Our Leadership
Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)
Board of Directors
Helene Gaddie
Board Chair
Oglala Lakota
Jake Edwards
Board Vice-Chair
Onondaga Eel Clan
Deborah Sanchez
Board Treasurer
Chumash, O’odham and Raramuri
Tāwera Ngaronoa Tahuri
Board Secretary
Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Uenuku, Tūwharetoa
Chris Peters
President
Puhlik-lah/Karuk
Dr. Luis Macas
Board Member
Saraguro
Henrietta Mann, Ph.D
Board Member
Tsetsehestaestse (Cheyenne)
Brian Monongye
Board Member
Hopi
Edward Wemytewa
Board Member
Shiwi
Advisors
Sandra Creamer
Advisor
Waanyi/Kalkadoon
Naomi Lanoi Leleto
Advisor
Maasai
Emeritus
Oren Lyons
Emeritus Board Member
Onondaga
Our Team
Executive
Tia Oros Peters
Chief Executive Officer
Shiwi
Administration & Operations
Teresa McGinnis
Chief of Staff
Yurok
Paula O’Rourke-Dickey
Executive Administrative Assistant
Yurok
Eileen Ragain
Administrative Assistant
Yurok
Johnny Salazar
Director of Operations
Indigenous
Program
Rosa Campos
Affiliate Coordinator
Purepecha
Merry Kate Droz
Program Support
Wyandot/Anishinaabe
Louis Gordon
Program Director
Xicano/Purépecha
charles houston
Strategic Relations Coordinator
Karuk-va-araara
Lekishon Kanyinke
Program Assistant
Maasai/Ogiek
Jose Malvido
Senior Program Officer
Xicano/Yoeme/Tohono O’odham
Michael Raigoza
Program and Development Officer
Nomlaki
Mima Salas
Program Coordinator for Thriving Women
Diné/Xicana/Gabrieliño Kizh
Advancement
Eli Bargas
Special Projects
Ohlone/Yoeme/Apache/Cheyenne/Chicano
Samantha Biasca
Philanthropy Associate
Haida, Tlingit, Inuit
Heather Freitas
Advancement Director
Lusitanian descent
Fiscal
Kimberly Brown
Fiscal Manager
Choctaw
Tyler Chalmers
Fiscal Assistant
Choctaw Nation
Rebecca Lewis
Fiscal Assistant – Controller Support
Hector Sandoval Veliz
Fiscal Assistant
Mestizo
