About The Tonkawa Tribe

Facts About the Tonkawa Tribe Of Indians Of Oklahoma:

  • Some Tonkawa served as scouts for the Texas Rangers in their fight against the Comanche.
  • The Tonkawa language is considered an isolate with no related languages documented.
  • The Tonkawa were likely contacted by Spanish explorers in the 1530s and 1540s.
  • The Tonkawa were considered a pro‑Confederate tribe during the Civil War and attacked by pro‑Union tribes.
  • The Tonkawa live on land that was once assigned to the Nez Perce, prior to returning to the Pacific Northwest.

The Tonkawa Tribe's Original Lands

Tonkawa Tribe Geography

Tonkawa Tribe Geographical Identity:

Plains

Find Your Tonkawa Tribe area(s) by Census Data:

Click to Learn More About the Tonkawa Tribe

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

Contact the Tonkawa Tribe

Physical Address:

1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, Oklahoma 74653

Mailing Address:

1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, Oklahoma 74653

Phone:

(580) 628-2561

Website:

Socials:

Tonkawa Tribe Leadership

Highest Elected Official

President

Russell

Martin

Date Elected:

4/1/2023

Next Election Date:

4/3/2027

Tonkawa Tribe Politics

Jurisdiction by County:

  • Kay

Congressional District:

3

Tribal Population:

576

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

959

Type of Federal Tribal Governance:

93-638

Year of Self Governance Entry:

Gaming Compacts by Year:

11/9/1994, 4/6/2005, 8/27/2018

Other Oklahoma Compacts:

Tonkawa Tribe Resources

Law Enforcement:

Tonkawa Tribal Police Department

Cameron Hurd, Chief
580-628-2561 x 203
1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, OK 74653

Education and Training:

Tonkawa Tribe Education Department

Lisa Norman
580-628-2561 x 143
1 Rush Buffalo Rd
Tonkawa, OK 74653

Childcare Center:

Tonkawa Tribe Child Care

Sarah Callshim, Director
580-628-2561 X 120
1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, OK 74653

Housing Authority:

Tonkawa Housing Department

Elizabeth Hockert
lhockert@tonkawatribe.com
580-628-2561
36 Cisco Drive
Tonkawa, OK 74653

Behavioral Health Center:

Tonkawa Tribe Drug & Alcohol Abuse Program & Counseling Services

Jamie Metcalf
jmetcalf@tonkawatribe.com
580-247-9640
1 Rush Buffalo Road
Enterprise Building
Tonkawa, OK 74653

Medical Clinics:

Indian Health Service (IHS)

Tonkawa Tribe Federal Funding Overview

Unique Identifying Number (UEI): M19HCJ5VD6F5

Number of Federal Grants in Audit: 34

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 $5,672,095.00
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Awards $5,684,135.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Self Governance Annual Funding Agreement $0.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Aid to Tribal Governments $401,895.00
Indian Health Service Compact (IHS): Annual Funding Agreement $0.00
Indian Health Services (IHS): 93-638 Contracts/Self-Determination Annual Allocation $175,464.00

Long Range Planning

Type Amount
Grant(s) for Tribal Lands, Climate, Natural Resources, Energy, and/or Water $438,816.00
National Performance Partnership Grant on Environment $0.00
Broadband Grant $0.00
Grant(s) for Language and Cultural Preservation, NAGPRA and/or THPO $80,261.00
Rural Economic Development and/or Community Development, CDFI/Enhancement Grant(s) $0.00
Federal Transportation Annual Allocation for Road and Bridge Construction $556,561.75
Annual Transportation Planning Allocation $12,720.52
Tribal Public Transit Funds $0.00

Protection

Type Funding Amount
Disaster Planning and/or Mitigation Grant(s) $11,441.00
Homeland Security Grant $25,635.00
Grant(s) for Justice, Courts, and Community Policing $754,618.00
Adam Walsh (SORNA) and/or Missing Persons Grant(s) $0.00
Provides Violence Against Women and Family Violence Prevention Services $263,823.00
Tribe Offers Child Welfare Social Services (Stephanie Tubbs and/or Child Support Enforcement) $97,830.00
Tribe Offers Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Mary Lee Allen) $12,040.00
Foster Care (Title IV-E) $0.00
Tribe Offers General Assistance Program $0.00
LIHEAP – Tribe Offers Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program $8,286.00

Tonkawa Tribe Health, Wellness, and Social Caring

Number of Clinics: 1

Number of Hospitals: 0

Offers Dental: No

Offers Pharmacy: No

Offers Residential Treatment: No

Type Amount
Medicare Enrollment Assistance Grant $0.00
Special Diabetes Program Grant $44,531.00
Alzheimer Disease Program Grant $0.00
Injury and Suicide Prevention Grant(s) $0.00
Behavioral Health Grant(s) – Check with Tribe/Health Clinic for Other Counseling Services $0.00
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 $0.00
Opioid and Substance Abuse Program and/or Tobacco Control Grant $0.00
Long-Range Medical Research Grant(s) $0.00
Offers Title VI – A and B (Elder Nutrition) $0.00
Offers Title VI – C (Elder Caregiving) $0.00
Offers Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program $0.00
Offers Food Distribution, Other Nutrition, Farmer’s Market, and/or Commodities Programs $0.00
Veteran Homeless Grant(s) and/or Veterans Cemetery Establishment or Operation Funding $0.00

Tonkawa Tribe Employment, Housing, and Education

Public Law 102-477 Tribe: No

Number of Casinos: 3

Offers an Employment Assistance Program: Yes

Number of FTE
Tribal Employees:
490

Housing Managed by Tribe or TDHE: Tribe Operates

Number of Homes Needed by Tribe for Oklahoma: 53

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)$102,176.00
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Grant and/or Vocational Funds for Tribal Victims$379,977.00
HUD Annual Allocation for Tribal Housing$590,823.00
Emergency Home and Rental Assistance Grant$0.00
DHHS-ACF-CCDF Annual Allocation of Childcare Funds$428,209.00
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)$6,206.00
Special Education Assistance Grant$0.00