𝙞𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙖 (1878 /1966)

One of the most notable and respected women of Prescott, Viola Jimulla, was the first Chieftess of the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe. She led the tribe for 26 years

She was born Sica-tuva, meaning "born quickly" on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation around June of 1878. While attending Rice Arizona Indian School, she took the name Viola.

Around 1900 when the Yavapai were allowed to return to their homelands, she moved to the Prescott vicinity to live with her family. In 1901, she married Sam "Red Ants" Jimulla and became an active part of the tribal, as well as the Prescott, community.

Viola's husband was appointed chief of the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the mid-1930s and was officially elected chief by the tribe. After Sam's accidental death in 1940, Viola became Chieftess of the Prescott Yavapais, thus becoming the first Chieftess in the North American West. Viola guided her tribe with wisdom and kindness until her death in 1966. Her leadership helped the Yavapais achieve better living conditions and bridged the Indian and Anglo cultures. Viola's personal strengths and skills helped her people adapt and grow with the surrounding Anglo community. Although she formed a bridge between the two cultures, she still honored the traditions of her tribe.