Tema Yargee

Tema Yargee is 21 years old. She is of the Deer clan (Ecovlke). Tema belongs to the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town. She also belongs to the Sand Creek Ceremonial Ground. Her mother is Gayle Yargee. Her maternal grandparents are the late Tarpie Yargee and Amy Yargee. Her paternal grandparents are Das Yazzie and Margie Yazzie.

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Tema was born with Erb’s Palsy. In her early years, she received three major surgeries on her right arm. She also went to physical therapy to help rehabilitate her arm. Tema served as the Alabama- Quassarte Tribal Town princess for several years.

Tema graduated middle school from Justice Public School. A public school with a 99% Native American student population. Tema went on to Strother Public School and participated in track and field as a shot put and discus thrower, FCCLA member, and FFA member. Tema served as Vice President of her FCCLA chapter during her senior year and was part of the entomology team in FFA. Tema’s team placed second in state for two years and Tema placed 2nd high individual in State Entomology. Tema graduated Strother High School in 2019.

 Tema took concurrent classes while in high school at Seminole State College and continued her academic path there. Tema was very active in campus activities such as being a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Native American Student Association, Student Support Services, Sigma Kappa Delta, and Art Club. Tema served as Vice President of Scholarship in the PTK chapter, Alpha Theta Nu. Tema was very active in her Student Support Services program and won the Vision Board contest. Tema was selected to be a member of the All-Oklahoma Academic Team. She graduated Seminole State College with a 4.0 GPA. She also graduated with honors from Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta.

Currently, Tema is a college senior at Northeastern State University. Her major is Criminal Justice with two minors in Legal Studies and American Indian Studies. Tema’s future academic plans are obtaining a Master’s degree and going further into law school.

Chenoa Barnett

Chenoa Barnett is 17 years old.  She is of the Raccoon (Wotkvlke) Clan and attends Montesoma Baptist Church.  Chenoa belongs to the Nuyaka Tribal Town and currently attends Preston High School.

Parents are Roger and Stephanie (Good Voice) Barnett.  Paternal grandparents are the late Joe and Rachel Barnett and Maternal grandparents are the late Kenneth and Sally Good Voice.  Chenoa is also a descendant of the Sicangu Lakota Tribe of South Dakota.

Currently she is serving as the Second Speaker for the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council 

Hobbies include learning the Mvskoke language, sewing traditional clothing and creating beadwork.  Chenoa’s academic plans are to major in political science and then enter into the study of pre-law.