Bloodlines: Tales of Indigenous Women

In the lives of Native Americans, we all have one thing in common- bloodlines. The bloodlines are what connect our past to our future. In this podcast, we talk with Indigenous women who are impacting their world for the better in big ways and small ways, while never forgetting to go back to their roots. Join, Jeane Burgess, member of the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma, as she has conversations with powerful Native American women who are making a difference in their neighborhood, communities and their world. Please subscribe, share, and review Bloodlines. Thank you for joining us here.

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Bloodlines: Tales of Indigenous Women

Tara Gibson

February 17, 2026 • Jeane Burgess • Season 2 • Episode 11

0:00 | 23:10

Osiyo! I’m Tara McCoin Gibson, a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. I was born and raised in Afton, Oklahoma, where I also raised my family. Growing up, I always knew I was Cherokee and heard stories from relatives about our ancestors, but it wasn’t until high school—when I received the Tsa-La-Gi Award—that my curiosity deepened and I began to explore what being Cherokee truly meant to me. For 22 years, I worked with the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations through Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. During that time, I had the honor of working alongside tribal members from across Indian Country and Alaska. Those years shaped me deeply, allowing me to form lifelong friendships and develop my identity as a Cherokee woman through the wisdom, strength, and shared experiences of Indigenous women from many nations.

Today, I work with Indian Health Service at the Wewoka Service Unit. Although healthcare was not part of my original life plan, this work has shown me just how vital it is to the sustainability and wellbeing of our Native people. I primarily serve members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and continue to learn through immersion in their culture and community. I am the proud mother of two children, Bryce Gibson and Natalie Gardenhigh, and I am blessed with “adopted” children, Gage Brenam and Natia Vester. I am also a grandmother—“Nammy”—to three of my greatest blessings: Clara Gardenhigh, Jaxon Vester, and Tyler Vester. Our family is a beautiful blend of Cherokee, Choctaw, and Modoc cultures.

One of my favorite quotes, from Wilma Mankiller, reminds me why stories like ours matter: “Remember that I am just a woman who is living a very abundant life. Every step I take forward is on a path paved by strong Indian women before me.”