Our Team
Meet our majority-Shawnee board of directors and some of our most involved folks
Chief Glenna Wallace
Chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, Board MemberChief Glenna’s bio coming soon!
Chief Ben Barnes
Chief Benjamin Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe was elected to his position in 2019. Prior to that,
he served the Shawnee Tribe as Second Chief for seven years and was a leader in the tribal gaming industry for 20 years. The roots of Chief Barnes’ service go back to his volunteer efforts to revive the Shawnee language. Upon taking office with only a few fluent Shawnee speakers remaining, Barnes declared 2021-2030 the Decade of the Shawnee Language.
Chief Barnes passionately advocates for truth, accountability, reconciliation, justice, education, and human rights. His work, however, extends beyond service to his nation, bringing together truths and traditions in framing and crafting tribal policy and law. Most recently, Barnes co-edited the book Replanting Cultures: Community-Engaged Scholarship in Indian Country.
In addition to his official duties with the Shawnee Tribe, Chief Barnes serves on the board of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, a.k.a. “NABS.” He is also a member of his people’s traditional religious community at White Oak, OK.
Chief of the Shawnee Tribe
Eastern Shawnee Tribe, Board MemberTalon Silverhorn
Coming soon!
Alex is a parent of two perfect children and long time non-profit and political worker. Their non-profit work includes directing a retreat center based in catholic social teaching and as a political organizer. In the political realm they’ve worked for folks running for city council to US president and most positions in between. They have also organized in the realms of decarceration, abolition, and racial justice. Alex is a native plant gardener, sci-fi lit enthusiast, runner, and mediocre but committed player of soccer and chess.
“I’m fully committed to the Shawnee Honor Fund because I grew up on Shawnee land and was educated here from daycare through college without once learning the true history of this land and it’s people. Having learned the hard truths in my 30’s, I am ready to move beyond acknowledgement and into action for healing and I believe this city is too. “
DirectorAlex Flood
Board of DirectorsNoelle Tennis Gulden
Noelle Tennis Gulden (she/her) is a white settler colonialist whose ancestors came from present-day Germany, Norway, and Ukraine. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Noelle lives with her husband and their two children on Native land in what’s now Louisville, KY. She has been active in peace and justice movements for the past 25 years and has worked for several nonprofit organizations over the span of her career. Noelle currently serves as fiscal coordinator at the National Center for Families Learning.
“Over the past several years, I have been reckoning with my role as a white settler colonialist and finding ways to practice decolonization and restorative solidarity with Indigenous peoples. Serving on the board of the Shawnee Honor Fund is an important step in that lifelong journey. “