THE BOARD

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Founders

Tatianna Duncan

Executive Director

Tatianna “Tanya” Duncan is a Mvskoke/Cherokee Native. She is Nokosvlke (Bear Clan) and her Tribal Town is Quasarte. After graduating high school, Tatianna spent the next twenty years serving in the United States Navy and raising her family. Tatianna has long known the common lore of her family: that their Native lands had been stolen. But details were unknown. Then she became aware of the work of a resident in the Maple Ridge neighborhood, which was a known site of one of her family’s many allotments. Deciding to learn more about what these stories meant, Tatianna began to do her own research. It was difficult to learn just what she uncovered – to verify stories of her relatives, of the Mvskoke people. Tatianna realized this was a part of Oklahoma history that must be understood, preserved and shared. She founded The Lucinda Hickory Research Institute, so that further research can be done to understand. What happened to most of the Mvskoke/Native lands that were once Indian Territory? And more importantly: what happened to the Mvskoke people, while they were being dispossessed of the very lands the US had allotted to them?

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We’re still here…

Mvskokvlke

J.D. Colbert

Member at Large

J.D. Colbert (Chickasaw/Muscogee-Creek) is a veteran banker whose career has spanned 44 years. He is a former bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, a community bank chief financial officer, commercial lender for a large regional bank, president and CEO of two banks as well as a board member of five banks.

For the past 10 years, Mr. Colbert has owned and operated a financial consulting services firm, Holisso Hakv, Inc. In this role, Mr. Colbert has assisted ten Indian tribes in acquiring state or nationally chartered banks. He has also assisted many tribes in forming Community Development Financial Institutions.

Mr. Colbert is a recognized expert on matters related to commercial banking and Indian tribes. He is active in legal, regulatory and policy formation in the areas of banking, economic and community development and Federal-Indian policy.  He is a widely published author in his areas of expertise as well as a sought after speaker and presenter.

Mr. Colbert holds an undergraduate degree in business management from the University of Oklahoma and holds master’s degrees from both Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University.

The Board

DEANALISA JONES, PhD- VICE CHAIRMAN

DeAnalisa (Muscogee Creek, Cherokee) has a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is currently finishing her M.D. training at Icahn School of Medicine and is supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral F31 Fellowship from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). DeAnalisa is a member of the Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) National Executive Board, the Founder and President of Icahn School of Medicine’s ANAMS Chapter, and a member of the Biophysical Society. She formerly served on the American Medical Association (AMA) Medical Student Section Committee on American Indian Affairs.  

KIM TINSLEY – SECRETARY/TREASURER

_{Kimberly Tinsley is a Mvskoke and Hawaiian Native. She is Vhvcmpvlke (Sweet Potato) Clan. After proudly holding the title of “household manager” for many years, she decided to pursue higher education with the College of the Muscogee Nation. While attending CMN, she has been a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, holding the title of Vice-President, followed consecutively by President. While serving with PTK, she has had the honor of connecting with the Mvskoke community through several outreach initiatives, including co-moderating a McGirt Info Panel and hosting a Veteran’s Day service. She will graduate in April with an associate’s degree in Tribal Services, specializing in Human Services, and plans to continue her education journey at the University of Oklahoma. She firmly believes that we, as descendants of the Elder Nations, share an interwoven history full of tragedy and perseverance, and it is through that collective experience that we inherited our humor, fortitude, and resilience. Advocacy for Tribal issues has always been a calling in her life, and she hopes to continue that pursuit of service at the Lucinda Hickory Research Institute.}

ANNETTE ARKEKETA – VIDEOGRAPHER

Annette Arkeketa is an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and she is also Muscogee Creek. Arkeketa is a producer, director, camera operator, screenwriter, playwright, poet and an advocate for American Indian filmmakers. Arkeketa is founder of Hokte Productions Inc., an independent film and video production company where she produces, writes, directs, videographer, photographer, and edits. She served held a part-time position as adjunct professor at the Comanche Nation College and taught American Indian Documentary, American Indian Film as an Art, and was the co-founder and committee co-chair of the Comanche Nation College Annual Invitational Film Festival for 12 years. Arkeketa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma 1986; a Master of Arts (MA) in Interdisciplinary Studies in English, TV-Film Communications and Marketing, from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi University 2002; and an Associate in Arts (AA) Digital Cinema Production, 2018. Arkeketa is currently working on several documentary projects that include a book of photography for her tribe and she does freelance videography work for the Good Health TV channel. FILMOGRAPHY Producer Good Health TV (various health topic) episodes 2019-Present Hinwarujewi To! Let’s Eat! 3 cooking show episodes 2019-2020 Iron Horse (director, writer, camera operator, editor) 2018 CHIEF GEORGE, a PBS short documentary included with the online short documentary series “We Shall Remain.” (director, writer, camera operator) 2009 PAHDOPONY: SEE HOW DEEP THE WATER IS (director, 2005 writer, camera operator, editor) MUH-DU ‘KEE: Put Them Back (director, writer, camera operator, Editor) 2004 INTRINSIC SPIRIT: The Artway of Jimmy Pena (director, writer, camera operator, editor) 2002 Co-Producer Being Indian in Oklahoma (camera operator, interviewee) in production Miscellaneous Crew 4Reelz.com – (Screenwriter, Director) 2017 I Can Only Imagine – (Extra) 2016 Three Shades of Black – (set design assistant, actor extra) 2004 Pow-Wow – (Camera, Casting Assistant, script assistant 2004 Indians for Indians – (camera) 2005 The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint (casting) 2005. Awards International Cherokee Film Festival Best Director Native short Documentary, Chief George 2010

GALE JUSTIN, PhD – DIRECTOR OF HISTORICAL DATA

Dr. Gale Justin is the Director of Instructional Technology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, working closely with the medical faculty. An innovator in the field of education, she has served as a professor, curriculum developer and faculty development expert. Dr. Justin holds a B.A. cum laude from Vassar College; her graduate work was at Yale: Medieval Studies, and the CUNY Graduate School: History and English Literature. She has a Masters of Philosophy in History and a dual Ph.D. in History and English Literature. Dr. Justin has been Director of Educational Technology and the Faculty Technology Studios at the Pratt Institute; Chief Technology & Learning Officer for the Open Online Academy; Director of Instructional Technology at Manhattanville College; and Director of Faculty Development and the Institutes for Teaching, Learning and Multimedia at Adelphi University. She has established institutes for teaching and learning that have served as models for a variety of institutions of higher education seeking to reach new learners. She has served on the faculty of CCNY, Fordham University, Manhattanville College, as well as teaching graduate and undergraduate courses online. Dr. Justin has taught Medieval History, Irish Studies, American History, Historical Methodologies, Western and World Civilizations, Women’s History, Native American History, Art History, English Literature and Composition. Dr. Justin has received curriculum development awards from the US Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the New York State Council for the Humanities, as well as the CCNY’s President’s Fund for Innovation and Excellence Award for Innovative Approaches to Curriculum Development and Alternative Modes of Instruction.

GANO JIMMESEY PEREZ JR. – GIS/GNSS/GPR Cultural Specialist

Gano Perez Jr. is Kaccvlke (Panther Clan) of Little River Tulsa/New Tulsa & Seminole TP Band on his matrilineal bloodline and for his father’s Mvskoke bloodline he grew up going to Little Cussetah Indian Baptist Church in Sapulpa. His father’s Tribal Town is Locv Pokv-Talsi, Cussetah. Gano is a citizen of the Great Muscogee Nation. He is the GIS/GNSS/GPR Cultural Specialist for Muscogee (Creek) Nation- Historic & Cultural Preservation Department. He loves learning and utilizing the latest systems and methods of Geospatial Information Systems, Science & Technology and Geophysical/Remote Sensing Technologies such as Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) & Magnetometry, Metal Detection, and Archaeometry. He utilizes the collection of Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS) or (GPS) Global Positioning Systems data with a Spectra SP20 decimeter accuracy and Post-Processes the data into a Shapefile and/or Geodatabase format within an organized hierarchy of files on a secure server. This data comprises of locations for tribal towns, Mvskoke churches, Mvskoke Cemeteries, Areas of Interest throughout the Southeastern Homelands, points of interest in Mvskoke country Indian Territory, battlefields and forts, and anything else that belongs on the Muscogee National Register of Cultural and Historic Places.

RUSSELL COBB, PhD – Associate Professor

Dr. Russell Cobb is a writer, radio host, and teacher at the University of Alberta, where he is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts. His work examines repressed narratives of race, ethnicity, and religion. His work has appeared in Slate, NPR, The New York Times, and The Nation, among other places. His works include The Great Oklahoma Swindle: Race, Religion, and Lies in America’s Weirdest State (2020). His story, “Heretics,” for This American Life, became the Netflix film Come Sunday. He is launching a new radio show and podcast called History X. Dr. Cobb won the 2021 Director’s Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries for his book, The Great Oklahoma Swindle: Race, Religion, and Lies in America’s Weirdest State.

TURNER HUNT – ANTHROPOLOGIST

Turner W. Hunt is Konvpvlke Clan and of the Tvlvteke Tribal Town and is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation. Turner is an employee of the Muscogee Nation’s Historic and Cultural Preservation Department and considers it a privilege to work for the nation. His educational background is in anthropology and archaeology; graduating from University of Oklahoma with his B.A. in 2015 and continues with his M.A. in Anthropology.  Prior to college, Turner served in the 82^nd Airborne as an infantryman. He maintains his service in the Army Reserve as a civil affairs specialist with the 486^th Civil Affairs Battalion in Tulsa, OK.

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The treatment of the Indian race in North America when traditions are handed down and when history is written, will be the most heartless, blackest, ungrateful and cruel pages ever penned by mortal man; it is a pity that our children may read it.

Isparhecher, Former Mvskoke Chief

The Voices of Our Mvskoke Ancestors