Ruth Cedar Face, President
Ruth is Oglala Lakota and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She is 39 years old and a mother of two. She received her Bachelors of Science in Human Services from Oglala Lakota College and is internationally certified substance abuse counselor. Currently Ruth is the outpatient treatment coordinator at Anpetu Luta Otipi treatment center, a culturally based treatment center serving youth and adults on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. With over 21 years of experience in working with youth Ruth will provide leadership and accountability to Thunder Valley.

Gene “Popcorn” Tyon, Vice President
Gene is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and has been involved with Indigenous Peoples Rights for over 20 years. As a community organizer on the reservation and in Rapid City, he saw the importance of education and decided to go to college. Gene will be graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Human Services in June 2007 from Oglala Lakota College. Gene is currently completing an Internship with the diabetes prevention program at Sioux San Indian Hospital in Rapid City. He is also on the board of the Indian Education and Department of Corrections in Rapid City. His dedication to youth on and off the reservation will prove to be a huge asset to Thunder Valley.

Barry Thompson, Treasurer
Barry is a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. At 45 years old he is a proud father of three children and four grandchildren. Barry has been apart of the education system for over 25 years working with youth and children K-12. His experience in working in the education system led him to coach girls basketball for 16 years and boys basketball for 9 years. Barry also served as the financial manager for Crow Creek Tribal schools for 8 years overseeing the business and investment matters for the school system. Barry is 16 credit hours away from graduating with a Bachelors degree in Accounting from the National College of Business. Currently Barry is the cage manager for the Prairie Wind Casino and is a Key license holder from Oglala Sioux Gaming Commission. Further more his experience in the education system and in financial management makes Barry an important edition to the Thunder Valley board.

Norma Rendon, Secretary
Norma currently serves on the State Board for CASA(Court Appointed Special Advocate) and also on the local CASA Board located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She is the Shelter Coordinator for the local domestic violence shelter, Cangleska Inc. located in Kyle, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Prior to working for Cangleska, Inc. Norma was the Director for the Oglala Sioux Tribe Emergency Youth Shelter. She has been involved with youth and families in the area of education and social work for over thirty years. She is also a member of the local American Friends Service Committee Board and has worked to ensure social justice as an AFSC member for 16 years. She is certified through Red Cross as a Trainer of Trainers to educate communities about HIV/AIDS and the devastating impact of the disease. She is also a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a resident of the Porcupine community.

Naca Charging Crow, Youth Member
Naca is 18 years old and a recent graduate from Little Wound High School. He is Lakota and Hopi so he grew up learning two different indigenous cultures which gave him leadership skills both here on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and in First Mesa on Hopi lands. He is an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Through out his life Naca learned to sing traditional Lakota songs and went on to become a champion grass dancer on the Powow Circuit. Naca has also become one of the young leaders on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation dedicate to the revitalization of Lakota culture and spirituality. Naca’s knowledge of traditional songs makes him an important asset to youth living on the reservation. Naca presented and taught traditional Lakota hand games to youth at the Hope Lodge Youth gathering in the Black Hills in the summer of 2006. Recently Naca was honored at the Lakota National Invitational for his hard work and dedication to Lakota culture. Naca is planning on attending the Minnesota School Of Business in the 2007 spring semester.

Clovia Around Him, Member
Clovia is 33 years old, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a mother of four children. She has over 12 years of experience in working with youth and children on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She served as a special education assistant and teachers assistant at Little Wound School for 8 ½ years. She has an early childhood education certificate from Oglala Lakota College, she is currently 5 credit hours away from her Bachelors in Elementary Education and Lakota Studies. Currently Clovia is the project advocate for the outpatient treatment program for women suffering from domestic violence, this is a project of Cangleska Inc. a comprehensive domestic violence advocacy organization serving the Oglala Lakota Nation. Clovia is dedicated to Lakota culture and spirituality carrying traditional teachings in all aspects of her work while serving her community.

Evelyn Weston, Member
Evelyn is 41 years old, a mother of two and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She has a nursing degree from Oglala Lakota College. She is in the process of getting her MBA from the University of Mary. Evelyn has over 18 years of experience in community involvement and working with young people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Her work has been to improve the living conditions and health of Lakota families. Currently Evelyn is the diabetes coordinator for the Pine Ridge Indian Health service, working to empower Lakota people to get active and prevent diabetes within themselves and their families. Evelyn is an active member of the Porcupine community and has experience working in the health field as a registered nurse. Her dedication to her community and aspirations in business will help guide Thunder Valley into a positive direction.