Sterling Silver Buffalo Nickel Ring

“Cows run away from the storm while the buffalo charges toward it- and gets through it quicker. Whenever I’m confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong the torment, I become the buffalo.” -Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, 1985-1995~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The buffalo nickel, minted between 1913-1938, is in my opinion the most beautiful coin in the history of the U.S. Mint. Paying homage to Indigenous peoples with a composite profile of a Native American on one side, and the national mammal of the United States, the American Bison or “buffalo” on the other.I always wear one to be mindful of Wilma Mankiller’s words of resilience in times of struggle or despair but also, to remember her words in the context in which she meant them.Did she say these words so that white people can turn her into a mantra? Or did she say them to her people to give them strength against the colonization that continues to this day.