Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

About The Absentee Shawnee Tribe

Facts About the Absentee Shawnee Tribe Of Indians:

  • Algonquin-speaking tribes are mostly from the eastern and central U.S. and adjacent parts Canada.
  • Other Shawnee tribes include The Shawnee Tribe and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
  • The Absentee Shawnee gained their moniker by straying from their proposed Kansas Reservation.
  • Of the three groups of Shawnee in Oklahoma, the Absentee have the largest number of native speakers.
  • Approximately three quarters of Absentee Shawnee live in Oklahoma.

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe's Original Lands

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Geography

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Geographical Identity:

Northeast

Find Your Absentee Shawnee Tribe area(s) by Census Data:

Click to Learn More About the Absentee Shawnee Tribe

Read about the storied heritage of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, including its cultural influence and historical journey to Oklahoma, through resources at the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Contact the Absentee Shawnee Tribe

Physical Address:

2025 South Gordon Cooper Drive
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801

Mailing Address:

2025 South Gordon Cooper Drive
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801

Phone:

(405) 275-4030

Website:

Socials:

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Leadership

Highest Elected Official

Governor

John

Johnson

Date Elected:

6/17/2023

Next Election Date:

6/19/2027

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Politics

Jurisdiction by County:

  • Cleveland
  • Lincoln
  • Oklahoma
  • Pottawatomie

Congressional District:

4, 5

Tribal Population:

4,639

Resident Indian Population in Tribal Service Area (HUD 2025):

25,583

Type of Federal Tribal Governance:

Self Governance

Year of Self Governance Entry:

1991

Gaming Compacts by Year:

5/4/2001, 1/27/2005, 8/17/2018

Other Oklahoma Compacts:

Tobacco (12/28/2012)

Absentee Shawnee Resources

Law Enforcement:

Absentee Shawnee Tribal Police

Brad Gaylord, Chief
405-275-3200
2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.,
Shawnee, OK 74801

Education and Training:

Absentee Shawnee 477 Department

Briana Ponkilla,
briana.ponkilla@astribe.com
405-275-4030 x 3507
2025 S Gordon Cooper Dr.,
Shawnee, OK 74801

Childcare Center:

Building Blocks Child Development Center II

Barbra Pope, Director
405-878-0633
2025 S Gordon Cooper Dr.,
Shawnee, OK 74801

Housing Authority:

Absentee Shawnee Housing Authority

Sherry Drywater
s.drywater@ashousingauthority.com
405-273-1050
107 N. Kimberly Avenue,
Shawnee, OK 74801

Behavioral Health Center:

Shawnee Clinic Behavioral Health Services

Dr. Nael
snael@astribe.com
405-878-4716
2029 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.,
Shawnee, OK 74801

Medical Clinics:

Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System Shawnee Clinic

Chris Larkin,
MBA, FACHE, CHC
405-878-5850
2029 S. Gordon Cooper Drive,
Shawnee, OK 74801

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Federal Funding Overview

Unique Identifying Number (UEI): Y5LLMH47V3H5

Number of Federal Grants in Audit: 48

Tribe Provides Law Enforcement in Jurisdiction or Bureau of Indian Affairs Provides: Tribe

Tribe Provides Indian Child Welfare Services: Yes

Type Amount
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Expenditures $56,087,412.00
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Awards $72,109,819.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Self Governance Annual Funding Agreement $4,084,196.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Aid to Tribal Governments $0.00
Indian Health Service Compact (IHS): Annual Funding Agreement $28,168,730.00
Indian Health Services (IHS): 93-638 Contracts/Self-Determination Annual Allocation $0.00

Long Range Planning

Type Amount
Grant(s) for Tribal Lands, Climate, Natural Resources, Energy, and/or Water $78,842.00
National Performance Partnership Grant on Environment $208,824.00
Broadband Grant $0.00
Grant(s) for Language and Cultural Preservation, NAGPRA and/or THPO $222,620.00
Rural Economic Development and/or Community Development, CDFI/Enhancement Grant(s) $0.00
Federal Transportation Annual Allocation for Road and Bridge Construction $1,715,594.08
Annual Transportation Planning Allocation $39,210.83
Tribal Public Transit Funds $0.00

Protection

Type Funding Amount
Disaster Planning and/or Mitigation Grant(s) $57,726.00
Homeland Security Grant $359,340.00
Grant(s) for Justice, Courts, and Community Policing $694,323.00
Adam Walsh (SORNA) and/or Missing Persons Grant(s) $109,752.00
Provides Violence Against Women and Family Violence Prevention Services $278,315.00
Tribe Offers Child Welfare Social Services (Stephanie Tubbs and/or Child Support Enforcement) $20,585.00
Tribe Offers Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Mary Lee Allen) $56,229.00
Foster Care (Title IV-E) $0.00
Tribe Offers General Assistance Program $580,395.00
LIHEAP – Tribe Offers Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program $38,403.00

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Health, Wellness, and Social Caring

Number of Clinics: 1

Number of Hospitals: 0

Offers Dental: Yes

Offers Pharmacy: Yes

Offers Residential Treatment: No

Type Amount
Medicare Enrollment Assistance Grant $13,066.00
Special Diabetes Program Grant $349,812.00
Alzheimer Disease Program Grant $248,305.00
Injury and Suicide Prevention Grant(s) $0.00
Behavioral Health Grant(s) – Check with Tribe/Health Clinic for Other Counseling Services $479,751.00
Rural/Public Health, Demonstration Projects, and/or Child Insurance Grant(s) $0.00
Cancer Prevention and/or Good Health and Wellness Grant(s) and/or Chronic Pain Grant $175,588.00
Opioid and Substance Abuse Program and/or Tobacco Control Grant $246,219.00
Long-Range Medical Research Grant(s) $0.00
Offers Title VI – A and B (Elder Nutrition) $252,070.00
Offers Title VI – C (Elder Caregiving) $34,300.00
Offers Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program $0.00
Offers Food Distribution, Other Nutrition, Farmer’s Market, and/or Commodities Programs $27,128.00
Veteran Homeless Grant(s) and/or Veterans Cemetery Establishment or Operation Funding $0.00

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Employment, Housing, and Education

Public Law 102-477 Tribe: Yes

Number of Casinos: 2

Offers an Employment Assistance Program: Yes

Number of FTE
Tribal Employees:
653

Housing Managed by Tribe or TDHE: Tribal Designated Housing Entity (TDHE)

Number of Homes Needed by Tribe for Oklahoma: 1,263

Has a Competitive Indian Community Development Block Grant(s) From US Housing and Urban Development: Yes

Has/Had a Competitive US HUD Indian Housing Block Grant(s) From US Housing and Urban Development: Yes

TypeAmount
Indian Employment, Training, and Education Program(s)$14,444.00
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Grant and/or Vocational Funds for Tribal Victims$563,012.00
HUD Annual Allocation for Tribal Housing$3,086,192.00
Emergency Home and Rental Assistance Grant$495,929.00
DHHS-ACF-CCDF Annual Allocation of Childcare Funds$6,687,787.00
Headstart Program$0.00
Indian School Facility Assistance and Student Transportation$0.00
Indian Equalization Program$0.00
Youth and/or Boys and Girls Clubs and/or AmeriCorps Grant(s)$97,351.00
Special Education Assistance Grant$0.00