OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Red Earth, Inc, the non-profit 501 c (3) organization recognized as the region’s premier body for advancing the understanding and continuation of Native American traditional and contemporary culture and arts, has named the individuals who will lead the organization for FY 2025.
Elected to serve as officers of the Red Earth Board of Directors for FY 2025 are Shane Lindstrom, Chairman of the Board; Jeff Hargrave (Creek/Choctaw), President; Mechelle Aitson-Roessler (Kiowa/Cherokee), President-Elect; Yonavea Hawkins (Caddo), Immediate Past President; Dr. Carl J. Rubenstein, Secretary; and Christy Alcox, Treasurer.
Shane Lindstrom has been elected Chairman of the Board. Prior to establishing Lindstrom Technology, he was co-owner of I.T. Solutions where he has provided IT service and consultation for nearly 20 years. He previously served as an applications developer and project manager for Acker McQueen. While serving as an engineer/scientist for Boeing Aerospace Operations he designed and performed tests on Air Force platforms. Lindstrom is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and currently serves as Advisory Board Chair for the University of Oklahoma Gallogly College of Engineering Board Of Visitors.
Edmond resident Jeff Hargrave (Muscogee Creek/Choctaw) was elected President of the Board. He received his undergraduate degree in History with an emphasis in Native American studies from the University of Oklahoma and graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University. He is admitted to practice in all Oklahoma state courts, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Court, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Court, US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Hargrave serves as Executive Director of Native Explorers and volunteers his time for (F.A.T.E) Fighting Addition Through Education, PROS FOR AFRICA, Pros 4 Vets, Remote Area Medical of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Life of an Athlete (OKLOA), Safe Kids Coalition of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation and Oklahoma Lawyers for Children.
Mechelle Aitson-Roessler was elected as President-Elect of the Board. Roessler has served on the Red Earth Board since 2021 where she has been involved in the Red Earth Festival, fundraising events and the new FallFest Art Market and Powwow. Mechelle enjoys supporting Oklahoma based arts programs, as well as Native American programs. She is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Registrar at Rose State College, where she has worked for twenty years. She is an active member of the Central Oklahoma Cherokee Alliance. A lifelong advocate for multicultural education, she previously coordinated events for ethnic minority student organizations at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Yonavea Hawkins (Caddo) will serve as Immediate Past-President. Hawkins is an award-winning Native American artist, has been recognized for her exceptional beadwork since participating in her first juried art market at the Red Earth Festival. Enrolled in the Caddo Nation along with Delaware Nation and Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma heritage, Yonavea serves as a health specialist with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, where she works to connect tribal communities with essential health services, such as screenings and education. Her work with the Caring Van program has helped many Native Americans across Oklahoma access preventive health care, demonstrating her commitment to both cultural preservation and community well-being.
Dr. Carl J. Rubenstein, an esteemed cardiologist, will serve as Secretary of the Board. He joined Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates (OCA) in 1996 and served as a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma. With over 25 years of experience in research, teaching, and patient care focused on lipids and atherosclerotic disease, Dr. Rubenstein has made significant contributions to preventive cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation, and exercise physiology. Beyond his medical career, Dr. Rubenstein enjoys playing the Native American flute and is an active volunteer in his community.
Norman resident Christy Alcox is elected Treasurer of the Board. Alcox brings over 40 years of non-profit management and event experience, having served as a national convention and event planner for organizations such as Greyhound Corporation, the OKC Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Tourism Bureau, Oklahoma State Fair, the Gaylord Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, Friends of the Mansion, and the Office of Governor Frank Keating and First Lady Cathy Keating. Christy has been involved with Red Earth since 1986. Her extensive involvement in the community includes serving on the boards of the OKC Chapter of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Travel Industry of America, and Frontier Country Marketing Association.
Pat Berryhill, a retired Executive Director from Oklahoma City Community College, has been newly elected to serve a three-year term on the Red Earth Board of Directors. She has extensive experience in marketing, public relations, and fundraising. Over her 22-year tenure, she served on several boards, including OKC Beautiful and the Arts Festival Oklahoma. Alongside her husband, Creek beadwork artist Les Berryhill, Pat has been a long-time supporter of Native American art shows and markets across the United States.
Randy Frazier (Prairie Band Potawatomi/Choctaw/Shawnee), newly elected to serve a three-year term on the Red Earth Board of Directors and has been actively involved with Red Earth since the late 1980s. He served as the Director of the Red Earth Run for over 20 years and has held key roles in the Red Earth Powwow and Dance Competition. Randy is also a men's traditional dancer and a dedicated community member, contributing to organizations like the Changing Winds Society and the OKC Powwow Club.
Mary Chisholm, the Chief Financial Officer of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation has been newly elected to serve a three-year term on the Red Earth Board of Directors. With a strong background in accounting and a CPA certification, Mary has held various financial roles within the tribe. She is committed to promoting Native American arts and enjoys participating in Red Earth events with her family.
Carly Dyer, (Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma) has been newly elected to serve a three-year term on the Red Earth Board of Directors. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is passionate about helping Native students secure internships within the government. Carly is actively involved in community service, including roles with Friends of Jones and the Jones Elementary PTO.
LaRenda Morgan (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes) has been newly elected to serve a three-year term on the Red Earth Board of Directors and serves as the Governmental Affairs Officer for her tribe. She is the founder and Chair of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Chapter and a co-author of MMIP legislation. LaRenda is a dedicated tribal advocate with a strong background in social sciences and human relations.
Dr. Cornel Pewewardy (Comanche/Kiowa) has been elected to serve a three-year term on the Red Earth Board of Directors. He is a distinguished scholar and educator with an extensive career dedicated to Indigenous education and higher education. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Oklahoma, a Professor-of-Practice in the School of Education at Kansas State University, and Professor Emeritus in Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University. Dr. Pewewardy has made significant contributions to multicultural and social justice education, founding award-winning public magnet schools and the Comanche Academy Charter School. He has been extensively honored for his work, including the 2024 Outstanding Role Model Award and the 2022 National Indian Education Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He continues to actively engage with the community through various professional associations and advisory boards, advocating for Indigenous self-determination and decolonizing educational structures.
Newly elected members of the Red Earth Advisory Board are Margaret Knight (Laguna Pueblo) and Barby Jobe Myers.
Red Earth, Inc. produces the annual Red Earth Festival in addition to classes and events throughout the year. It is recognized as the region’s premier organization for advancing the understanding and continuation of Native American traditional and contemporary culture and arts.
The Red Earth Art Center hosts a diverse and changing schedule of art exhibitions in the south lobby of the BancFirst Tower. The organization is custodian of a permanent collection of fine art, pottery, basketry, textiles and beadwork. Red Earth, Inc. has a mission to promote Native American arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, museum collections and fine art markets.
About Red Earth, Inc.:
Red Earth, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to promoting Native American arts and cultures through educational programs, festivals, museum collections, and fine art markets. Recognized as a premier organization for advancing the understanding and continuation of Native American traditions, Red Earth, Inc. is committed to fostering cultural appreciation and supporting Indigenous artists.
The organization is funded in part by the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Arts Council, Allied Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Vickie Norick, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, Oklahoma’s News 4, and the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides hundreds of grants to organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural sector, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.