Viola Jimulla

Viola Jimulla
Sica-tuva, "Born Quickly," Who-wah, "Singing Cricket", Ka-hava-soo-ah, "Turquoise Bead in Nose"
Jimulla circa 1960
Prescott Yavapai chair
Preceded by	Sam "Red Ants" Jimulla
Succeeded by	Grace Mitchell and Lucy Miller
Personal details
Born	1878 San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
Died	1966 (aged 87–88)
Spouse(s)	Sam "Red Ants" Jimulla
Children	Daughters: Daisy (1902-1902) Grace (Mrs. Don) Mitchell (1902-1976) Lucy (Mrs. Jim) Miller (1906-1984) Amy Vaughn Gazzam (1912-1940) and Rosie (1913-1914) She also raised her grandchildren: Patricia (Vaughn) McGee (1926-1994) and Theodore M. Vaughn (1928-2012)
Parents	Stepfather, Mr. Phelhame
Religion	Presbyterian Church

Viola Jimulla (1878–1966) was the Chief of the Prescott Yavapai 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. She was known for improving living conditions, and for her work with the Presbyterian Church.

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 (300,000 m²) of land for the Prescott-Yavapai Indian Reservation. In the 1950s, the reservation was enlarged to 1,327 acres (5.37 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.