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
Vice President & 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
Sandra Creamer
Board Member
Waanyi/Kalkadoon
Naomi Lanoi Leleto
Board Member
Maasai
Emeritus
Oren Lyons
Emeritus Board Member
Onondaga
Our Team
Executive
Tia Oros Peters
Chief Executive Officer
Shiwi
Ryder Perez
Executive Support
Yoeme
Administration & Operations
Teresa McGinnis
Chief of Staff
Yurok
Eli Bargas
Special Projects
Ohlone/Yoeme/Apache/Cheyenne/Chicano
Eileen Ragain
Office Coordinator
Yurok
Program
Louis Gordon
Senior Program Director
Xicano/Purépecha
Merry Kate Droz
Program Support
Wyandot/Anishinaabe
Lekishon Kanyinke
Program Assistant
Maasai/Ogiek
Jose Malvido
Director of the Spiral Braid and Strategic Initiatives
Xicano/Yoeme/Tohono O’odham
Michael Raigoza
Empowered Roots Director
Nomlaki
Mima Salas
Thriving Woman Program Coordinator
Diné/Xicana/Gabrieliño Kizh
Advancement
Heather Freitas
Advancement Director
Lusitanian descent
Samantha Biasca
Philanthropy Associate
Haida/Tlingit/Inuit
Paula O’Rourke-Dickey
Advancement Assistant
Yurok
Fiscal
Tyler Chalmers
Fiscal Officer
Choctaw
Rebecca Lewis
Fiscal Assistant
Cherokee/Comanche
Elizabeth Varelas
Empowered Roots Fiscal Assistant
Mexicana
Kimberly Brown
Fiscal Specialist
Choctaw
