President

Amber Silverhorn-Wolfe

She/Her/ka:hi:kʔa
Wichita (Waco Band)/Kiowa/Cheyenne/Arapaho/Mexican Descent

Phone: (405) 247-2425
Email: president@wichitatribe.com

Tribal Affiliations

Enrolled Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Waco Band)/Kiowa Tribe/Cheyenne/Arapaho/Mexican

Education

• B.S. Psychology from Cameron University
  • Minor Criminal Justice​
• M.A. Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma
  • Focus on Organizational Leadership​
• Pursing a PhD in Adult and Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma
  • Emphasis on Adult and Continuing Education which encompasses:
    • Community Education/Organizing & Social Change
    • Educational Outreach
    • Informal & Non-Formal Learning
    • International Lifelong Learning
    • Professional & Continuing (Higher) Education
    • School-to-Work & Work-to-School Transition
    • Social Advocacy & Action
    • Workplace Learning & Organizational Change

     

About Me

I am an enrolled citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, with proud heritage that includes Kiowa, Cheyenne and Arapaho, and Mexican ancestry. I am the great-granddaughter of John Sr. & Matilda Aquodle Queton-Emhoolah; Jose Antonio & Bellia Fegueroa; James Silverhorn (Billie Bow Haungooah) & Rose Tsalote; and Noble Hunt Segar & Ida Grace. I am the granddaughter of Jose Antonio Garza & Annette Aquodle Queton Emhoolah-Garza and Leonard Haungooah & Eve Hunt Silverhorn, and the daughter of Kevin Silverhorn & Rosemaria Ann Garza.

My preferred pronouns are she/her/ka:hi:kʔa.

In my previous role, I served as the Student Success Program Manager at AISES—Advancing Indigenous People in STEM—where I worked to uplift Native students in both K–12 and higher education settings. I’ve also served on various boards and committees advocating for Native American students and communities. After a brief pause in my academic journey, I continue to pursue a PhD in Adult and Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma, with a focus on Adult and Continuing Education (ACE).

I live in Anadarko, Oklahoma with my husband Vincent, and together we’ve built a life over with our five children: Kaleiya (20), Talib (17), KyMani (11), Cambria (7), and Elias (18 months).

I was born at Lawton Indian Hospital and raised at Apache Wye. In first grade, we moved to the outskirts of Fort Cobb, to Waide’s Addition. I graduated from Riverside Indian School during my junior year and enlisted in active duty military service immediately after. My time in the military exposed me to diverse cultures and perspectives, shaping my approach to leadership and service.

Service has always been at the heart of everything I do. Whether lending a hand or sharing knowledge, I find joy in helping others. My core values—compassion, accountability, perseverance, innovation, service, and integrity—guide my commitment to creating meaningful change for the Wichita people and our broader communities.

I believe in amplifying Wichita voices to build a better future for all. I’m human—I make mistakes—but I always strive to listen, learn, and consider the impact of our choices. From youth to elders, each of us carries stories, cultural knowledge, and lived experiences that enrich our identity as Wichita people.

Over the past seven years, my work has focused on education and tribal education. Now, I am deeply committed to advancing tribal sovereignty for the Wichita Tribe. The road ahead may be long, but I’m ready to walk it with you. Together, we can grow in areas where we’ve yet to fully invest.

Here are some key areas I’m passionate about and actively working on:

• Integrating Wichita ways of knowing into tribal governance and service delivery, with increased use of culture and language.

• Developing a governing document that prevents centralized control and promotes balanced leadership.

• Expanding access to culture and language for all citizens.

• Promoting mental health education that is trauma-informed and nonjudgmental.

• Strengthening collaboration among tribal programs and commissions to ensure seamless, effective services.

• Using data and research to improve services for:

  • Incarcerated citizens
  • Citizens living out of area
  • Survivors of abuse
  • Veterans
  • LGBTQIA2S+ community members
  • Wichita descendants
  • Citizens with intersecting identities (multi-tribal, socio-economic challenges, etc.)

• Improving workplace culture across all Wichita entities, including the Casino, to ensure employees feel heard, respected, and valued.

• Supporting our commissions in their efforts to serve our people.

• Exploring economic development beyond casinos and smoke shops.

• Building relationships and increasing communication with community organizations, partners, and other Tribal Nations—locally and nationally. I believe collaboration across the 39 tribes in Oklahoma and the 579 federally recognized tribes nationwide can help us all thrive.

• Ensuring transparency in tribal revenue and financial matters.

As a tribal citizen, I see tremendous potential for growth. These are just a few of the areas I’m committed to. Change doesn’t happen overnight—but with your support, we can move forward together.

So:ti:cʔa for your continued encouragement and support,

President Silverhorn-Wolfe