Welcome to the 17th Annual AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors.
Today, we gather in deep gratitude and admiration to celebrate the remarkable lives and legacies of our honored elders. These individuals are the heart of our communities, wise keepers of tradition, culture, and histor y. Through their stories, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities, they connect us to our roots, ground us in the present, and inspire future generations.
Each elder we honor today exemplifies AARP’s vision of a society where ever y person
not only their own communities but also ser ve as a beacon of ser vice, resilience, and compassion across Indian Countr y and beyond.
A s we reflect on their achievements, we are reminded of the words of Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation: “The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.” It is this spirit of perseverance and dedication that lives within each of our honorees and strengthens the fabric of our communities.
To our 2025 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder honorees, and to all past honorees, thank you. Your lives are powerful examples of the di erence one person can make. Your
With heartfelt respect and appreciation, we thank you and God bless.
Sean W. Voskuhl
AARP Oklahoma State Director
17th Annual AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors
Welcome
Master of Ceremonies
Sean Voskuhl, AARP Oklahoma State Director
Invocation
Chris Tallbear
Presentation of the Flags
Chickasaw Nation Honor Guard
In Memoriam Song
John Hamiliton and AJ Harvey
Luncheon
Dr. John and Tewanna Edwards Leadership Award
Casey Camp Horinek
Intermission
Presentation of the Honoree Medallions
Dr. John and Tewanna Edwards Leadership Award
Casey Camp Horinek
Environmental Ambassador, Ponca Nation
Traditionalist, Wisdom Keeper, speaker, author, actor, and Drumkeeper of the Ponca PaThaTa Women’s Scalp Dance Society, Casey Camp Horinek is an elder of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma and has been at the forefront of the global Indigenous Rights of Nature Movement for
International Indigenous Women’s Treaty protecting the Rights of Mother Earth and the adoption of the first Rights of Nature and Rights of Rivers Statutes by a Tribal Nation of Turtle Island, Casey has dedicated her life to environmental justice and indigenous rights.
A film and stage actor since 1988, Casey has appeared in, among many other notable works, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, “Resident Alien”, “Reservation Dogs”, “Found”, “The Windigo”, “Redbird”, “The Heart Stays”, and the short film “Water has a Memory”.
Casey is a board member of Movement Rights, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, Earthworks, and Chairwoman of the Indigenous Council of the Global Alliance of the Rights of Nature.
About the Award
” ds (1935–2014) was a asaw N tion Supreme Court, an artment of the Interior, a former ee Shawnee Tribe and a pastor of the Fellowship of American Indians Church of Oklahoma.
Chickasaw elder Tewanna Edwards has served her tribal nation and state in various roles, including with the Chickasaw Nation and the state of Oklahoma. Since 2004, she has been a peacemaker for the Chickasaw Nation District Court, helping resolve conflicts through tribal customs and traditions. She currently serves the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, where she helps connect tribal nations to programs that support independent living for those in assisted care.
Dr. and Mrs. Edwards have dedicated their lives to the betterment of others throughout Indian Country through volunteerism, advocacy and education. Their service with AARP includes positions on the AARP Oklahoma Executive Council and helping establish the AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder Honors program, now known as the Native American Elder Honors.
2025
AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honorees
Mr. Dave Baldridge Cherokee Nation
Mr. Dave Baldridge, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is a nationally recognized advocate for Native elder issues and the co-founder and executive director of the International A ssociation for Indigenous Aging (IA2).
Ms. Sandra “Sandie” Bear Quapaw Nation
Ms. Sandra “Sandie” Bear, a respected elder of the Quapaw Nation, has dedicated her life to education, cultural preser vation and ser vice to Native communities. Born in Dulce, New Mexico, and moving to Quapaw, Oklahoma, in 1961, Ms. Bear spent more than a decade at the Seneca Indian
He previously ser ved as executive director of the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA), where under his leadership the council became the nation’s foremost nonprofit advocate for American Indian and Alaska Native elders. Over his career, he has authored numerous publications on aging, health and policy, shaped federal legislation and ser vices, and testified before Congress. He has also interpreted Indian aging issues for congressional subcommittees, federal task forces, state aging organizations, long-term care providers, tribal councils and intertribal organizations. In addition to his national advocacy, Mr. Baldridge volunteers as a K9 handler and president of Sandia Search Dogs in New Mexico, reflecting his lifelong commitment to ser vice, community and the well-being of others.
where she ser ved as secretar y, night attendant, basketball coach and Girl Scout leader, positively impacting countless Native youth. She later worked with the Quapaw Nation Title VI program as an assistant cook and Meals on Wheels driver, ensuring elders received proper nutrition, and also ser ved in women’s and juvenile shelters and the Community Crisis Center. Deeply committed to cultural traditions, Ms. Bear was an active member
Quapaw Powwow Committee, and in 2018 was honored as Elder Powwow Princess by the Ottawa and beadwork pieces of cultural significance, including beaded shovels for groundbreaking ceremonies for the Shawnee Tribe and the Northeastern Tribal Health System Indian Clinic. Through her wisdom, mentorship and tireless ser vice, Ms. Bear has strengthened her community and inspired younger generations to embrace their heritage, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion, leadership and cultural pride.
Linda Blake Wyandotte Tribe
Linda Bla dedi prese Univ ics edu leade
Association and has spent decades working in children’s ministr y and caregiving. Her commitment to caregiving began as a college student supporting her grandmother and continued through hospice volunteer work and as a caregiver to family and
brought her parents back to their homelands and cared for them in their final years, allowing her father to reconnect with his tribal roots. Blake has also shared her creative skills in potter y, porcupine quillwork and beadwork, teaching at tribal gatherings, annual meetings, local schools and through the Wyandotte Title VI program, where she
COVID-19 shutdowns. She is an active member of the Tribe’s caregiver group and a dedicated supports both cultural preser vation and community gement. Through her ser vice, teaching and giving, Blake has strengthened her community while ensuring Wyandotte traditions continue to e for future generations.
Ms. Verna Cable-Burgess Comanche Nation
Ms. Verna Cable-Burgess, a citizen of the Comanche Nation, has dedicated her life to cultural preser vation, community leadership and elder advocacy. Over her career, she ser ved the Comanche Nation in several roles, including child welfare worker, where she ensured children were reunited with their communities, and l as o ice manager for Comanche Nation Entertainmen where she worked 15 years before retiring. She continues her ser vice today as secretar y of the Comanche Nation Elders Council, helping lead initiatives such as the AARP-funded community garden, and as a member of the Comanche Nation Fair Board, Language Board and Election Board. Committed to preser ving the Numunu language, she assists in certifying Comanche speaker and shares cultural knowledge with future generations. Widely recognized as a respected leader and advocat Ms. Cable-Burgess embodies the values of ser vice, resilience and dedication to her Nation.
Ms. Beverly Chafin, a citizen of the Delaware Tribe, has dedicated her life to public ser vice, tribal leadership and community advocacy. She attended Chilocco Indian School and later ser ved two terms as a tribal judge for the Delaware Tribe, in addition to her work on the housing committee. Her professional career included 14 years with Indian Health Ser vice in North Dakota and Oklahoma and 19 years with Baker Hughes in Tulsa, Oklahoma before retiring. A devoted volunteer, Ms. Chafin has ser ved as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Rogers County, assisted graduating seniors for ade at Riverside Indian School and spent 10 years as a missionar y on the Oglala Sioux Reser vation at Pine e, South Dakota. Recognized as a respected elder, ontinues to embody her Lenape heritage and ommitment to ser vice, inspiring future generations to alk in the good path of their ancestors.
Councilwoman Little Carol Clark Kaw Nation
Councilwoman Little Carol Clark, Taje’Mi (Wind Woman), is a citizen of the Kaw Nation with roots in both the Kaw and Potawatomi peoples. The daughter of the late Elmer and Naomi Murray Clark and granddaughter of Kaw language preser vationist
Maudie Rowe, she has carried forward her family’s legacy of cultural preser vation and ser vice. For 25 years she worked as a certified cosmetologist, owning her own salon and competing nationally, while also ser ving as an E-911 dispatcher, casino employee and librar y coordinator for the Kaw Nation Librar y and Learning Center. In 2022, Councilwoman Clark was appointed secretar y of the Kaw Tribal Council, where she continues to focus on strengthening culture and language as inseparable foundations of Kaw identity. Passionate about youth involvement, she has assisted with the annual Native American Youth Language Fair, supported the Taje’ Sage’ team and ensured her grandchildren are active participants in powwows and cultural events across Oklahoma. A dedicated mother, grandmother and cultural leader, Councilwoman Clark’s lifelong commitment to the Kanza people reflects her devotion to community, heritage and future generations.
Ms. DeLoyce Decorah Ponca Tribe
Ms. DeLoyce Decorah, a citizen of the Ponca Tribe, through decades of ser vice, leadership and cultural preser vation. A graduate of Riverside Indian School and Haskell, she dedicated her
Mr. Jack Dodson Cherokee Nation
Mr. Jack “Brown Eagle” Dodson, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and descendant of Chief Sequoyah, has dedicated his life to preser ving Cherokee culture and community. He is the founding chairman of the Desert Cherokees of
career to ser ving Native communities through roles at the Bureau of Indian A airs’ Pawnee Agency, Chilocco and the Ponca Tribe, including as a tribal business committee member, 15 years as Community Health Representative director, and most recently as tribal librarian. Known as a cultural treasure, Ms. Decorah shares her skills in tribal sewing, cooking and heritage preser vation, ensuring traditional knowledge is passed to future generations. She has opened her home and heart to countless children and community members, embodying the values of love, family and compassion. Her tireless e orts to nurture, teach and ser ve make her not only a vital keeper of knowledge but also a source of strength and inspiration for the Ponca people. Ms. Decorah’s legacy as a leader, mentor and cultural guardian will continue to come.
Southern Arizona and continues to ser ve on its council, leading e orts in language revitalization, cultural education and community engagement. A recognized Cherokee elder and stor yteller, Mr. Dodson also helped establish the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Southeastern Arizona. At 90, he remains active in his photography studio and continues to inspire through ser vice, tradition and leadership. In addition to his cultural work, he has been a longtime mentor to younger generations, encouraging them to embrace their Cherokee identity and values. His photography has documented Cherokee histor y and community life, creating an important record for future generations. Known for his wisdom and dedication, Mr. Dodson is celebrated by his community as both a cultural teacher and a bridge between past and present
Ms. Cheri Dunn Kaw Nation
Ms. Cheri Dunn, a citizen of the Kaw Nation, has dedicated her life to strengthening her community through leadership, vision and ser vice. Born in Newkirk, Oklahoma, she arned a d ee in h alth and human per chology from North egan
her tcareer with the Kaw Nation Gaming Commission in 2005. Elected to the Kaw Nation Tribal Council in 2016, Dunn demonstrated steadfast leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic by coordinating vital support e orts such as distributing cleaning supplies and food bundles to tribal members. Reelected in 2020, she advanced major initiatives including the development of a new resource center and greenhouse projects to promote food security She also ser ved more than a decade on the Kaw Housing Board, including ser ving as chairperson, where her vision led to the construction of elder duplexes that now ser ve the community. Beyond her elected roles, she has been active on numerous committees and is known for her generosity, providing resources, encouragement and care for families in need. Today, Ms. Dunn continues to support the Tribal Council and her people with dedication, embodying the Kaw values of resilience and ser vice. Above all, she treasures her role as a mother to two daughters and grandmother to six grandchildren, balancing family with a lifelong commitment to community
Mrs. Helen Echo-Hawk-Norris Pawnee Nation
Mrs. Helen Echo-Hawk-Norris, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation’s Kitkehahki band, has dedicated her life to education, cultural preser vation and protecting Native youth. Born and raised in Pawnee, Oklahoma, she was guided by her late aunt Eunice Wildcat and uncle Myron “Hobe” Echo-Hawk, whose
teachings shaped her deep understanding of Pawnee women’s roles and traditions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota, as well as certifications in legal assistance and victim assistance. Over her career, Mrs. Echo-Hawk-Norris ser ved her tribe and community as director of the Pawnee Indian Education Program, tribal court administrator, tax administrator and project director for the Pawnee/Osage CASA Project before retiring. She has also ser ved on boards and committees including the National CASA Inclusive and Outreach Committee, Pawnee Nation Repatriation Committee and Pawnee Nation Cultural Resources Advisor y Committee. A respected cultural leader, Mrs. Echo-Hawk-Norris represents her family and tribe at ceremonies and events. She has been married to Jim Norris for more than 50 years and is also a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her lifelong ser vice reflects her unwavering commitment to strengthening her people through education, culture and community leadership.
Ms. Sylvanna Georgia Fish Caldwell Kialegee Tribal Town
Ms. Sylvanna Georgia Fish Caldwell, a respected matrilineal elder of the Kialegee Tribal Town, has devoted her life to education, cultural preser vation and ser vice to Native communities across
Oklahoma. She earned a bachelor’s degree in special and elementar y education from East Central University and an honor diploma from Wright Native youth and families through education, workforce development and community ser vice. She has ser ved as director of education for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, fiscal director for Kialegee Tribal Town and director of human resources for Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. Ms. Caldwell also ser ved as a legislator for the Mvskoke National Council, where she advocated for housing, training and economic opportunities. Guided by her uncle’s words to overcome challenges through education and ser vice, she has provided mentorship, cultural knowledge and a home to young people in need. Her legacy is one of resilience, compassion and an enduring commitment to her people.
Ms. Carolyn Fultz
Kialegee Tribal Town
Ms. Carolyn Roberts Fultz, a citizen of the Kialegee Tribal Town and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, has dedicated more than 32 years to ser ving her people through the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health. A certified dietar y manager and certified
food protection professional, she currently super vises the dietar y department at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Community Hospital in Okemah, Oklahoma, where she successfully led its transition to a new facility. She is a member of the Association of Nutrition and Food Ser vice Professionals, the National Association of Professional Women and the International A ssociation of Professional Women, and she holds a nationally recognized credential of expertise in food ser vice operations. In recognition of her ser vice, Ms. Fultz was recently honored with a peer award from Indian Health Ser vice. Beyond her professional achievements, she has given back to her tribal community through leadership roles, ser ving six years on the Kialegee Tribal Town Business Committee’s advisor y committee and four years on the enrollment committee. A proud mother, grandmother and community ser vant, Ms. Fultz remains deeply committed to supporting patients, sta and her people, guided by her faith and lifelong dedication to ser ving others.
Mr. Simeon Gipson Cherokee Nation
Mr. Simeon Gipson, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and Choctaw descendant, has spent his 79 years exemplifying resilience, athletic excellence and community ser vice. Overcoming childhood polio, and later serious health challenges, he became a celebrated athlete, earning all-conference honors in high school, competing internationally in basketball where he won a bronze medal, and later becoming a decorated cyclist with numerous gold medals at the Oklahoma Senior Games. In 2023, he gained national recognition by cycling more than 1,000 miles from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, a journey honored by the city’s mayor. His stor y has been featured in Men’s Health magazine, the Cycle Jerks podcast and recognized by both the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations, as well as the National Senior Games. Beyond athletics, Mr. Gipson inspires others by mentoring youth, advocating for health and disability awareness, and raising funds for cancer and diabetes research. In honor of his contributions, the Cherokee Nation declared May 30 as Simeon Gipson Day.
Chairman Bobby Gonzalez Caddo Nation
Chairman Bobby Gonzalez, a citizen of the Caddo Nation, has provided visionar y leadership to his people, advancing economic development, cultural preser vation and intergovernmental partnerships. Under his guidance, the Nation established Arrowood Kakinah, a tribally owned construction company, and revitalized the Caddo Transportation Department, securing $9.8 million in infrastructure funding. He has also overseen the launch of several enterprises that generate revenue and create jobs for tribal citizens. Beyond economic development, Chairman Gonzalez is a strong advocate for cultural preser vation, ensuring that Caddo heritage remains central to community growth. Through initiatives such as the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, he has elevated Indigenous perspectives in planning and policy, helping to strengthen language, traditions and tribal identity as enduring pillars of community life.
Mr. Larry Goodfox Pawnee Nation
Mr. Larr y Goodfox, Sakuru Resaru (Sun Chief ), a full-blood Pawnee of the Chaui and Skiri bands, has dedicated more than 50 years to ser ving his people and preser ving Pawnee culture. A graduate of Pawnee High School and Cent al e Uni sit
Dr. Karen Goodnight Chickasaw Nation
Dr. Karen Goodnight, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, has devoted more than 30 years to advancing education, leadership and tribal governance. She has ser ved as a Chickasaw tribal legislator since 2017, championing issues in culture, language, education
he built a distinguished career with the Bureau of Indian A airs, where he worked in social ser vices and later in realty, ensuring proper stewardship of Native land and resources. A lifelong cultural leader, Mr. Goodfox has actively participated in war dancing, handgames and ceremonies, while also maintaining the Goodfox family camp during the annual Pawnee Homecoming and Powwow. He is especially honored for his role in overseeing the sacred Mourner’s Feast Ceremony, a responsibility carried by three generations of his family, where he o ers comfort and guidance to grieving tribal members. Currently ser ving as elder of the Pawnee Nation Cultural Resources Advisor y Committee, he continues to share his wisdom, humility and strength with his community. A devoted father and grandfather, Mr. Goodfox has instilled Pawnee values in his family and community alike.
and health care. Previously, she held senior leadership roles within the Chickasaw Nation, including administrator to the governor and chief training o icer for the Division of Commerce, where she established and directed the Department of Training and Development. A lifelong educator and coach, Dr. Goodnight earned her doctorate from the University of Oklahoma and owns Goodnight & A ssociates, LLC, specializing in executive leadership coaching and organizational development. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Chickasaw Nation Research and Publication Award for best doctoral dissertation, Holmes Scholar Representative at the University of Oklahoma, and the Chickasaw Nation Dynamic Woman of the Year Award. Dedicated to ser vice, Dr. Goodnight has also ser ved on the National Job Corps A ssociation Board, the Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative.
Mr. Noel Grayson Cherokee Nation
Mr. Noel Grayson, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has devoted his life to preser ving and teaching traditional Cherokee values, skills and histor y. Recognized in 1996 as one of the youngest Cherokee National Treasures for his master y of bowmaking and flintknapping, he has since shared his knowledge widely through demonstrations, festivals and Legacy” and OsiyoTV’s “Voices of the Cherokee”. Alongside his wife, Carrie, Mr. Grayson is regarded as a “living historian,” presenting at cultural events across Oklahoma and beyond to keep Cherokee traditions alive. Today, he ser ves in the Cherokee Nation’s Cultural Resources Department as a school and community specialist, engaging with students and communities across the state to ensure Cherokee heritage remains a vibrant and living part of education and daily life.
Mr. Don W. Greenfeather
Shawnee Tribe
Mr. Don W. Greenfeather, a citizen of the Shawnee Tribe, has dedicated his life to ser ving Indian Countr y through leadership, advocacy and community ser vice. A graduate of Southwestern
College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mr. Greenfeather worked with Indian Health Ser vice from 1981 to 1983 before beginning a long career with the Cherokee Nation, where he has been a steady and respected leader in the Tribal Employment Rights O ice program and as construction manager, ensuring opportunities and success for Native employees and businesses. He also ser ved the Shawnee Tribe with distinction as tribal councilman from 1987 to 1990 and later as tribal chairman from 1990 to 1999, guiding his people through years of growth and progress. In addition, Mr. Greenfeather contributed at the state level as a member of the Oklahoma Indian A airs Commission. Known as a strong patriarch and leader by example, he has earned the respect of colleagues, family and community alike, and his ser vice continues to reflect his lifelong commitment to the betterment of his people.
Ms. Betty Holcomb
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
Ms. Betty Holcomb, a citizen of the United Keetoowah Band (UKB) of Cherokee Indians and member of the Long Hair Clan, grew up in the Tailholt
Ms. Teresa Harmor, a citizen of the Iowa Tribe and descendant of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Osage Nation, has devoted her life to family, community and cultural reconnection. Born Remonia Lorraine Murray, she was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma under the name Teresa Walker and later reunited with her Ioway relatives, restoring her ties to her people and heritage. She is the mother of two sons, including Jacob Keyes, the current chairman of the Iowa Tribe, as well as a grandmother of three and great-grandmother of one. Today, Ms. Harmor is an active participant in Iowa Tribe elder activities, where she shares her life experiences and contributes to strengthening cultural identity and community ties. Her journey of resilience, family devotion and reconnection to her Ioway roots ser ves as a powerful example of healing and the enduring strength of Native identity.
her first language and traditional cooking became her lifelong passion. A graduate of Sequoyah High School, Ms. Holcomb dedicated much of her career to food ser vice, ser ving as food ser vice super visor at Sequoyah High School and preparing daily meals for hundreds of students, as well as cooking for Head Start programs and community events. She has generously shared her talents by preparing meals for the Annual Keetoowah Celebration Free Feed and Hog Fr y, elder committee fundraisers, district representatives and the John Hair Cultural Center and Museum, where her pies are always in demand. A former UKB Tribal Council member representing the Tahlequah District, Ms. Holcomb has also spent more than 30 years quilting and creating tear dresses, ribbon shirts and quilts that preser ve and pass down Keetoowah culture. Through her work, teaching and community ser vice, she has made a lasting impact on her people and remains a respected cultural leader and tradition bearer.
Ms. Judith A. Hunter-Ware Kiowa Tribe
Ms. Judith A. Hunter-Ware, a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe and of Delaware and Caddo descent, has dedicated her life to education, culture and community ser vice. Raised in Anadarko, Oklahoma she
attended Chilocco Indian School and Jones Academy, later earning a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota and a master’s degree in education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. For 45 years, she taught and coached at Riverside Indian School, where she sponsored cultural and youth programs, including the Riverside Dance Troupe, Indian Club and scouting groups, while also leading cross countr y and track. Committed to preser ving culture, Ms Hunter-Ware completed the Kiowa Language Culture Revitalization Program and now teaches the Kiowa language independently, ensuring future generations remain connected to their heritage. Honored throughout her career for her leadership and cultural advocacy, Ms. Hunter-Ware is most proud of her role as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, cherishing time with her family while continuing to ser ve as a cultural leader and inspiration to the Kiowa people.
Mr. Roman Jasinski Peoria Tribe
Mr Roman Jasinski, a citizen of the Peoria Tribe, has carried forward the remarkable legacy of his world-renowned parents, Roman Jasinski, premier danseur, and Moscelyne Larkin, one of the legend-
right, Mr. Jasinski performed internationally and
spent 10 years in New York City, New York dancing alongside Mikhail Bar yshnikov while also contributing as a choreographer. Following his parents’ example, he dedicated his career not only to excellence in ballet but also to teaching and mentoring. He worked with the Peoria Tribe’s Cultural Preser vation Department to preser ve his family’s dance legacy, donating extensive memorabilia to the University of Oklahoma’s Ballets Russes Archive. Returning to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mr. Jasinski taught and choreographed for the Tulsa Ballet Theatre while also ser ving as a Tulsa police o icer for 18 years, during which he donated his salar y to support underprivileged children. He personally sponsored hundreds of youth to attend Tulsa’s annual Nutcracker Ballet and created opportunities for children to experience the arts. Honored with numerous awards for his charitable work, Mr. Jasinski is celebrated not only as an accomplished artist but also as a community ser vant whose life reflects grace, generosity and dedication to culture and youth.
Ms. Rebecca Jim Cherokee Nation
Ms. Rebecca Jim, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has dedicated her life to education, cultural preser vation and environmental justice in Oklahoma. She holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences from Southern Colorado State
College and a master’s degree in counseling education from Northeastern State University. Ms. Jim ser ved 25 years as an Indian counselor for Miami Public Schools, where she also sponsored the Indian Club and Dance Team, empowering Native youth and leading the nationally recognized Tar Creek Project. Since 1997, she has been the executive director of Local Environmental Action Demanded (LEAD) Agency, advocating for environmental health and justice in northeast Oklahoma and ser ving as the Tar Creekkeeper with the Waterkeeper Alliance. A lifelong educator and community leader, Ms. Jim has combined ser vice, advocacy and cultural leadership to strengthen her Nation and improve the well-being of communities across Oklahoma. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Cherokee Nation Principal Chief ’s Leadership Award, the Sierra Club Oklahoma Chapter Carrie Dickerson Award for Conser vation and the Terr y Backer Waterkeeper Alliance Award.
Ms. Norma Jimerson
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
Ms. Norma Jimerson, a citizen of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, has dedicated her life to ser ving her people and preser ving Cherokee traditions. Born in Cherokee
County and raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, she attended Sequoyah High School and Haskell Indian College, where she met her husband of 48 years, Herman Jimerson of the Seneca Tribe of New York. A retired Hastings Indian Health Ser vices employee, Ms. Jimerson ser ved her tribe for a decade as an Election Board chairperson. She continues to contribute through her work on the enrollment, housing, health community partnership and elder committees, and by helping organize the annual Keetoowah Celebration. She also volunteers with the Cherokee County Health Council AmeriCorps Seniors 918 program and remains active in cultural preser vation by teaching traditional foodways such as grape dumplings and kanuchi through the Keetoowah museum’s “Back to Basics” series. Deeply devoted to her family, community and culture, Ms. Jimerson exemplifies leadership, ser vice and wisdom as a treasured elder who continues to strengthen and inspire her tribal nation.
Ms. Diane Kelley Cherokee Nation
The Honorable Terr y Mason-Moore, a citizen of the Osage Nation from the Grayhorse District, has dedicated her career to advancing tribal sovereignty, justice and community ser vice. She made histor y as the first woman to ser ve as
Ms. Diane Kelley, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has devoted 48 years of ser vice to her Nation as executive director of Career Ser vices and the Talking Leaves Job Corps. A graduate of Northeastern State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she also completed advanced training in economic development and job corps operations. Over her distinguished career, she has ser ved under seven principal chiefs and held leadership roles on numerous boards, including the National Congress of American Indians, where she ser ved as secretar y and area vice president for more than 16 years. Ms. Kelley’s dedication to workforce development and economic empowerment has been recognized nationally, and her work has provided hope and opportunity to thousands of Cherokees through education, training and employment. Her lifelong commitment to ser vice reflects Cherokee values of leadership, perseverance and community.
assistant principal chief of the Osage Nation and has also ser ved as a tribal council member, Osage Nation gaming commissioner, and currently as general counsel for the O ice of the Principal Chief and legal counsel for Osage Casinos. A graduate of Northeastern State University and the University of New Mexico School of Law, she has more than three decades of judicial ser vice across multiple tribal nations. She also co-authored amendments to the juvenile codes of the Pawnee and Osage nations, ensuring CASA volunteers can advocate for Native children in tribal courts. Her public ser vice includes appointments by President Barack Obama to the Special Trustee Advisor y Board for American Indians and by Gov. Brad Henr y to the Native American Cultural and Education Authority. Honored with the Dr. Ralph Dru Career and Professional Award from the Greater Tulsa Area Indian A airs Commission, Ms. Mason-Moore is widely regarded as an expert in sovereignty and a trailblazer for Native women in law and governance, continuing to inspire through her leadership and devotion to her family.
Honorable Terry Mason-Moore Osage Nation
Mrs. Brenda MechlingChaino-Ahkeahbo Kiowa Tribe
Mrs. Brenda Mechling-Chaino-Ahkeahbo, a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe, is known for her quiet strength, lifelong dedication to tradition and deep commitment
Ms. Martha “Marti”
Only A Chief Pawnee Nation
teachings of her father, she has passed on Kiowa cultural traditions to her children and grandchildren and continues to support powwows, stomp dances
educator, she taught choir at Carl Albert High School before returning to her alma mater, Del City High School, where she chose the more challenging path of ser ving as a mentor to students facing life’s many struggles. Under her leadership, Mrs. Mechling-Chaino-Ahkeahbo choirs earned top honors in competitions and performed at state, city and school functions. Her dedication was recognized when she was named Mid-Del Schools Teacher of the Year. Beyond the classroom, she has inspired through resilience and leadership, facing personal health challenges with grace, humor and determination while guiding her Class of 1975 through their 50th high school reunion and beyond. A devoted mother, grandmother and cultural bearer, Mrs. Mechling-Chaino-Ahkeahbo exemplifies the values of ser vice, perseverance and quiet leadership that
Ms. Martha “Marti” Only A Chief, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation’s Cawi band and descendant of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, has devoted much of her life to ser ving her people and preser ving their heritage. Since 2019, she has ser ved as the Pawnee Nation’s Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act o icer, bringing home hundreds of relatives for reburial in their original Nebraska homelands and ensuring compliance with federal repatriation laws. Her work has taken her across the countr y and abroad, representing the Pawnee voice with grace, professionalism and strength while consulting with museums, universities and agencies on sacred and cultural items. A graduate with degrees in tribal business management and higher education, Ms. Only A Chief has dedicated her career to cultural preser vation and community ser vice, while also cherishing her role as a loving grandmother, cultural mentor and active participant in Pawnee community life. Deeply respected for her leadership and compassion, she continues to protect, preser ve and honor Pawnee ancestors and traditions for future generations.
Ms. Kimberly Pearson Osage Nation
Ms. Kimberly Pearson, a citizen of the Osage Nation from the Gray Horse District with Cherokee and Kaw heritage, is building on her family’s legacy of leadership while creating one of her own. The
Ms. Anne Pemberton Delaware Nation
great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Revard, noted for his role in the Lewis and Clark expedition, and daughter of the Honorable Douglas C. Revard, a former district judge and member of the first Osage Nation Congress, Ms. Pearson continues a tradition of ser vice and innovation. A graduate of Oklahoma State University and Southern Nazarene University, she became the first woman to ser ve as chief executive o icer of Osage Casinos in 2022, where she oversees 1,500 employees, two new casino and hotel expansions, and a 25 percent increase in annual revenue distributions to the Nation. Named one of The Journal Record’s “50 Women Making a Di erence” in 2023, Ms. Pearson has placed multiple Osage casino properties into trust, safeguarding sovereignty and strengthening the Nation’s future. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she actively supports cultural preser vation and community development, including e orts to reclaim ancestral homelands in Missouri. Ms. Pearson’s leadership ensures expanded health care, education and opportunities for Osage citizens while leaving a lasting impact for future generations.
Ms. Anne Pemberton, a citizen of the Delaware Nation of Western Oklahoma’s Turtle Clan, has devoted her life to ser ving her community and advocating for others. A graduate of Cameron University with a Bachelor of Science in human
ecology and a minor in sociology, she has worked for 28 years with Apex Inc., a provider agency ser ving adults with disabilities, where she rose to executive director. Appointed by Gov. Brad Henr y to the Oklahoma Disabilities Council, Ms. Pemberton has been a strong voice for disability rights at the state capitol and has received numerous awards recognizing her tireless advocacy. Deeply committed to her nation, she has ser ved on the Delaware Nation Election Committee, Housing Board of Directors and elder language committee, where she contributes cultural knowledge and helps develop Lenape language resources. Guided by her values of respect, ser vice and tradition, Ms. Pemberton while cherishing her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mr. Je Rhoton Cherokee Nation
Mr. Gerome Riley Cherokee Nation
Mr. Je Rhoton, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is an entrepreneur, media professional and community leader dedicated to cultural preser vation and ser vice. With more than 25 yea experience in television production and digital marketing, he has worked with networks including ESPN, Outdoor Channel, CBS and Discover y, and is co-founder of AudienceRent LLC. Deeply commit to education and community, Mr. Rhoton ser ves through the Victor y Cherokee Organization, the Collinsville Indian Education Parent Committee, the City of Collinsville Planning Commission and the University of Central Oklahoma’s Strategic Communication Advisor y Board. He also founded Cherokee Co ee Talk, a social content platform amplifying Cherokee voices and perspectives. A member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma and the Indigenous Journalists Association, Mr. Rhoton continues to values of ser vice and leadership to the next generation.
Mr. Gerome Riley, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Freedmen descent, has devoted his life to ser vice, leadership and community. Born in Chelsea, Oklahoma, he ser ved honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1954, reflecting the Cherokee value of sacrifice for others. Known as both an accomplished athlete and respected community leader, Mr. Riley continues to inspire through his example well into his 90s. Today, he ser ves on the Cherokee Nation Freedmen Art and Histor y Advisor y Committee, where he helps preser ve and share a fuller, more inclusive stor y of Cherokee histor y. His enduring commitment to unity, cultural preser vation and truth exemplifies the highest ideals of the Cherokee people.
Mr. Roy Dean Roberts Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Mr. Roy Dean Roberts, a full-blood citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and member of the Deer Clan and Alligator Clan, has devoted his life to ser vice, community and cultural preser vation. Born in Sunrise, Oklahoma, and raised with a love for horses and hard work on his family’s farm, he
Mrs. Joyce Rock Cherokee Nation
carried those values into his professional and
certificate from Haskell Vocational School in 1966, he ser ved honorably in the U.S. Army before building a career as a skilled pipeline welder. Mr. Roberts was later called upon by Principal Chief Claude Cox and Indian National Finals Rodeo Commissioner Bob Arrington to oversee the construction
facility for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, super vising a crew of 30 welders and laborers on this landmark project. A lifelong supporter of the All-Indian Rodeo A ssociation, he has worked tirelessly to ensure his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren carr y forward the Roberts family tradition of horsemanship. In 2024, he was honored with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief ’s Choice Award at the Living Legends Ceremony. Mr Roberts legacy of ser vice, leadership and cultural pride continues to inspire his family, his community and his Nation.
Mrs. Joyce Rock, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has dedicated her life to education, leadership and ser vice. The first in her family to graduate from college, she earned a bachelor’s degree in math education and later a master’s degree in school administration, going on to teach high school math, direct Indian education programs and ser ve as a principal on the Navajo Nation. She concluded her career with the Oklahoma State Department of Education before retiring in 2024. Throughout her nearly seven decades of ser vice, Ms. Rock has been honored with numerous awards, including New Mexico Principal of the Year, the Laura Choate Resilience Award and the Cherokee Phoenix Seven Feathers Award in Education. Guided by the Cherokee value of Gadugi, she has also ser ved as a national board member for PFLAG and continues to give back as treasurer of Southern Cherokee Helpers. Her lifelong commitment to students, community and culture reflects the highest ideals of Cherokee leadership and ser vice.
Mr. Jackie “Boston” Rowe Iowa Tribe
Mrs. Margarett Scraper-Parker
Cherokee Nation
Mrs. Margarett Scraper-Parker, a Cherokee Nation citizen from Stilwell, Oklahoma, has dedicated her life to health care and advocacy for her people. She graduated salutatorian from Sequoyah High School in 1974, earned multiple bachelor’s degrees from
whose historic achievement as a Boston Garden champion bull rider helped shape Boston’s own work ethic and love for rodeo. Following in his father’s footsteps, Mr. Rowe became a champion bull rider himself, competing alongside legends such as Jim Shoulders and Freckles Brown. Beyond the arena, he ser ved honorably in the U.S. Army and today continues his ser vice as vice commander of the Iowa Tribe’s Grey Snow Warriors. A lifelong member of the Polecat Stomp Grounds and Pickett Chapel, Mr. Rowe is deeply involved in cultural and community life. Retired from a career in public ser vice, he is known for his generosity, lending a helping hand to neighbors and fellow elders. Together with his wife, Marilyn, in Grove, Oklahoma, he is recognized as a respected elder, cultural ambassador and pillar of the community. Just as his father’s championship brought pride to the Ioway people, Mr. Rowe’s life of ser vice and cultural leadercontinues to bring honor to his Nation.
Northeastern State University, and completed her nursing degree at Bacone College in 1986. For 36 years, she ser ved as a registered nurse with Indian Health Ser vice and the Cherokee Nation at W.W. Hastings Hospital, where she held super visor y roles and also provided home health care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a critical role as employee health nurse, ensuring Cherokee Nation sta were protected through testing, vaccinations
Mrs. Scraper-Parker joined Cherokee Nation ONE FIRE Victim Ser vices, first as an advocate and now as a case manager, where she continues to answer emergency calls around the clock and provide critical support to victims of domestic and family violence. For more than 38 years, she has been a trusted professional, mentor and advocate for Native people, ser ving as a role model for her daughters, who also work for the Cherokee Nation. Known for her grace, steadfastness and unwavering commitment, Mrs. Scraper-Parker embodies the spirit of ser vice and leadership that continues to strengthen her tribal community.
Mrs. Ruth Shaw Osage Nation
Mrs. Ruth Shaw, a revered culture keeper of the Osage Nation, has dedicated more than 30 years to the preser vation and teaching of Osage ribbonwork, a sac
self-taught and later mentored by renowned ribbonwork artists, she transformed her passion into community ser vice by teaching classes, mentoring young artists and creating regalia that honors tradition. Her work has been widely recognized, including a commissioned men’s ribbonwork suit for Osage Nation Principal Chief Geo rey Standing Bear and a ribbonwork blanket featured in the film “Killers of the Flower Moon”, in which she also appeared as an extra. Mrs. Shaw’s cultural commitment extends beyond her artistr y; she has ser ved on Inlonshka dance committees as a cook, supported her family’s leadership roles as the mother of former Grayhorse Drumkeeper Bates Shaw and grandmother of current Grayhorse Drumkeeper George Shaw, and continues to model dedication to Osage values. Living in Pawhuska with her husband, Edward, she is the proud mother of three children and grandmother of nine. Mrs. Shaw’s artistr y, mentorship and ser vice embody her role as a steward of Osage heritage and a champion of cultural preser vation.
Mr. Gene Sovo Comanche Nation
Mr. Gene Sovo, “Strength to Raise the Sun,” a respected elder of the Comanche Nation, is celebrated as a cultural ambassador, teacher, and community leader whose life has been dedicated to
preser ving and sharing Numunu traditions. A direct descendant of revered Comanche chiefs, Mr. Sovo has carried forward the legacy of the Tu-Wee (Black Knife) dance leaders and ser ved as Head Singer, teacher of songs, and cultural mentor for future generations. His artistr y and horsemanship brought Comanche traditions to national audiences through roles in “Lonesome Dove”, “The Lone Ranger” soundtrack, and even video game character modeling. He has ser ved in leadership roles on the Comanche Nation Gaming Commission, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Board and Election Board, as well as three years as President of the Sterling School Board. Honored by Cameron University for his support of collegiate athletics, Mr. Sovo has also dedicated decades to coaching and mentoring youth in sports and community programs. Known for his generosity, integrity, and cultural knowledge, Mr. Sovo’s lifelong contributions ensure the strength and sur vival of Comanche traditions while inspiring pride and resilience across his Nation.
Mr. Donald Tofpi
Kiowa Tribe
Mr. Donald Tofpi, a respected elder and traditional leader of the Kiowa Tribe, has dedicated his life to preser ving Kiowa culture while ser ving as a mentor and role model for future generations. Born in
grant, later ser ving as federal programs director and on the tribal corporate board, where she helped secure funding and oversee planning for the UKB Federal Programs building in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, now the tribal headquarters. Nationally, she spent nine years as the Bureau of Indian A airs’ Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act program manager, working with the Environmental Protection Agency to clean and restore contaminated lands across Indian Countr y, including the Tar Creek Superfund e. Since retiring in 2016, Ms. Stevens has ser ved as d president of the Murrow Indian Children’s Home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, leading fundraising ts and visiting weekly to support Native youth. Married for 56 years, she and her husband live on a anch near Haskell, Oklahoma, where they have aised bison for more than 20 years. A devoted elder, ontinues to ser ve her church. Ms. Stevens elong commitment to environmental stewardship, al sovereignty and community care exemplifies the spirit of ser vice and leadership.
Lawton, Oklahoma, he is a U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society, and a graduate of Carnegie High School, Haskell Institute and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, where Mr. Tofpi was named to Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges. A lifelong public ser vant, he is a former chairman of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, executive director, and advisor on tribal government and Bureau of Indian A airs programs. In 2023, he made histor y as the first Native American elected mayor of Carnegie, Oklahoma, later honored with “Donald Tofpi Day” by proclamation. He continues his ser vice as a Carnegie town trustee, chairman of the Administration on Aging Elders Advisor y Committee and co-founder of the Kiowa Tribe Librar y and Archives project. Married to his wife, Evelyn, for 58 years, and blessed with one daughter, two grandsons and seven great-grandchildren, Mr. Tofpi exemplifies leadership, humility and lifelong dedication to his people and community
Justice Phillip Viles Cherokee Nation
Ms. Ramona Wahpepah Kickapoo Tribe
Ms. Ramona Wahpepah, a full-blood member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, has devoted more than 50 years to advancing Native education and
Justice Phillip Viles, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has dedicated his life to public ser vice, law and advancing opportunities for Native communities. A U.S. Air Force veteran decorated for his ser vice in Vietnam, he earned degrees from the University of Virginia, the University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma, later practicing law at the state, tribal, federal and U.S. Supreme Court levels. Mr. Viles ser ved on the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court from 1976 to 2002, including 16 years as chief justice, during which he swore in Principal Chiefs Wilma Mankiller and Chad Smith. Beyond the bench, he represented the Nation at the 1999 Constitutional Convention and worked a decade with the U.S. Department of the Interior, where he oversaw a $520 million loan portfolio supporting Native economic development nationwide. A frequent speaker, author and advocate on Native issues, Mr. Viles continues to advance innovation in tribal sovereignty through his leadership in emerging economic and financial initiatives.
Science in business education and a Master of
Education in adult education from the University of Central Oklahoma, and she has taught at Haskell Indian Nations University, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Phoenix Indian School and Sovereign Community School. Her 19 years with the Bureau of Indian A airs included ser vice at Riverside Indian School, the Phoenix area o ice and in Washington, D.C., where she ser ved as an education specialist and management analyst. Certified in race and human relations by the Department of Defense, Ms. Wahpepah also spent two decades as associate director of the American Indian Institute at the University of Oklahoma, where she provided training and technical assistance to tribes across the United States and Canada. She continues her ser vice as education director for the Kickapoo Tribe and has faithfully kept a traditional Kickapoo home for the Creator in Jones, Oklahoma, for the past 16 years. Honored as a respected elder and cultural keeper, Ms. Wahpepah is also a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who continues to guide and inspire her family and her tribal community.
Ms. Kay Wallace
Cherokee Nation
Kay Wallace, a citizen of the Absen Tribe, has dedicated more than 50 assistant in Pottawatomie Count impact on her community. She se housing commissioner for the Absen Housing Authority, improving housing a tribal citizens. As a member of the Absen Shawnee White Turkey Band, Ms. lead fundraising e orts to support N through scholarships and edu commitment to justice, housing and edu Oklahoma community.
Mr. Michael “Mike” Watkins, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has dedicated nearly 60 years to advancing tribal business, finance and community ser vice. A longtime member of the Cherokee Nation Businesses Board of Directors, he has played a pivotal role in strengthening the economic sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation through his expertise in accounting, financial operations and strategic planning. His career also included leadership roles with Greenleaf Nurser y, American Nurser y Products, Reasor’s and Park Hill Plants, where he retired as chief financial o icer. A U.S. Army Reser ve veteran and graduate of Northeastern State University, Mr Watkins has also been deeply involved in his community, ser ving with organizations such as the Grandview School Board, Tahlequah City Hospital, the Cherokee County Rotar y Club and the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce. A lifelong resident of Tahlequah, he continues to embody the Cherokee values of ser vice, leadership and family alongside his wife, Glendon, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Michael “Mike” Watkins
Mr. Byron Lance White Kiowa Tribe
M le langua Tribe.
Ms. Carla Whiteman
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes
and Margaret Tsoodle, in Mountain View, Oklahoma, he was immersed from childhood in the Kiowa language, church hymns and community traditions. He now ser ves as a language liaison for the Kiowa Tribe’s Language Department, sharing the “Phrase of the Day” on the Tribe’s social media platforms and leading weekly livestream classes to help preser ve and revitalize the Kiowa language. A retired Bureau of Indian A airs professional, Mr. White developed expertise in Individual Indian Money accounts and probate histories, assisting families in tracing their genealogy and kinship ties. Through his dedication, Kiowa language instruction has expanded into public schools across Anadarko, Carnegie and Lawton, Oklahoma, ensuring that future generations carr y forward this vital cultural knowledge. A lifelong learner and teacher, Mr. White’s commitment to language, histor y and ommunity ser vice reflects his passion for strengthening his people and honoring the teachings of his elders.
Ms. Carla Whiteman, an enrolled citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes with lineage to the Osage Nation, Pueblo of Acoma and Citizen Potawatomi Nation, has dedicated her life to educa-
eron University with a bachelor’s degree in education, she went on to earn master’s degrees in education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and in counseling from East Central University. Ms. Whiteman ser ved more than 25 years with Lawton Public Schools before beginning her dream job as academic counselor at Riverside Indian School, where she has guided and inspired Native students for more than a decade. Beyond her career, she is known as the “Osagediva” on the Indians for Indians radio show, where she shares culture and community with listeners. While proud of her professional achievements, Ms. Whiteman considers her greatest honor being a mother to her late son, Russell Cozad Jr., and grandmother to his five children, reflecting her deep commitment to family, community and future Native generations.
Rev. Clarence Yarholar
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town
Rev. Clarence Yarholar, a citizen of the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, has devoted his life to ser vice and
education and spiritual leadership. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical dependency and
Ms. Paula Williams, a citizen of the Sac and Fox Nation, has devoted her life to advancing tribal sovereignty, self-determination and Native rights. A dedicated advocate from her early involvement in the American Indian Movement, Ms. Williams began her career at the Mid-America All-Indian Center in Wichita before ser ving as tribal administrator for the Sac and Fox Nation, where she championed the fight for self-governance. Her leadership led to numerous congressional testimonies and her historic appointment as the first permanent director of the Indian Health Ser vice O ice of Tribal Self-Governance, ser ving all 574 federally recognized tribes across the United States. Recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a Self-Governance Pioneer and Warrior, Ms. Williams ontinues to give back to her community as a Sac and Fox Nation gaming commissioner. Her trailblazing career and lifelong advocacy embody her enduring commitment to tribal nations and Native people.
co-occurring diagnosis from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2000 and ser ved more than 14 years as a therapist with the Absentee Shawnee and Kickapoo Tribes of Oklahoma before retiring in 2021. Answering a call to ministr y, he later earned a Master of Arts in Christian ministr y with a specialization in prophetic witness and ser vice from St. Paul School of Theology in 2020. Mr.Yarholar currently ser ves Mar y Lee Clark Memorial United Methodist Church in Del City as part of the Oklahoma Indian Missionar y Conference, where he was licensed as a pastor in 2013 and ordained a full elder in 2022. He also ser ves as chairman of the Board of Ordained Ministr y, providing guidance and mentorship for future Native clergy. Mr. Yarholar is widely respected for his presentations and focus groups addressing theology, prevention and cultural understanding across all ages and faiths. His dedication to bridging Native and Christian worldviews in the pursuit of spiritual restoration has broader community.
Past AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors Recipients
Absentee Shawnee Tribe
Ms. Johnnie Mae Bettelyoun
Ms. Mar y Birdtail
Mr. George Blanchard
Ms. Redena Blanchard Miller
Gov. Beverly Edwina Butler-Wolfe
Ms. Anita Chisholm
Ms. Wynona Coon
Mrs. Charlene Edwards-Whittington
Ms. Atheda Fletcher
Mr. Walter L. Larney
Mrs. Twila Parker
Ms. Jenifer Sloan
Ms. Esteline Sloan Schulenberg
Mr. Larr y Spybuck
Mr. Melpherd Switch
Ms. Dara Thorpe
Ms. Meredith Wahpekeche
Ms. Pauline White Wahpepah
Mr. Alvin Wilson
Ms. Reta Marie Wilson-Harjo
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
Mrs. Sinah Manley BirdCreek
Mr F.B. Fish
Chief Nelson Scott Harjo Sr.
Mrs. Evelyn McLemore
Ms. Diana Moppin
Mr. Turner Scott
Mrs. Lucinda Lou Tiger
Ms. Winey Yargee
Mr. Jack Yargee
Mekko Robert L. Yargee
Chief Tarpie Yargee
Apache Tribe
Mr. William "Bill' F. Tennyson Berr y
Mr. Harr y Kaudlekaule
Mr. Gregg Klinekole Jr
Mr. Nathan "Jumbo" Tselee
Caddo Nation
Col. Louis "Buddy" Bedoka
Dr. Guyneth Bedoka Cardwell
Dr. Dolores Subia BigFoot
Mr. Phillip Cross
Ms. Gayle Cussen Satepauhoodle
Ms. Mar y Lou Davis
Mr. Randlett Edmonds
Mr. Joeseph "Joe" Exendine
Mrs. Margaret Francis-Rico
Mrs. Billie Ruth Ho
Mr. John Wayne Kionut
Ms. Ann Louis Bedoka Donaghey
Mr. Dwight Pickering
Ms. Jereldine "Jeri" Redcorn
Ms. Carol Ross
Ms. Janie Tartsah
Mrs. Jennifer Wilson
Ms. Charlene Wright
Cherokee Nation
Dr. Richard Allen
Mr. Buel Anglen
Mrs. Billie Anthony
Ret. Private Robert Backward
Mr. Jack Baker
Ms. Dianne Barker Harrold
Chief Justice Dwight W. Birdwell
Mrs. Sandi Bokovoy
Mr. Justin Bolen
Mrs. Kar yn Braswell
Mr. Danny Callison
Dr. Thomas Carlile
Ms. Rosa Carter
Mr. John Wayne Cloud
Mr. John Cockrum
Ms. Beverly Cowan
Ret. SFC Norman Crowe
Ms. Carol "Jane" Davis
Ms. Sharon Dawes
Mr. J. C. Elliot
Mrs. Mae Dean Erb
Dr. John Farris
Mr. Gar y Farris
Chief Justice John Garrett
Mr. Bill Glass Jr.
Mr. Joe Grayson
Dr. Charles Grim
Mrs. Winnie Guess-Perdue
Mr. James Franklin Hail
Mr. Dennis "Jay" Hannah
Mrs. Nancy Hansen Edwards
Mrs. Sue Harjo
Mr. Jerr y Holderby
Mr. Bill Horton
Dr. Pamela Jumper Thurman
Mr. John Ketcher
Ret. Senior Master Sergeant Terr y Lamar
Mrs. Marsha Lamb
Mrs. Doris "Coke" Lane Meyer
Mr. Robert "Bob" Yahnah Lowrey
Ms. Betty Martin
Rev. D.J. McCarter
Ms. Carolyn McClellan
Ms. Rebecca "Becky" Meyer
Mr. Eddie Morrison
Mrs. Marcella Morton
Mr. Ira M. Phillips
Ms. Frances Ramsey
Ms. Mar y Rector Aitson
Mr. Jimmy L. Reeder
Ms. Pat Riley Reeder
Ms. Lucinda Robbins
Ms. Fan Robinson
Mr. Calvin Rock
Mr. Mark Rogers
Dr. Mar y "Katie" Sigler
Cherokee Nation - continued
Mr. Crosslin Fields Smith
Mr. Henr y Smoke
Mr Curtis Snell
Mr. Chris Soap
Mr. Charlie Soap
Mr. Bud Andrew Squirrel
Mr. Hickor y Starr
Ms. Ollie Starr
Ret. Lt. Col. Rex Earl Starr
Ms. Betty Starr-Barker
Ms. Ida Sue Stopp
Ms. Dorothy Sullivan
Mr. Ross Swimmer
Mr. Joe T. Thornton
Mr. Jack Townsend
Mr. Raymond Vann
Mrs. Ronda Williams
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
Ms. Erma Jean Brown
Col. Ralph Dru
Mr. Darrell G. Flyingman
Rev. Pat Gonzales
Mr. Albert GreyEagle
Ms. Irene D. Hamilton
Mr. Matheson Hamilton
Chief Lawrence Hart
Dr. Henrietta Mann
Mr. Har vey Phillip Pratt
Mr. Charles Pratt
Mr. Quinton Roman Nose
Mr. Larr y Roman Nose
Mr. Moses Starr Jr
Mr. Raymond "Red" Stone Calf
Traditional Chief Allen Sutton
Mrs. Viola Sutton-Hatch
Mr. William Tall Bear Sr
Ms. Wanda Whiteman
Ms. Gail Williams
Mr. Richard Dean Williams
Mr. Robert Wilson
Mr. Edward Wilson
Chickasaw Nation
Mr. John Edwin Anderson
Mr. James "Jim" Anderson
Ms. Mar y Baken
Mr. William "Bill" Bomboy
Mrs. Jeraldine "Jerr y" Brown
Mr. Kennedy Brown
Mrs. Christie Byars-Chavez
Ms. Pauline Carpenter-Brown
Mr. Robert Larkin Cole
Mr. Thomas W. Cooper
Ms. Irene Digby
Mr. Bill Duckworth
Ms. Tewanna Edwards
Mrs. Ramona Eyachabbe
Ms. Carolyn Sue Fish
Ms. Glenda Galvan
Ms. Mar y Jo Green
Mrs. Sherri Hancock
Mr. Ron Hayes
Mr. Don Hayes
Mr. Melvin Imotichey
Ms. Rose Je erson
Hon. Mar y Jane Lower y
Rep. Neal McCaleb
Mrs. Dean McManus
Adm. Kevin Meeks
Mr. Marcus "Mark" Milligan
Ms. Merr y Monroe
Mr. Levi Orphan
Mr. Ron Parker
Mr. Michael Reed
Ms. Thelma Lucile "Chincie" Ross
Ms. Lucy Belle Schultz
Mrs. Sue Simmons
Ms. Mar y Smith
Ms. Barbara Smith
Mr Stanley Smith
Ms. Towana Spivey
Ms. Margie Testerman
Ms. Joyce Vinyard
Mr. Stephen Wall
Mr. Bennett "Ben" Clark White
Mr. Paul Wilson
Ms. Patricia Ann Woods
Chickasaw Nation
Mr. Jack Austin Sr.
Mrs. Carole Ayers
Mrs. Lorene Blaine
Rev. Bertram Bobb
Mrs. Doretha Bowen
Ms. Mar y Ann Brittan
Mr. Gilbert Mike "Choc" Charleston
Mr. Delton Cox
Mr. Thomas J. Dr y
Ms. Janice Edmiston
Ms. Robin Ann Fitzl
Mrs. Sue Folsom
Mrs. Concetta Gragg
Dr. Jacque Gray
Mrs. Rita Hart
Mr. Ernest Hooser
Ms. Nellie Hunter
Ms. Jeanette Kemp
Mr. William "Bill" Logan
Mr. Sylvester Moore
Ms. Mona Lea Perr y
Mr. Walter Phelps
Ms. Norma Price
Rev. Roger Scott
Mrs. Gloria Sirmans
Ms. Linda Skinner
Mr. Leo Smallwood
Ms. Marcie Smith
Mr. Claude Sumner
Mrs. Rosa Taylor Gilmore
Ms. Harriet Tehauno
Ms. Betty War
Ms. Linda Watson
Chaplain Olin Williams
Ms. Evangeline Wilson
Rev. Donald Eugene "Gene" Wilson
Ms. Pauline "Paula" Wilson-Carney
Mrs. Robin Woodley
Ms. Loyce Wright
Mr. David Barrett
Chairman John "Rocky" Barrett
Ms. Loretta Barrett-Oden
Vice Chairwoman Linda Capps
Mr Leon Cross
Ms. Mar y Deathrage
Ms. Felecia Freeman
Ms. Beverly Hughes
Mr. Alan Kelly
Mr. Joe Miller
Mr. William Nadean
Ms. Mar y Ann Powell
Ms. Annamaria Simpson
Mrs. Carmelita Skeeter
Mr. Doyle Morton Thompson
Ms. Darla Tsotaddle
Ms. Margaret Zientek
Mr. Tim Zientek
Comanche Nation
Mrs. Patricia Bread
Mr. George Briscoe II
Chaplain Jimmy Ray Caddo
Chairman Wallace Co ey
Mr Kenneth Coosewoon
Mrs. Rita Coosewoon
Mr. Conrad Galey
Ms. Barbara Goodin
Ms. LaDonna Harris
Mr. Leon Hawzipta Jr.
Mrs. Margaret L. Hernasy-Morgan
Mr. Bernard Kahrahrah
Mr. Barthell Little Chief
Ms. Martha "Adele" Mihesuah
Ms. Josephine Myers-Wapp
Mr. Edmond Nevaquaya
Ms. Juanita Pahdopony
Dr. Cornel Pewewardy
Rev. Donna Pewo
Ms. Cornelia Quoetone-Karty
Ms. Yonevea "Yonnie" Sapcut
Mr. Bill Shoemate
Mr. Jack Shoemate
Ms. Sherr y Smith
Mr. Milton Sovo
Mrs. Anna Wockmetooah
Tahmahkera
Mr. Thurman Ray Tahsuda
Mrs. Deloris R. Twohatchet
Dr. Robbie Wahnee
Mr. Joe Wahnee Jr.
Dr. Linda Sue Warner
Rev. Videll Yackeschi
Delaware Nation
Ms. Kelly Flow
Ms. Georgia Gallegos
Mr Tom Holder
Ms. Carol Jared
Mr. Frank Osborne Jr.
Ms. Linda Sue Poolaw
Ms. Mar y Dean Rice
Mr. Jim VanDeman
Ms. Gladys Yackeyonny
Delaware Tribe
Mr. Allan R. Barnes
Mr. Rick Barnes
Mr. Howard Barnes
Chief Chester "Chet" Brooks
Councilman Larr y "Joe" Brooks
Mr. Kenny Brown
Mr Raymond M. Cline
Chief Jerr y Douglas
A ssistant Chief Bonnie Jo Gri ith
Mrs. Annette Ketchum
Mr. Dee Ketchum
Mr. Lewis Ketchum
Chief Paula Pechonick
Mr. Charles Randall
Ms. Evelyn Kay Scott - Anderson
Mrs. Bonnie Thaxton
Ms. Barbara Jean Falleaf Anna
Wallace
Ms. Mar y Watters
Ret. Chief Curtis Zunigha
Eastern Shawnee Tribe
Mr. Alistair Bane
Mr. John Daughter y Jr.
Mr. Laurence "Larr y" Dushane
Mr. Charles Enyart
Ms. Virginia Fanning
Ms. Beverly Sue Hauser Rendel
Mrs. Norma Kraus
Prof. Robert "Bob" Miller
Chief Glenna Wallace
Euchee (Yuchi) Tribe
Mrs. Vada Foster Tiger Nichwander
Dr. Richard A. Grounds
Mr. Arthur K. James
Ms. Amy Sue Jones Yargee
Ms Maxine Wildcat Barnett
Fort Sill Apache Tribe
Mr. Leland Michael Darrow
Mr Lupe A. Gooday Sr
Mr. Benedict Kawaykla
Mr. Michael Pratt Kawaykla
Iowa Tribe
Mr. Eugene Big Soldier
Mr. Jacob "Jake" Big Solider, Jr.
Ms. Linda Big Soldier
Ms. JoAnn Big Soldier Mayes
Ms. Joyce Big Soldier-Miller
Mr. Francis Deer, Jr.
Ms. Kathr yn Josie Springer
Gashwazrah
Mrs. Ruby Nell Gibson Logan
Ms. E. Bernadette Huber
Councilwoman Renee Lincoln
Ms. Pamela McClellan
Mr Franklin "Frank" Murray
Mr. Victor Roubidoux
Ms. Janice Rowe-Kurak
Mr. Gerald Edward Shores
Ms. Judith Shores-Carson
Ms. Mae Sine
Ms. Jackie Sine Young
Iowa Tribe - continued
Ms. Emma Louise Smith
Mrs. Rachel Lynn Walkup
Kaw Nation
Sgt Roy Ball
Mr. Kennis Bellmard
Mrs. Ladoma Br yan
Ms. Mar y Butler
Mr. James Pepper Henr y
Mr. Charles "Sonny" Holloway
Mr Curtis Kekahbah
Ms. Freda Lane
Mr. Guy Munroe
Ms. Eva Munroe-Jones
Mr. Luther Pepper
Commissioner Clark Pepper
Mrs. Phyllis Prickett
Chairwoman Jacque
Secondine-Hensley
Chairwoman Wanda Stone
Ms. Tahagena "Gena" Warren
Chairwoman Lynn Williams
Kialegee Tribal Town
Ms. Jennie Anderson-Lillard
Ms. Leola Barnett
Ms. June Fixico
Mekko Mar y Givens
Mrs. Mahaley Harjo
Rev. Bill Hobia
Ms. Susie Martinez
Ms. Nellie Roberts
Mekko Lowell Wesley
Kickapoo Tribe
Mr. Clarence Deer
Ms. Judy Deer-Coser
Ms. Jenell Downs
Ms. Juanita Johnson
Dr. Gregorio Kishketon
Ms. Emma Murdock
Mr. Cecil Wahpekeche
Mr. Lawrence Wahpepah
Ms. Francena Wahweah Wahpepah
Mr. Bob White
Kiowa Tribe
Mr. James Anquoe
Ms. Sharron Ahtone-Harjo
Ms. Arlene Sue Bates Caesar
Mr. Nelson BigBow
Mr. Jerr y C. Bread
Ms. Theresa Carter
Ms. Frances Harried "Della" Doyebi
Dr. Phil R. Dupoint
Mr. Parker Emhoolah
Mrs. Delores Harragarra
Ms. Darlene Hovakah-Wolf
Mr. Gar y Kodaseet
Ms. Marilyn Kodaseet Bread
Ms. Cornelia "Pat" Kopepassah
Hon. Philip LuJan
Dr. N. Scott Momaday
Rep. Anita Onco-Johnson
Mr. Dixon Palmer
Mr. Lyndreth "Tugger" Palmer
Ms. Georgette "G.G." Palmer-Smith
Mr. Burt Patadal
Mr. John Pinezaddleby
Dr Everett Rhoades
Mr. Bobby Saunkeah
Rev. Sue Donna Tanequoot
Mr Luke Toyebo Sr
Mr. Gene E. Tsatoke
Mr. Duke Tsoodle
Mr. George "Chuck" Tsoodle
Mr. Vernon Tsoodle
Vice Chairman Jacob Tsotigh
Ms. Modina Waters
Mr. Matthew "Mac" Whitehorse
Ms. Dorothy Whitehorse-DeLaune
Ms. Julian Q. Whorton
Dr. Diane Willis
Ms. Francine Worthington
Mr. John J. Andele' Worthington
Miami Tribe
Mr. Royce Carter
Mr. James Battese
Ms. Judy C. Davis
Mr. Tim LaFalier
Mr. Jerr y Lankford
Mr. Frank Leonard
Mr. Nadine Mayfield
Mr. Wilbur "Webb" Tipton
Ms. Mildred Walker
Mayor Neal Watson
Modoc Nation
Ms. Judy Cobb
Mr. Phil Follis
Mr. Ted McCullum
Ms. Ramona Rosiere
Mr. Jack W. Shadwick
Muscogee Nation
Mr. Fredo "Chubby" Anderson
Ms. Jeanetta Anderson
Ms. Mar y Arkeketa
Mr. Bill Barnett
Mr. Turner Bear Jr.
Mr. Gene Bible
Ms. Johnnie Brasuell
Mr. John "John John" Brown
Mr. Jackson Chaney
Mr. Allan Colbert
Mr. Phillip Coon
Dr. Peter G. Coser
Mr. George Coser
Mr. Bill J. Davis
Ms. Myrtle Denney
Mrs. DeLois Louise Dunzy Roulston
Principal Chief A.D. Ellis
Chief Bill Fife
Mrs. Sharon Fife Mouss
Ms. Jimmie Carole Fife Stewart
Ms. Leona Fish
Principal Chief James Floyd
Mrs. Margaret Floyd
Ret. Tsgt. Jess "Mick" Freeman Jr.
Ms. Sandra "Sandi" Golden
Ms. Glenda Graham-Byrd
Ms. Pauline Haney
Mr. Eugene Harjo
Ms. Mar y Harjo
Mrs. Joy Harjo-Sapulpa
Justice Leah Harjo-Ware
Mr. Eugene Herrod
Ms. Nancy John
Mr. Keeper Johnson
Ms. Matilda King
Mrs. Candy Fish Klumpp
Ms. Rebecca Lindsey
Ms. Debbie Lindsey
Rev. Eddie Lindsey
Mrs. Mona "KoKo" Lowe
Ms. Rosalee "Rose" Marshall
Mr. William Moore
Ms. Susie "Sue" Morgan
Mr. Edward F. Mouss
Mr. Scott Roberts
Dr. Lahoma Schultz
Mrs. Augusta "Gus" Smith
Ms. Virginia Thomas
Justice George Thompson
Mr. George Phillp Tiger
Mr. Jon Mark Tiger
Ms. Anne Townsend-Edwards
Ms. Mickey White
Mr. Richard Ray Whitman
Former Speaker Thomas Leroy Yahola
Mr. Benjamin Yahola
Osage Nation
Mr. Darrell Boulanger
Ms. Jerri Jean Branstetter
Ms. Beverly Brownfield
Ms. Anita Fields
Ms. Margo Gray
Ms. Mar y Gray-Bighorse
Mr. Charles Eugene "Chuck" Hessert
Ms. Denise Keene
Ms. Nancy Keil
Mr. H. Mongraine Lookout
Mr. Charles Lookout
Ms. Anita Lookout-West
Capt. Richard Luttrell Sr
Mrs. Sheri Mashburn
Mr. Bill Mashunkashey
Cpl. John Henr y Mashunkashey
Mr. Archie Mason
Mr Franklin McKinley
Cmdr. James Norris
Dr. Steven Pratt
Councilwoman Kathr yn Red Corn
Mr. Raymond W. Red Corn
Mr. Edward "Eddy" Red Eagle Jr.
Mr. Charles Harold RedCorn
Ms. Nicki Revard-Lorenzo
Ms. Mar y Elizabeth Ricketts
Mr Romaine Shackelford
Ms. Cindra Shangreau
Mr. George A. Shannon
Mr. Ronald Blaine Shaw
Mr. Jerr y Shaw
Mr. Mark Simms
Mrs. Roberta Sue Slinkard
Ms. Martha Spotted Bear
Mr. Mar vin Stepson Jr
Mr. George E. Tallchief
Mr. Tim Tallchief
Ms. Cecelia Irene Tallchief
Mr. Bobby Tallchief
Ms. Candy Thomas
Mrs. Judith "Judy" Mar y Tiger
Mr. John Williams
Ms. Julia Wilson
Ms. Rosemar y Wood
Otoe-Missouria Tribe
Ms. Joan Aitson
Mr. Abe Sylvester Alley
Attorney General Susan Arkeketa
Ms. Kim Arkeketa-McHenr y
Ms. Annette Arkeketa-Rendon
Mr. Dominic Bramante
Mr. Hank Childs
Mr. Don Childs
Mrs. Barbara Childs Walton
Mrs. Chelena Deer
Mr. Joseph "Joe" Dent
Ms. Lorena DeRoin
Dr. A aron Gawhega
Ms. Cornelia Mae Gosney
Mr. Ted Grant
Ms. Freida Homeratha
Ms. Dorcas Kent Williams
Ms. Arkeketa LeClair
Mr. Alvin Moore Sr
Mr. Baptiste Shunatona
Ms. Virginia Thomas
Ms. Billie Ann Tohee
Mr. Gar y "Chink" White Cloud
Ottawa Tribe
Mr. Larr y Angelo
Chief Ethel Cook
Mrs. Charla Dawes
Ms. Sharon Den Hoed
Ms. Coweta Ulrey
Mr. Winston C. "Cap" Ulrey
Mr. Randall Whitehorn
Pawnee Nation
Mr. Alva James "Jimmy" Atkins
Mr. Neill Bayhylle
Mr. Bruce Caesar
Mr. Henr y Chapman Stoneroad
Ms. Cordelia Clapp
Mr. John E. Echo-Hawk
Mrs. Deb Echo-Hawk
Mr. Marshall R. Gover
Mrs. Dawna "Riding In" Hare
Mr. George Elton Howell
Mr. Charles A. Lone Chief Jr.
Mr. Duane Pratt Sr.
Mr. Richard Tilden
Mr. Roy Weeks Taylor
Peoria Tribe
Ms. Annette Black
Mr. Wayne Blalock
Peoria Tribe - continued
Mr. Emmett "Bud" Ellis
Chief John P. Froman
Ms. Carolyn Garren-Ritchey
Ms. Alice Roberta Hedges-Lindsley
Ponca Tribe
Mr. Tony Arkeketa
Ms. Therese Bu alohead
Mrs. Casey Camp-Horinek
Mr. Louis Headman
Mr. John Lee Kemble
Mr. Christopher Lee LittleCook
Mrs. Deborah Margerum
Mr. Steve Pensoneau
Mr. Jim Sherron
Ms. Barbara Warner
Ms. Evona "Eve" Williams
Ms. Maxine Williams-Thompson
Quapaw Nation
Chief John Berrey
Mr. Lloyd Bu alo
Ms. JoKay Dowell
Mrs. Betty Gaedtke
Ms. Grace Goodeagle
Mr. Jim Greenfeather
Cpl. William "Bill" Gri in
Ms. Barbara Kyser-Collier
Ms. Jean Ann Lambert
Mrs. Charlene Leading Fox Button
Mr. Henr y McNeer Ellick
Mrs. Carolyn Nott
Mr. Myron Quapaw
Ms. Ardina Revard Moore
Mrs. Mar y Elizabeth Skye Kihega
Mr. Kugee Supernaw
Ms. Risë Supernaw Proctor
Ms. Rhonda Weaver
Ms. Florence Whitecrow Matthews
Ms. Carrie V. Wilson
Ms. Peggy Big Eagle
Ms. Judy Crain Baggett
Mr. Elvis E. Ellis
Ms. Mar y "Spooner" Ellis
Dr. Rev. Emerson Falls
Mr. Keith Franklin
Ret. MGySgt. Delphine Hamilton
Mr. Henr y Buck McClellan
Mr. Wallace "Bud" McClellan
Ms. Mar y Frances McCormick
Mr. Sam Morris
Mr. Zack Morris
Ms. Nancy Nullake
Ms. Stella M. Nullake-Nanaeto
Ms. Lena "Ellis" Pennock Clark
Principal Chief Elizabeth Rhoads
Mrs. Linda Standing
Ms. Gwen Switch
Mr. John R. "Jack" Thorpe
Mr. William Thorpe
Ret. Medic Curtis Wakolee
Ms. Stella Wilson
Mr. Freeland Wood
Seminole Nation
Ms. Diana Autaubo
Ms. Velma Coker
Assistant Chief Ella Colman
Mr. Joe Coon
Ms. Mar y Culley
Ms. Gracie Dailey
Ms. Eula Doonkeen
Mr. Kotcha Doonkeen
Mr. Curtis Lee Douglas
Mrs. Mar y Ann Emarthle
Ms. Nancy Fixico
Councilwoman Karen Fullbright
Ms. Anna Givens
Rep. Ida Gonzales
Mr. Enoch Kelly Haney
Mr. Jerr y Haney
Mrs. Terri Denise Haney
Councilman Je er y Harjo
Chief Leonard Harjo
Mrs. Darlene Henneha
Councilman Charlie Hill
Chief Lewis Johnson
Ms. Marilyn Jumper
Mrs. June Lee
Mrs. Sheila Little-Harjo
Mrs. Jane McGiesey
Ms. Priscilla Ann Palmer Johnson
Ms. Joanna Palmer-Morris
Mr. Wayne Shaw
Sgt. Danny Tiger
Ms. Dena Tiger-Kloehr
Mrs. Juanita Nokomis Tiger-Scott
Ms. Shirley Walker
Ms. Susie Walker-Harjo
Mrs. Cynthia Yerby
Seneca-Cayuga Nation
Mr. Charles Diebold
Ms. Vestena "Foxie" Emerson
Ms. Nadine Hilliard
Chief Leroy Howard
Mr. Wayne Smith
Shawnee Tribe
Ms. Ruthe Blalock Jones
Mr Tony Booth
Ms. Roberta Janell Coombes
Mr. Freddie Halfmoon
Ms. Georgie Honey
Ms. Patsy Lorene Johnson
Mr. Doyle Barr y Kerr
Mr. Greg Pitcher
Mr. Scott Secondine
Ms. Carolyn Smith
Chairman James Squirrel
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town
Mr. Ron Barnett
Ms. Rosalie Bateman
Sac and Fox Nation
Ms. Peggy Acoya
Ms. Greta Haney Ruminer
Ms. Fannie Harjo
Mekko Grace Bunner
Ms. Dorothy Burden
Mr. Joe Kinsley Canard
Ms. Nora Cheek
Mr. Charles Coleman
Ms. Billie Curr y
Mr. Chebon Dacon
Ms. Sandra Dacon-Medrano
Mrs. Nellie Fixico
Ms. Melinda Ann Gibson
Mr. Wilbert Lowe
Ms. Elsie Mae Martin
Ms. VaRene Martin
Mrs. Elizabeth Trickey
Tonkawa Tribe
Ms. Barbara Allen
Mr. Don Patterson
Mr. Jim Schreen
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
Ms. Ernestine Berr y
Chief Joe Bunch
Mr. John William Cornsilk
Ms. Rebecca Dreadfulwater
Mr. Sequoyah Guess
Mr. John Hair
Mr. Woody Hansen
Mr. Howard Hansen Sr.
Mr. Jim Henson
Ms. Dorothy Ice
Mr. Jacob Littledave
Cmdr. Norman "Hominy" Littledave
Dr. Ricky Robinson
Mr. Albert Shade
Mr. Sammy Still
Councilman Frankie Still
Chief George Wickli e
Wichita and A iliated Tribes
Ms. Shirley Davilla
Mr. Clark Inkanish
Mrs. Elfreida Ir ving
Ms. Doris Jean Lamar McLemore
Mr. Gar y McAdams
Mr. Gar y McAdams
Mrs. Thedis Mitchell
Mr Stuart Owings
Mrs. Rose Roberson
Ms. Marsha Rose
Mr. James "Bunny" Ross
Ms. Betty Jo Rowland-Wolfe
Dr. Lancer Stephens
Mr. Myles Stephenson Sr.
Ms. Mar y Louise Stevenson Tselee
Wyandotte Nation
Mr. Leaford Bearskin
Ms. Sherri Clemons
Chief Billy Friend
Mr. Larr y Wayne Hamilton
Mr. Norman B. Hildebrand Jr.
Mr. David Ke er
Mr. Tom D. Ke er
Ms. Juanita Long McQuiston
Mr. Ted Nesvold
Mr. Walter Watts
Ms. Teresa Wilson
Ms. Vanessa Vance
Ms. Gladys Walker
Mr. Stratford Williams
Dr. John and Tewanna Edwards Leadership Award Recipients
Chief Gregory Pyle Choctaw Nation 2014
Bishop D . David Wilson Choct tion Dr. Tom Anderson Cherokee Nation 2015
Mr. Wes Chero tion . Judy G orth Parker asaw N tion . Henri a Mann enne & A apaho Tribes
Mrs. T Edwards Chickasaw N tion
Mrs. Carmelita Skeeter Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Mrs. Robyn Sunday-Allen Cherokee Nation 2024
About AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors
The AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors awards were established in 2009 to celebrate Native American elders who have positively impacted their community, family, tribal nation, and nation. This honor celebrates a lifetime of ser vice by distinguished Native American elders who exhibit a love of family, dedication to culture and respect for all people.
Since its inception, the AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors has recognized over 800 elders from Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. Past honorees include teachers, veterans, artists, tribal leaders, culture preservationists and ever yday community heroes.
About AARP Oklahoma
With nearly 360,000 members in Oklahoma and 38 million members nationwide, AARP is dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. As the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability, and personal fulfillment.
AARP Oklahoma State O ice
Sean Voskuhl State Director
Annabelle Blasius Communications and Outreach Intern
Melissa Brown
Business Operations Analyst
Melanie Henr y
Sr. A ssociate State Director, Communications and Outreach
