About Us

Organizational History | Board of Directors and Leadership | Staff

Organizational History top ↑

Founded in 1977, the Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development emerged from a call from Indigenous communities in the Americas during the cultural, social and political renaissance era of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Leaders of the time, such as our primary founder, the late Daniel Bomberry (Salish/Cayuga) included chiefs, clan mothers, youth and community activists who established the organization to respond to the needs of grassroots Indigenous communities and initiatives engaged in cultural revitalization, leadership development, tribal sovereignty, and culturally appropriate economic development strategies. Seventh Generation Fund grew and evolved into the foremost Indigenous non-profit/social-profit organization in the United States. Today, our mission remains as our founders originally envisioned: dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples and the sovereignty of tribal Nations.

We have long recognized the critical need at the Native grassroots community level for access to resources, technical assistance and training to address an overall need for healthy and sustainable environments. Our work throughout the Americas has consistently been based on traditional Native concepts of holistic ecological stewardship. SGF and the communities we serve have long understood the direct relationships between a healthy environment, social justice and community well-being. We remain focused on supporting grassroots development through Native community empowerment and action.

Our derives its name from a precept of the Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy) which mandates that chiefs consider the impact of their decisions on the seventh generation yet to come. This principle guides us in our front line work with all the grassroots Native communities we support in revitalization, restoration, preservation, planning and development projects.

Board of Directors and Leadership top ↑

Rosalie Little Thunder (Sicangu Lakota), South Dakota Chairperson Person

Tonya Gonnella Frichner, Esq. (Onondaga), New York,Vice-Chairperson

Ray Williams (Swinomish), Washington, Secretary

Tupac Enrique Acosta (Nahuatl-Xicano), Arizona, Member

Susana Geliga (Lakota/Taino), South Dakota, Member

Chief Oren Lyons (Onondaga), New York, Honorary Member

Dr. Luis Macas ( Saraguro), Ecuador, Member

Dr. Henrietta Mann (Southern Cheyenne), Montana, Emeritus Member

Arthur Manuel (Shuswap), Canada, Member

Christopher Peters ( Pohlik-lah/Karuk) – California, President/CEO

Our Staff top ↑

Executive and Administrative
Tia Oros Peters ( Zuni) Executive Director
Argie Munoz ( Xicana) Administrative Assistant

Development
Valerie Marks Reed ( Yurok) Program Development/Youth Coordinator
Heather Freitas Assistant

Fiscal
Alice Woodworth, Full Charge Bookkeeper

Media
Chris "Mo" Hollis, Media Director
Rachel Sundberg (Yurok) Media Consultant

Program
Jonathon Freeman (Choctaw/Mexica) Program Officer
Kahneena Jones (Washo/Akimel Au-Authum) Program Associate