"Procession Before War Dance", Ernest Spybuck Credit: National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution (02/5735).
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
The Absentee Shawnee Tribe is primarily located in the heart of central Oklahoma with approximately 4,775 members who live in all parts of the world as of June 30, 2026. Our tribal government complex is located in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Our logo features Tecumseh, a Shawnee warrior and visionary leader, who worked to unite tribes in a common homeland where Indians could live under their own laws and leaders. He died in October 1813, in battle near the area of present day Thamesville, in Toronto, Canada. The LI-SI-WI-NWI in our logo means “Among the Shawnee”
Latest Announcements & Upcoming Events
Most Recent
Indigenous Peoples' Day Closure
Announcement
AST Shawnee Language Fair & Stomp Dance
Event
AST 477 Program 2026 Education & Career Fair
Event
Special Executive Committee Meeting
Meeting
September 25, 2026 Walk & Talk
Event
Indigenous Peoples' Day Closure
THE ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2026
IN OBSERVANCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY
AST Shawnee Language Fair & Stomp Dance!!!
WHEN - November 7, 2 pm to 11 pm
WHERE - Thunderbird Event Center, 15700 E State Highway 9, Norman, OK.
For questions or help with submissions, please email ASTLanguage@astribe.com
AST 477 Program 2026 Education & Career Fair
Wednesday October 7 2026 10 am to 1 pm
Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, Shawnee, OK
For more information, 405.878.4545 or melindaf@astribe.com
Little Axe resident Thurman “Duke” Blanchard, 71, died Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Little Axe.
Thurman was born February 6, 1951, in Little Axe, Oklahoma to Lewis and Cynthia (Creek) Blanchard.
He was a lifetime resident of Little Axe, Oklahoma and was a member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He graduated from Noble High School and started his career with Oklahoma Natural Gas, retiring in 2006.
He married Fredith Butler on June 2, 1972, in Little Axe, Oklahoma.
The Executive Committee of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, in accordance with the Constitution, Article XVI, Section 3, “Executive Committee Meetings” here by calls and declares public notice that the REGULAR meeting of the Executive Committee of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 at 10:00 AM. at the Absentee Shawnee Tribal Complex in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The Absentee Shawnee Tribe Department of Public Safety has been diligent in the response to the severe weather impacts. Now that initial damage assessments have ended and response plans are in place, we are looking to coordinate with willing AST volunteers to assist in recovery efforts. Seminole County and the City of Seminole will be our primary location for providing our assistance.
If you are interested in volunteering your time and efforts to assist our neighboring communities, please reach out to the following forms of contact:
The following items are eligible for LIHEAP participants that are enrolled with a federally recognized tribe and live in Cleveland & Pottawatomie counties. For more questions or application, please call Social Services at 405.878.4723.
Tribal members that are interested in an HVAC career or change of career, the Workforce Development & Career Initiative will be conducting vocational assessment for tribal members to see if they meet the qualifications. This assessment will be provided at Moore Norman Technology Center.
Opening Date May 1st 2022 Closing Date May 25th 2022
Applications are available online. This program is first come first serve and applicant must qualify and meet the WIOA guidelines.
Program begins on June 6th and ends July 29th.
Deadline for applications is May 20, 2022.
For more information contact:
Alvina Barnes at 405.275.4030 x 6307 alvinab@astribe.com
Kim Porter at 405.275.4030 x 6269 kporter@astribe.com
Applications can be found on the AST website under Governor/WIA