Biography
Mary Holden Nordwall is a full blood Indian, who is a practicing Behavioral Health counselor. Mary Spent time growing up at the Sandy Creek Presbyterian church in Filmore, OK when they used to have small cabins surrounding the church grounds. Her father Johnston Holden was a bi-lingual gospel singer in a quartet, singing Chickasaw and Choctaw hymns, named the Rythmeers. She started her career in Education, as an elementary school teacher. Mary then became a diversity counselor for Native American students at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where her duties included counseling the National Champion Football team; developing and overseeing the Native American Scholarship Program: White Antelope Scholarship; and represented the University as a liaison of the Chancellor’s office to the Tribal Nations in the State of Colorado. She was then recruited to the Dean of Students for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM where she oversaw a multi-million dollar budget. Mary went into semi-retirement, and was able to consult for the Chickasaw Nation Arts division under Brian Campbell. She then served as the Director of Education for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and wrote the current polices and scholarship guidelines under which they operate. Currently, Mary has been a behavioral health counselor for five years in Ada, OK.
Mary originally began her undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma on a Chickasaw Scholarship. She continued her education at a private college; Lesley University in Cambridge, MA while her husband attended Harvard. She finished out her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Mary went on to attain her Master’s Degree in Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Mary was accepted into and completed her course work toward her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Mary’s charge as Chickasaw Legislator is to be a fulltime servant for the Chickasaw People. Her emphasis will be in Education, Culture and Job mobility for Chickasaw citizens, and Healthcare. Mary’s focus will be a community oriented approach for better outreach of services through the Nation. Expansion of Scholarships, retention of language and culture is a top priority. Chickasaw Citizens preference for promotions and contracting with the Nation and offering access to training and mentorship opportunities for future promotions should be the norm. Mary would look into providing wound care services within our health system to help our citizens keep their bodies whole and combat the effects of diabetes.
Mary is married to Rick Nordwall a graduate of Harvard University, and they have two sons; Eric and Sean who both attended the University of California, Berkeley. Her parents were Johnston and Ana Faye Holden; Mary has six siblings: Anita Duncan, Gloria Spybuck, John Holden, Joe Holden, James Holden and Brenda Benson. Mary’s Grandparents were James Holden Sr. and Emma Humes. Her uncles and aunts include Earl ‘Trap’ Lowry, Josie Imotichey, Lena Welch, Mary Holden-Filmore, James Holden Jr., Louise Holden Jones, Juanita Holden Byars, and Melton Humes. Mary’s Great Uncle was Reverend Jesse Humes (Emma’s Brother) who is credited with writing the Chickasaw Dictionary.
“I have dedicated my career to helping Native people in the education and behavioral health fields. I will be a fulltime legislator and servant to the Chickasaw People. I believe our citizens should be the top priority of the Chickasaw Nation. I have the experience, the qualifications, and the heart to best serve the Chickasaw People of the Pontotoc District. I humbly ask for your vote, Chokmashki.”