NABS

Meet Our Board

Chief Benjamin Barnes

Board Member

Shawnee

Ramona Klein, Ed. D

1st Vice President

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

James LaBelle, Sr.

Board Member

Inupiaq

Theresa Sheldon

Treasurer

Tulalip Tribes

Rochelle Ettawageshik

Secretary

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Juana Majel-Dixon, Ph.D.

2nd Vice President

Pauma-Yuima Band of Luiseño Indians

Agnes Attakai, MPA

Board Member

Diné/Navajo Nation

Rory Wheeler

Board Member

Seneca Nation

Meet Our Staff

Deborah Parker

Chief Executive Officer

Tulalip/Yaqui/Apache

Samuel B. Torres, Ed.D.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Mexica/Nahua

Jennifer Blevins

Director of Operations

Sandy White Hawk

Elder-In-Residence

Sicangu Lakota

Deidre Whiteman

Director of Research and Education

Meskwaki, Dakota, Ojibwe, Hidatsa

Fallon Carey

Digital Archives Manager

Cherokee Nation

Iko’tsimiskimaki Beck

Community Engagement Coordinator

Blackfeet/Red River Métis

Lacey Kinnart

Oral History Program Operations Manager

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Ojibwe

Cleora Scott

Development Director

Crow/Dakota Lakota/Pawnee

Moki Bear Eagle

Oral Historian

Oglala Lakota

Sherrie Catanach

Interim Director of Communications

Pueblo of Pojoaque

Tyesha Ignacio

Finance & Operations Specialist

Diné

Tom Kinley

Human Resources Manager

Lummi Nation

Charlee Brissette

Oral History Program Manager

Sault St. Marie Tribe of Ojibwe

Dr. Denise Lajimodiere

Oral Historian

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Kathy Howkumi

Grants Manager

Pueblo of Nambe

Alicia Horne

Executive Assistant

Tulalip

Arlin Yazzie

Salesforce Administrator

Diné/Navajo Nation

Serene Thin Elk, MA, LPC-MH, LAC

Director of Indigenous Mindfulness

Ihanktonwan Dakota

Dr. Ponka-We-Victors-Cozad

Director of Policy & Advocacy

Tohono O’odham Nation/Ponca Tribe

River Freemont

Digital Archives Specialist

Umoⁿhoⁿ Tribe of Nebraska and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Descendant

Tsinni Russell

Digital Archives Specialist

Diné

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell

Oral History Project Specialist

Native Hawaiian

Previous Board Members

We are grateful to our previous Board Members for their service and commitment to boarding school healing. Thank you!

Dr. Joannie M. Suina, Ed.D., Pueblo of Cochiti
Sarah Eagle Heart, Oglala Lakota
Marlene Helgemo, Ho-Chunk Nation (2014-2020)
Vance Blackfox, Cherokee Nation (2017-2019)
Henry Cagey, Lummi Nation (2017-2019)
Jacob Davis, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (2016-2018)
Jerilyn DeCoteau, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (2014-2018)
Denise Lajimodiere, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (2012-2018)
Patricia Whitefoot, Yakama Nation (2014-2017)
Chase Iron Eyes, Standing Rock (2015-2017)
Andrea Carmen, Yaqui Nation (2014-2016)
Elicia Goodsoldier, Dine/Spirit Lake Dakota (2015-2016)
Edna Brillion, Haida/Cree
Rosemary Gibbons, Mimbres Apache/ Chicana
Don Coyhis, Mohican

Coalition

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is a membership organization comprised of over 700 Native and Non-Native members and organizations committed to boarding school healing.

All Members of the Board of Directors are Regular Members of the Coalition.

Learn How to Become a Coalition Member