About CISP

We aim to create a collaborative, sustainable legacy honoring the achievements, struggles, and contributions of the students who attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and to bring awareness to the general public of the far-reaching impact of the boarding school era’s goals of education and assimilation.

The Carlisle Indian School Project is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Our board members are respected members of their communities who have extensive experience in Native American business, culture, and advocacy. We are honored to have their leadership and support.

Meet Our Board

Gwen Leaffe Carr is an award winning, nationally known advocate for American Indian tribes and sovereignty. Her career has been in the service of American Indians and Social Justice. Gwen has also had over 30 years of experience in working with American Indian Tribes. Some of her achievements include; working in Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House in the Clinton Administra-tion. Gwen has had many “first “ leadership experi-ences in her career. She has been first National Political Director for American Indians at the Democratic Na-tional Committee and founder of the DNC American In-dian Caucus. Gwen is also the founder of the Wiscon-sin American Indian Democratic Caucus and is the first American Indian woman to be Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Party. Gwen was first Tribal Liaison for the State of Wisconsin Department of Transporta-tion. Her artistic vision created the award winning Lake Butte de Morts Causeway Project, the largest Native Ameri-can designed, engineered and built transportation project in the United States. Her political expertise has successfully elected numer-ous officials locally and nationally. Gwen has been a se-nior advisor to Congressional, Senate and Presidential elections since 1991. 

Gwen also served as the Deputy Secretary for the Ok-lahoma Indian Affairs Commission and Executive Direc-tor for the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs. Gwen is an advocate for Native Women including Miss-ing and Murdered Indian Women . She is currently working on “Relentless” a one woman show focusing on her own struggles with addiction, violence and re-covery. She performs in women’s prisons, rehab facili-ties and jails, wherever Native women need hope and support. Gwen is an enrolled member of the Cayuga Nation of New York, Heron Clan. She is an alumna of Interlochen Arts Academy, the Art Institute of Chicago and North-western University. 

Edward Hall joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Division of Transportation in January of 1992 as a Transportation Specialist. His role is to manage programs related to economic development, technical assistance and training for tribal governments and communities. He is the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ coordinator for tourism and has helped establish the BIA’s outreach and support to tribal capacity building for tribal tourism and trade. He was instrumental in the BIA’s involvement in the development of the National Scenic Byways Program and the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. He represents the BIA as the point of contact on Interagency Memorandums of Understanding with the Western States Tourism Policy Council, Southeast Tourism Policy Council, National Geographic Society and the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA). Mr. Hall was appointed to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in 1993 and helped establish the Inter-Tribal Transportation Association and the TRB committee on Native American Transportation Issues ABE80. He was one of the tribal representatives to the White House Conference on Tourism in 1995 where the development of the American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC) was discussed as an essential resource for tribal tourism development. He has been instrumental in supporting the AITC now in its 19th year as the tribal tourism forum. He also helped to form and develop the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) as the professional American Indian tourism organization representing Indian Country to the tourism industry in 2002. He has advised and supported AIANTA as a partner to the BIA in providing technical assistance, outreach and coordination for tribal tourism development and capacity building.

Mr. Hall works as an intergovernmental coordinator connecting other Federal, state and local governments together with tribal governments and organizations to further communication and partnerships for project development and planning. He has helped position AIANTA and Indian Country as part of America’s tourism industry and believes that tribal tourism is a platform for diplomacy and education as well as economic development for tribal communities and cultures. Central to that is the involvement of tribal governments and communities to providing guidance and perspective on policy decisions. On May 10th, 2012, AIANTA and tribal communities were recognized as part of the President’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy. On September 25th, 2012, Department of Interior, Secretary Salazar signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AIANTA further recognizing the importance of tribal engagement across public lands and waters as well as supporting tribal tourism capacity building. On September 3rd, 2015 he presented to the XXIII Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Tourism in Lima, Peru on “Community rural tourism, native communities and vulnerable populations”.

Mr. Hall is a member of the Arikara and Hidatsa Nations, enrolled on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota.

Awards / Positions

  • Board of Directors, Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NAFSA)
  • Vice President, Carlisle Indian School Project
  • Leadership Council of the George Washington University, Department of Tourism and Hospitality and International Institute of Tourism Studies
  • Guest Lecturer to the New York University / Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism on indigenous tourism development perspectives
  • 2012 Tim Wapato Public Advocate Award, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
  • Member, Native American Rights Fund (NARF) National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and Vice President, Carlisle Indian School Project

Brig. Gen. (Retired) Joane Mathews is currently serving as the Director for the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy. This program is a highly complex operation which has the responsibility of housing, transporting, training, mentoring, recruiting, medical, safety,
security, and well-being of up to 200 sixteen – eighteen year old high school dropouts/habitual truants, herein referred to as Cadets. The program begins with a 22 week residential phase at Fort McCoy, with cadets living in a disciplined military style environment while studying for the state’s high school equivalency diploma (HSED). As the director, she has overall responsibility for the cadets and will formulate, direct, and control matters relating to the program, i.e., fiscal, personnel training, outreach, marketing, admissions, mentoring programs, and post-residential activities. The program is a 24 hour per day, 7 day per week
operation with 48 full time employees and an operating budget of approximately 5 million dollars.

Brig. Gen. (Ret) Mathews is a proud member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Indians. She graduated from Lakeland Union High School, Minocqua, Wis. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Aviation Administration from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks; a masters degree in Military Management from Touro University; and a masters degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War
College. Her military education includes Army Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, and Joint Task Force Commander’s Training Course, and the National Security Management Course. She has also
completed the initial entry rotary wing course, helicopter instructor course, and maintenance test pilot course.

 Brig. Gen. (Ret) Mathews received her ROTC commission in 1986 as a Second Lieutenant, Aviation Branch. Serving nearly 11 years on active duty, her assignments include instructor pilot and platoon commander, maintenance platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander, battalion operations officer and battalion personnel officer. Brig. Gen. (Ret) Mathews joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1997 and
served in various positions such as battalion supply officer, state family program coordinator, brigade personnel officer, battalion executive officer, and simultaneously as the deputy director of personnel and commander of 1-147th Aviation Battalion. After completing the resident Army War College, she served simultaneously as the director of personnel and the commander for 64th Troop Command. In October 2013, Brig. Gen. (Ret) Mathews became the chief of staff for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and then promoted to general officer in April 2016 becoming the assistant adjutant general for readiness and training. In June 2018 she was appointed as Wisconsin’s deputy adjutant general for Army, commanding over 7100 Soldiers. In May 2022, Brig Gen (Ret) Mathews retired after 36 years of service and assumed her current role as the Director of the Challenge Academy at
Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

Brig. Gen. Mathews and her family reside in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Barbara Christy was born in Phoenixville, PA at the Valley Forge Military Hospital, and grew up in Malvern, PA. Barbara worked at various companies for a span of twenty-seven years in accounting related functions, as well as a group and individual life claims examiner where she also processed NASDAC stock transfers. She semi-retired in 2013 to continue her pursuits in Native American Music. She is a singer, song-writer and flautist for Spirit Wing and The RedKrozBluez Band. Nominated for six Native American Music Awards, her bands have traveled around the USA performing at various venues. She is on the Committee of Native American Ministries for the United Methodist Church, and performs and speaks at many churches and schools. Barbara is also a member of the American Indian Society, the National Congress of American Indians, and the Eastern Woodland Pathways dance and educational group. In addition, she is also the Treasurer of the Circle Legacy Center, a Native American Advocacy group located in Lancaster, PA.

Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Sandra is descended from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. She has been an advocate for Indian issues both nationally and internationally. She has been a lifetime member of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) since 1969, serving on several committees and volunteering at convention events. Beyond her activities at NCAI, she served on a White House committee during the Clinton administration, the Urban Indian Policy Coalition, convened by the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to prepare a report documenting the status of off-reservation Indians. She served as a member of the American Indian Advisory Committee to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) which was instrumental in developing strategies and passing resolutions within the Party structure to solidify Party support for tribal sovereignty and propose the formation of an American Indian Caucus. During her tenure at a faith-based non-profit, Sandra represented her organization at the UN and the Organization of American States during the consultation process for both versions of the Indigenous Rights Declarations. Now retired, she is Chairperson of the Eastern PA Committee on Native American Ministries of the United Methodist Churches, a board member of the Circle Legacy Center, a local Indian advocacy organization located in Lancaster, PA, and is President of the Carlisle Indian School Project. A descendant of 2 students who were in the first class of the Indian School, she enjoys leading tours of the school campus on the Barracks with her Circle Legacy colleague and dear friend, MaryAnn Robins, Onandaga, a fellow descendant.

Nevaquaya possesses expert knowledge in the Native American Affairs.  She has been a negotiator and Technical Assistance Specialist (contractor) to the United States Department of Justice on tribal programs and tribal financial matters.  She is the former American Indian Liaison at the National Parks Conservation Association in Washington DC where she negotiated tribal land matters between tribes and the federal government.  Alicia’s experience is broad and also includes working as a Technical Assistance specialist at Indian country agricultural organizations.  She was a farmer claims representative to the landmark Indian law case, Keepseagle v. Vilsack.   She is a diplomatic expert in working with tribes, federal agencies, and various stakeholders to determine creative and efficient solutions for sensitive issues. An ethical business leader, Alicia ensures the highest level of integrity in all transactions with clients, to insure privacy for the Tribe/company and to deliver projects with the highest ethical standards.  Nevaquaya is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and is Comanche by marriage.

Lee Francis IV is the current National Director and President of Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers, an organization dedicated to promoting the work and words of Native American/Indigenous peoples throughout North America and the world.  He previously served as the Executive Director of the Pueblo of Laguna Education Foundation and the Youth Development Coordinator for Laguna Partners For Success.

In his career, Mr. Francis has had the distinct pleasure to work as a classroom instructor at Laguna-Acoma High School, the University of New Mexico, and the Native American Community Academy.  In 2008, he received his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico and will be pursuing his PhD in Education this fall from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He is also a National Champion performance poet, a humble husband and proud father. He lives in Albuquerque with his wonderful family and crazy dog.

Martha Redbone (Cherokee/Shawnee/Choctaw descent) is one of today’s most vital voices in American Roots music. A multi award-winning musician, the charismatic songstress is celebrated for her tasty gumbo of roots music embodying the folk and mountain blues sounds of her childhood in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky mixed with the eclectic grit of her teenage years in pre-gentrified Brooklyn. With the power of her gospel singing African-American father’s voice and the determined spirit of her Cherokee/Shawnee/Choctaw mother, Redbone broadens all boundaries of Americana. Her latest CD “The Garden of Love- Songs of William Blake”, produced by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder/Grammy Winner John McEuen is an unexpected twist– “a brilliant collision of cultures” (New Yorker) features Martha’s magnificent voice, Blake’s immortal words and a masterful cornucopia of roots music (folk, country, piedmont blues, gospel, bluegrass, soul and traditional Southeastern Native American).
Redbone and her long-term collaborator, pianist Aaron Whitby are called “the little engine that could” by their “band of NYC’s finest blues and jazz musicians” (Larry Blumenthal-Wall Street Journal). From grassroots beginnings with residencies at the original Living Room NYC, then Joe’s Pub and nationally at powwows across Indian Country in support of her debut album “Home of the Brave” (“Stunning album, the kind of woman who sets trends”-Billboard) Redbone has built a passionate fan base with her mesmerizing presence and explosive live shows. Her album “Skintalk” is described as the soulful sound of “Earth, Wind and Fire on the Rez”(Native Peoples magazine) and is recognized as an example of Contemporary Native American music in the Library Collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The Redbone/Whitby team’s newest work is Daughter of the Hills, a devised, interdisciplinary musical theater work that brings to light an important piece of American history that has never been told. Inspired by the lives of Redbone’s family in the hills of coalmining Appalachia, Daughter of the Hills is the journey of a woman, Red, returning to her homeland in Black Mountain and the coalmines of Kentucky where her family has dwelled for centuries. As a contemporary multi-racial Cherokee/Shawnee and African American family, they are permanently bonded to their culture, identity and the mountain despite its violent past and the ever-changing laws of the land that attempt to extinguish them. Commissioned by Joe’s Pub and the Public Theater NY Voices, Redbone is a recipient of the NEFA National Theater Project Creation and Touring Grant and National Performance Network Creation Fund and Lincoln Center. Redbone is a 2015/16 Fellow of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.

Alongside her career as a recording artist and songwriter Martha Redbone has maintained a steady involvement with causes she believes in. Ms. Redbone is contracted by The Department of Indian Education- Louisiana, LaFourche Parish and teaches Southeastern Traditional Singing Workshop for the United Houma Nation’s Bayou Healers Cultural Enrichment Camp program.

Martha has given talks on subjects ranging from Indigenous rights to the role of the arts in politics and Native American Identity at many institutions including New York University, the University of Michigan and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, to name a few. Ms. Redbone includes workshops and motivational talks with grade school children as part of her touring schedule on numerous reservations including Red Lake, MN, Cherokee, NC, Yuma AZ and Menominee, WI, among others. An exemplary ambassador for both Native and African-American Youth for the National HIV/Aids Partnership, she was awarded the Red Ribbon Award for Outstanding Leadership presented on World AIDS Day at the United Nations in 2005. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the communities of the United Houma Nation on the Gulf Coast, Martha single-handedly helped generate publicity that raised over $30,000. Redbone also performed with Bonnie Raitt and the late Floyd Red Crow Westerman and helped raise over $130,000 in scholarships for the Heart of the Earth Foundation where 12 outstanding Native American students who have overcome adversity receive full tuition to study in higher education. Currently Martha advocates for Why Hunger’s Artists Against Hunger and Poverty program which raises and awareness of poverty and hunger in the United States, with particular attention to Appalachia in Martha’s instance. Redbone supports the Man Up Campaign, the global youth movement to eradicate violence against women and girls for whom she served as the indigenous affairs consultant and creative advisor. She is particularly proud of her accomplishment in having the Campaign’s Board of Directors include an Indigenous North American contingent (independent of the USA) to the roll call of 50 countries taking part in their Youth Leadership Summit held at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Redbone is currently an Advisory Board member of The Carlisle Indian School Project.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Jefferson Keel, former Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, is a retired U.S. Army officer with over 20 years active duty service. His combat experience included two extended tours of service in Viet Nam as an Infantryman, where he received the Bronze Star with “V” for valor, two purple hearts and numerous other awards and decorations for heroism. Keel has always proven himself as an effective leader. He is a former Airborne Ranger, and served as an instructor in the elite U.S. Army Rangers. As an Infantry platoon sergeant, platoon leader and the commander of a large artillery battery, he gained valuable and extensive leadership and management experience.

Keel earned his bachelor’s degree from East Central University and a Master of Science degree from Troy University. He also completed post graduate studies at East Central and East Texas Universities.

He has management experience in the private sector and tribal programs and operations. He is extremely proud of his Native American heritage and often assists other tribes and groups in cultural and historic preservation activities. Keel is firmly committed to the service of Indian people and actively supports their desire to become self-reliant. The welfare of the Chickasaw people is his first priority. He is keenly aware of the roles and responsibilities expected of tribal leaders and earnestly believes in the policy of “helping our people through honorable public service.”

A highly respected tribal leader, Keel served three terms as President of the National Congress of American Indians, the nation’s oldest and largest tribal organization. He was appointed by Senator Harry Reid to serve as a Commissioner on the Tribal Law and Order Commission. He has served as Chair for the Tribal Interior Budget Committee, serves on the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, Indian Health Service (IHS) Advisory Committee, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Tribal Consultation Advisory Committee and Self-Governance Advisory Committee.

Keel has served on the Board of Regents for Bacone College, East Central University Foundation Board of Directors, National Indian Child Welfare Association Board of Directors, Native American Rights Fund Board of Directors, National Native American Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee Co- Chair, and Carlisle Indian School Project Advisory Council Member. He is a member of the Gideons, a Master Mason, a graduate of Leadership Ada and active in his church and the community.

Jefferson and his wife, Carol, have three children and eight grandchildren.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Mr. Busey is a member of both the Cherokee Nation and the Delaware Tribe. After playing college baseball and earning his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University, the AV rated attorney practiced law regionally and internationally for 25 years, specializing in Native American, commercial, corporate, government, public finance, and contracting law. Since he founded DRG in 2002, the company has become one of the largest defense contractors based in the region. Mr. Busey has been a moderator or speaker at over 100 CLE and business seminars, serves on several boards of directors, and is active in civic and church organizations.

Professional Service, Awards and Accolades:

  • Documented over $1 billion of commercial loans and acted as legal counsel on over $1 billion of public finance bond issues during 17 years of representing large regional financial institutions.
  • Busey Group of Companies, Founder, Chairman, CEO
  • Delaware Resource Group, Founder, Chairman, CEO
  • Professorial lecturer, American University, Washington DC
  • Adjunct professor, OCU School of Law and School of Business
  • S. Small Business Administration Oklahoma Business Person of the Year, 2010
  • Chairman’s Award from Oklahoma City University, Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor 2013
  • OCU and United Methodist Conference Bishop Milhouse Award with Cathy Busey for Outstanding Community Service 2015
  • AV Rated Preeminent Attorney by Martindale Hubbell since 1998
  • Member Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Member Oklahoma Governor’s Business Roundtable
  • Trustee, Oklahoma City University
  • OCU Meinders School of Business Deans Advisory Board
  • Oklahoma City University’s Petree College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Recipient, 2017
  • Co-Founder with Cathy Busey, El Sistema Oklahoma

Emil Her Many Horses is an Associate Curator in the office of Museum Scholarship at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution.  Emil Her Many Horses specializes in the central Plains cultures. Mr. Her Many Horses is a member of the Oglala Lakota nation of South Dakota and served as lead curator for the inaugural permanent exhibition, “Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World”.
Mr. Her Many Horses served as co-curator for the exhibition titled, Identity by Design: Tradition, Change and Celebration in Native Women’s Dresses and served as the lead curator for the Our Peoples community exhibitions featuring the history of the Chiricahua Apache of New Mexico and the Blackfeet from Montana.

Mr. Her Many Horses’ also curated the exhibition titled, A Song for the Horse Nation which opened at the NMAI’s George Gustuv Heye Center in New York City in November of 2009 and NMAI’s mall museum on October 29, 2011.

Emil’s current exhibition titled, Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains opened in March 2016 at NMAI’s George Gustuv Heye Center.

William Gollnick is an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. He served his tribe for forty years in a number of professional capacities. He is currently the Tribal Administrator for the Tejon Tribe of Indians in Bakersfield, CA. He has held this post for the last three years.

Gollnick has very fond memories of how his maternal grandmother preserved a picture of her husband as a miler which showed him crossing the finish line with his time written across the bottom. It was a source of pride that he had bested Jim Thorpe’s record in the mile. Although Edward Metoxen was certainly not the all-around athlete that Jim Thorpe was, simply having one’s name uttered in the same breath would be exceptional for any athlete, and particularly so for a native one.

Gollnick’s Father-In-Law, Levi Webster, known as Tall Feather, was another excellent Oneida runner. His expertise, however, was distance. He competed while in the Army during the First World War. He ran the Boston, competed against mounted riders, relay teams and virtually all takers. He famously ran from Milwaukee, WI to Chicago, IL in less than 19 hours. He ran 50 miles on his fiftieth birthday. William Gollnick’s son, James, seemed to benefit from these genes and was successful in placing in the Wisconsin state track meet in both the 300 hurdles and 1,600 meter 4X4 events.

William’s athletic pursuits were three years as a wrestler. He graduated high school in June of 1968 and went active in the U.S. Marine Corps in September of that year. Gollnick enlisted in the middle of America’s participation in the Viet Nam War. Ironically, a series of events resulted in Gollnick being sent to Camp Lejeune, NC after artillery school. Shortly after he reported to LeJeune, he was assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, Tenth Marines attached to 2d Battalion 8th Marines in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He served most of the remainder of his hitch there. He was honorably discharged as a corporal E-4, and began his college career 10 days later.

Gollnick completed a bachelor’s degree in Social Change and Development at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He also holds a master’s degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Gollnick has received numerous awards and served in posts appointed by three different governors and two U.S. Presidents. He served as a Presidential Delegate to the White House Conference on Indian Education and as Secretary of the National Advisory Council on Indian Educatoin. Gollnick’s life comprises a chapter of a recently released book entitled, “Seventh Generation Earth Ethics,” written by Professor Patty Loew of the University of Wisconsin Madison faculty.

Gollnick and his wife Genevieve (Genny) have three children and raised three nieces as well. The youngest, James, is now completing his law degree at the Marquette University Law School. Genny also holds a Harvard master’s degree in Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning Environments. She is now a etired school administrator who is spending most of her time as a grandmother and great-grandmother.

Mr. McCaleb has served on the Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. Board of Directors since March of 2003 and as its Chairman since March of 2007. Mr. McCaleb was named Chickasaw Ambassador at Large in early 2013 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2014. Prior to this he was appointed by President George W. Bush as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. His public service includes ten years as Secretary of Transportation for the State of Oklahoma and eight years in the State House of Representatives.

Mr. McCaleb is a 1957 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He was in private practice as an engineering consultant and real estate developer for 26 years. He continues his service to the Chickasaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma being actively involved in economic development and transportation issues.

Support

We want to honor the legacy of the children who attended Carlisle by building a heritage center and museum near the original school site. You can support this vision by donating, by contacting us to arrange a visit, or by sharing our website or social media. Every donation and every piece of information you share helps educate the public and keep these stories alive.

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Carlisle by the Numbers

39 years of operation

186 graves of children who died while attending

140+ tribes

Hundreds of church-affiliated private boarding schools modeled after Carlisle

10,000 Students

26 government-run schools modeled after Carlisle

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