Winona Yellowhammer is Lakota, a land keeper and member of the Standing Rock people of Fort Yates, ND. She is married to Gary Hensley and they reside with their three young children in a suburb of Nashville, TN.

As a former board member and current spokesperson for the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee Winona has been active in Indigenous Advocacy (via media relations) for several years. She hosts the Annual Tennessee Eagle Awards Ceremony, is an emcee for the TN State Pow-wow, and Hostess of Mitakuye Oyasin, the local Native radio program. She has lobbied for/against legislation regarding Native interests in Tennessee, as co-author writing resolutions to the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs and as a commissioned spokesperson on civil rights issues for Native people.

In 2008 Winona was hired to host a documentary and four-part teaching series on Six Nations land claims issues in Ontario. Conducting interviews with governmental officials, politicians, negotiators, activists, pastors, tribal members and neighbors, hereditary chiefs, and lawyers was a real test for Winona’s skill in cross-cultural communication. Winona has also acted in independent films and has been a guest on Christian television, telling her story.

For the past six years, Winona has served in her church in administrative capacities as well as ministry to children. She is a deeply committed follower of Jesus whose great desire is to see her people embrace Jesus in a good way.

Winona joins the MPI team as Development Officer. In her new role with MPI Winona is endeavoring to expand her capacity as an advocate while creating a solid financial foundation for the growing ministry. Her strategy to reach a larger and more concerned audience is quite simple: tell the stories of Indigenous People – those who have encountered Jesus and, those who have not.