Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center 2013 Annual Report

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MIN

OLE TRIBE OF FLO

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IN GOD WE TRUST

TRIBAL COUNCIL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

06 1810 3214 3616 4020 42

About Us

Training Technical Assistance

Outreach Communications

Trade Shows

Cultural Awareness

On-Site Training

Kerretv OnlineWebinar Training

Instructors 2013

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) Regional Map

James E. BillieChairman Seminole Tribe of Florida

Tony Sanchez, Jr.PresidentSTOF, Inc.

Mark “Steve” OsceolaHollywood BoardRepresentative

Joe FrankBig Cypress BoardRepresentative

Larry HowardBrighton BoardRepresentative

Manuel M. TigerBig Cypress CouncilRepresentative

Andrew J. Bowers, Jr.Brighton CouncilRepresentative

Christopher OsceolaHollywood CouncilRepresentative

SEMiNOLE TriBE OF FLOridATriBAL GOvErNMENT rEprESENTATivES

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MIN

OLE TRIBE OF FLO

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IN GOD WE TRUST

TRIBAL COUNCIL

6 Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | aBout uS

ABO uT uS

7

ABO uT uS

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | aBout uS

Understanding the Present by Honoring Our Past...

August 1957, Seminole people voted to create The Seminole Tribe of Florida. The vote established a governmental entity and a charted corporation to conduct economic development for the tribe. The tribe now owns several businesses and has fought for sovereignty and self-determination to retain Seminole language, culture and way of life.

-Albuquerque, NM (November 1, 2002). Today in History. National Native News. Retrieved January, 2014, from www.nativenews.net.

8 Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | aBout uS

he Native Learning Center (NLC) was established in October 2008 as a program of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Housing Department, in cooperation with Housing and Urban Development, Eastern Woodlands Office of Native American

Programs (EWONAP), and various Native American trainers throughout Indian Country. The Native Learning Center developed areas of concentration to complement current national organizations that support EWONAP’s mission of promoting the development of Native housing and housing related activities. The NLC primed the field by conducting initial needs assessment surveys throughout Native communities, and invited Natives to convey needs that they faced in their homes. The NLC offers tuition free Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) to Native Americans and Indigenous people with an emphasis on the educational needs of Tribal members and their communities. The NLC’s learning opportunities and resources focus on areas that are critical to the growth and improvement of quality of life for Native communities, and provide participants with the ability to walk away with learned skills that they will be able to share with their communities. The NLC’s unique and culturally specific trainings and technical assistance cover, but are not limited to, Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) and Indian Housing Block Grant Program (IHBG), financial and fiscal

management, personal financial planning, small business education, economic development, housing strategies, sustainable development, and grants management.

Our MissiOn

To provide Native and Indigenous people with knowledge and skills that improve quality of life through housing related educational programs.

Our VisiOn

To be the recognized educational resource for the development of cultural and quality of life skills for all Native and Indigenous people.

During the early months of 2009, the NLC worked diligently on the renovation and design of the center located in Hollywood, Florida, which will house several classrooms and administrative offices. In June 2009, the NLC conducted its first conference where courses focused on Sustainable Design, Financial Wellness, and Grants Education. These courses were developed and designed to address the issues received through feedback of the needs assessment surveys. The NLC fostered a positive learning environment with a highly motivated and professional staff to ensure that quality content was delivered to all participants.

in 2013, the NLC

was granted the

opportunity to expand

its training beyond

the state of Florida and

provide training within

the heart of indian

Country.

9

GEOrGETTE pALMEr SMiTHKiowa Tribe of Oklahoma/Choctaw Nation of OklahomaExecutive Director

KyLE dONEySeminole Tribe of Florida/Gros VentreDeputy Executive Director

viNCENT FrANCOCompliance & Resource Development Director

NiCOLE HArKErAdministrative Service Program Director

STACi EAGLE ELK Osage NationDirector of Training and Technical Assistance

KASSiE HAMiLTON Administrative Office Manager

MAriE duFOur BONviLLETraining and Development Specialist

pATriCE CHANNErReceptionist

JErOME MASCArOProgrammer

CHriSTiNA GONzALEz Marketing Coordinator

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | our Staff

10 Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | traiNiNg

TrAi NiNG

11

TrAi NiNG

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | traiNiNg


In January 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to further the self-determination of Indian communities without terminating their relationships with the federal government, which included operating their own programs and schools.


12

CELEBrATiNG CuLTurE & LANGuAGE

To honor and support efforts to preserve Native American and Indigenous culture, the NLC offers coursework that promotes the celebration of culture and language by the sharing of “best practices.” Our vast network of diverse instructors allows us to create dynamic trainings that can be both broad and specific to Tribal needs.

FiNANCiAL WELLNESS

NLC learners receive both relevant and practical information for today’s ever changing financial world, providing our learners with both the knowledge and tools to better plan for their financial health and wellness. Courses cover a wide range of subjects including entrepreneurship, personal money management, buying a home, improving credit scores, writing a business plan, investments, business accounting, and much more.

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | traiNiNg

The NLC’s learning

opportunities and

resources focus on

areas that are critical

to the growth and

improved quality of life

for Native communities.

The NLC’s focus areas

include: Celebrating

Culture & Language,

Financial Wellness,

Grants Education,

Housing Strategies, and

Tribal Government.

NLC’s 5 Focus Areas

13

GrANTS EduCATiON

The NLC’s Grants Education and support services connect individuals and communities to the world of valuable grant funding. In addition to courses, the NLC also provides direct technical assistance in the areas of research, writing, and submission of grant proposals, through our technical assistance one-on-one support. From introductory webinars to one-on-one assistance, the NLC Grants Education program is focused on providing assistance to those working toward the growth and development of their individual communities.

HOuSiNG STrATEGiES

A key part of the NLC’s mission is our housing related curriculum, which offers a variety of courses to assist individuals and Tribes with building and maintaining sustainable and affordable housing within their communities. The NLC supports eco-friendly and sustainable practices in areas such as green building, LEED certification, and solar panel technology.

TriBAL GOvErNMENT

Incorporating best-practices, along with the experience of Tribal leaders and communities, the NLC offers courses that share insight with other community minded individuals. The Tribal Government curriculum includes topics such as: starting youth programs, current legal trends in Indian Country, broadening Tribal Government issues, and much more.

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | 5 foCuS areaS


any of the NLC’s courses provide participants with the ability to walk away with learned skills that they will be able to share with their communities. The NLC’s unique and culturally specific trainings and technical assistance cover, but are

not limited to, Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) and Indian Housing Block Grant Program (IHBG), financial and fiscal management, personal financial planning, small business education, economic development, housing strategies, sustainable development, and grants management.

On-site Learning

The NLC hosts a series of on-site trainings throughout the year, both at its headquarters located in Hollywood, FL, and other locations within Indian Country. These on-site trainings give learners a direct connection with instructors and their peers. On-site learning focuses on teaching methods for all learning styles, by delivering course curriculum to multiple individuals who are physically present in a traditional educational setting. This delivery method is ideal for people who prefer networking with others, participating in group activities, hands-on learning, and face-to-face interaction.

Distance anD Web-baseD Learning

The NLC’s online training opportunities (webinars) offer distance learning, delivered via web-based courses, which learners can access anywhere they have an Internet connection. The NLC’s delivery of training includes technologies such as online video streaming, DVDs, and e-learning courses, all of which are accessible through Kerretv (Key-thee-duh, Creek for “learning”) Online. Online training allows for the delivery of course curriculum to individuals within a virtual e-learning environment. This increasingly popular NLC delivery method is ideal for people who are limited with time, have travel limitations, and/or prefer to work at their own pace.

in 2013, 5th Annual

Summer Conference

was the largest event

in NLC history with

over 200 people in

attendance, with the

indian Housing Training

Conference served the

most Tribes in

NLC History.

15

Original Beadwork Design By: Imogene Bosin Palmer

Kiowa/Comanche

Strengthening Tribal Communities into the FutureStrengthening Tribal Communities into the FutureStrengthening Tribal Communities into the Future

June4 - 6, 2013

annualannualannual555 summersummersummerththth

conferenceconferenceconference

The Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center PresentsThe Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center Presents

September 10 - 13, 2013 DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown,

Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center

Indian Housing Training Conference

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | oN-Site traiNiNg eveNtS

5th Annual Summer ConferenceJune 4 – 6, 2013Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoHollywood, FL

Highlights Include:Number of Attendees - 214Number of Tribes Served- 44Number of Sessions - 24Number of Instructors - 21Number of Vendors – 16

indianpreneurshipMarch 5 – 6, 2013Native Learning CenterHollywood, FL


indian Housing Training ConferenceSeptember 10 – 13, 2013Double Tree by Hilton Tulsa DowntownTulsa, Oklahoma


“i am an educator and i found that the blend of many different presentations the common thread was, ‘educate the youth’ to strengthen our future.

very empowering.”- 5th Annual Summer Conference Attendee

“i loved the workshop. The teachers were very helpful and friendly. very good

learning experience”

“Excellent. productive.

positive”- Indianpreneurship Attendee

“Found all training attended to be very valuable. instructors were all very knowledgeable and engaging. Truly appreciate that all materials are available on flash drive.”- Indian Housing Training Conference Attendee

16

he Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center was proud to announce the launch of its very own learning management system Kerretv (Key-thee-duh, Creek word for “Learning”) Online in August of 2012. Kerretv Online has allowed

455 individuals to actively engage with educational materials based on our five focus areas: Celebrating Culture & Language, Financial Wellness, Grants Education, Housing Strategies, and Tribal Government.

In the past year Kerretv Online has remained committed to providing users information, resources, and activities by expanding its Tuition FREE webinar selection to include webinar series such as the 4-day Increasing Your Funding & Sustainability webinar training and the 2-day Financial and Compliance Audit Preparation. Kerretv Online added 46 webinars that are recorded and accesible to view at any time. Kerretv Online will continue to provide learners with information, resources, and activities while assisting the Native Learning Center in our mission to provide Native and Indigenous people with knowledge and skills that improve the quality of life through housing related educational programs.

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | traiNiNg

in 2013, Kerretv Online

introduce its first 2

Webinar Series that

offered online attendees

multiple day webinar

courses in one topic.

Kerretv Online also

celebrated its one-year

anniversary.

region Number %

■ Northwest Office 33 7%

■ Southwest Office 128 28%

■ Northern plains Office 38 8%

■ Southern plains Office 70 15%

■ Eastern/Woodland Office 165 36%

Alaska Office 18 4%

Hawaii 3 1%

Total # of Attendees 455 99%

Total # of Tribes Served 169

17

Celebrating Cultural & Language January Cultural Preservation

Financial Wellness January Starting a Small Business

February Fraud Prevention – Protect Yourself Financially

March Writing a Business Plan

April Fundraising, How to Create Successful Events

May Small Business Finance Opportunities

July Retirement Basics and Wealth Building

October Home Budgeting

November Marketing Your Small Business

November The Homebuying Process

November Using Credit to Your Advantage

december Borrowing Basics

Grants Education February Fundraising, Planned Giving

February Introduction to NAHASDA Self Monitoring

April Entering into Contracts using NAHASDA Guidelines

April Fundraising, How to Create Successful Events

May USDA Rural Development Housing Repair Programs

June Section 502: Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans

August Smooth Grant Submissions

September Grant Writing Essentials

december Developing Winning Proposals

Housing Strategies January Section 538: Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program

February Multi-Family Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program

April Entering Into Contracts Using NAHASDA Guidelines

April The Home Buying Process

April Mortgages & Home Loans

April Indoor Air Quality

MayDeveloping Procurement Policies and Procedures in

NAHASDA Organizations

May USDA Rural Development Housing Repair Programs

May Allotted Trust Lands and Home Mortgages

May Indian Preference Under NAHASDA Regulations

May Roles and Responsibilities of Board of Directors

June Section 502: Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans

July Your Home-Protecting Your Investment

November Home Safety

december Holiday Home Safety

Tribal Government January Writing Persuasively

February Conducting Needs Assessments

May Roles and Responsibilities of Board of Directors

July Resume’s and Cover letters

July Writing a Business Plan

August Public Speaking

August Negotiation Tactics for Success

September Giving Outstanding Interviews

October Planning and Conducting Effective Meetings

October Customer Service

October Fundraising for Your Organization

November Effective Supervision and Management

december Writing Persuasively

december Generational Differences in the Workplace

december Holding Effective Meetings

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | oNLiNe traiNiNg eveNtS


representing 587 attendees and 69 Tribes that the Native Learning Center served throughoutindian Country.

323 On-site Training Attendees264 Technical Assistance Training Attendees

u.S. department of Housing and urban development (Hud) Office of Native American programs (ONAp) regional Map

19Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | oNap Map

Tribes represented

>> Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of

Oklahoma

>> Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas

>> Apache Tribe of Oklahoma

>> Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the

Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana

>> Bad River Band of the Lake Superior

Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad

River Reservation, Wisconsin

>> Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian

Reservation of Montana

>> Cherokee Nation

>> Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes,

Oklahoma

>> Chibcha Band of Indians Republic of

Colombia

>> Chickasaw Nation

>> Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

>> Comanche Nation, Oklahoma

>> Confederated Salish and Kootenai

Tribes of the Flathead Reservation

>> Confederated Tribes of the Colville

Reservation

>> Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow

Creek Reservation, South Dakota

>> Crow Tribe of Montana

>> Delaware Nation, Oklahoma

>> Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma

>> Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin

>> Hoopa Valley Tribe, California

>> Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska

>> Karuk Tribe

>> Kaw Nation, Oklahoma

>> Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico

>> Kicakappoo Tribe of Indians of the

Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas

>> Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma

>> Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

>> M’chigeeng First Nations Ontario

Canada

>> Mescalero Apache Tribe of the

Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico

>> Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (White

Earth Band)

>> Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

>> Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the

Moapa River Indian Reservation, Nevada

>> Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut

>> Muscogee Creek Nation

>> Narragansett Indian Tribe

>> Native Village of Telida

>> Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico

& Utah

>> Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the

Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation,

Montana

>> Oglala Sioux Tribe

>> Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin

>> Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians,

Oklahoma Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma

>> Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma

>> Portage Creek Village (aka

Ohgsenakale)

>> Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

>> Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the

Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada

>> Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian

Reservation, California & Arizona

>> Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud

Indian Reservation, South Dakota

>> Sac and Fox of Oklahoma

>> Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of

Michigan

>> Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

>> Seminole Tribe of Florida

>> Seneca Nations of Indians

>> Shawnee Tribe

>> Shinnecock Indian Nation

>> Showkale First Nation

>> Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake

Traverse Reservation, South Dakota

>> Spokane Tribe of the Spokane

Reservation

>> Taino Tribe

>> Tejon Indian Tribe

>> The Muscogee (Creek) Nation

>> The Osage Nation

>> The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma

>> Tulalip Tribes of Washington

>> Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Indians of North Dakota

>> Tuscarora Nation

>> United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

Indians in Oklahoma

>> Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

region

■ Northwest Office

■ Southwest Office

■ Northern Plains Office

■ Southern Plains Office

■ Eastern/Woodland Office

■ Alaska Office

■ puerto rico

20

Anthony Littlewhirlwind(Northern Cheyenne Tribe)

Joseph Eve CPA

Anthony Littlewhirlwind is a member of the

Northern Cheyenne Tribe located in Montana.

Anthony has served in the armed forces and

aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise CVN-65. Anthony

has a background in manufacturing cost

accounting, grant accounting, and auditing work

experience.

instructor at the Native Learning Center 5th Annual Summer Conference

Ashleigh Erickson(Comanche/Caddo)

Independent Consultant

Ashleigh Erickson has worked with Arrowpoint

Enterprises for the past three years as a

training assistant. She is a proud member of

the Comanche Nation and Caddo Tribes. She

resides in Tuttle, Oklahoma with her husband

and two sons. Ashleigh has spent most of her

life volunteering, working, and serving Native

people. She is currently attending Oklahoma

State University in Oklahoma City majoring in

nursing. Ashleigh is a licensed Medical Assistant

and a Legal Administrative Assistant. She has

enjoyed working with Native American churches

especially with youth and children.


Brian piersonGodfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Brian Pierson leads Godfrey & Kahn’s Indian

Nations Law Team. After his graduation, with

cumlaude honors, from the University of

Wisconsin Law School in 1983, Brian clerked

for federal district Judge Myron L. Gordon, then

entered private practice. Brian has more than

20 years experience representing Indian Tribes,

beginning with his successful representation

of Chippewa Indians in federal court litigation

to prevent racially motivated interference with

treaty-reserved, off-reservation fishing rights.

As leader of the firm’s Indian Nations Team,

Brian’s primary objective is to draw on the

knowledge and experience of G&K’s attorneys

to assist Tribes in formulating and implementing

strategies that strengthen Tribal sovereignty,

with a particular focus on business development,

environmental protection, renewable energy,

and housing development. Brian also frequently

advises Tribes on Tribal constitutional,

ordinance, and governance matters. A frequent

conference speaker and author on Indian law

issues, Brian is the author of the NAIHC’s Indian

Country Housing Development Handbook.

ACLU-Wisconsin named him its Civil Libertarian

of the Year for his work protecting treaty

rights. He received American Indian Chamber

of Commerce-Wisconsin’s Service to Indian

Country award for pro bono activities. Brian

is listed in Best Lawyers in America (Native

American Law) and Wisconsin Super Lawyers.

instructor at the Native Learning Center indian Housing Training Conference

Cathee vick(Minnesota Chippewa Tribe – White Earth

Reservation)


As one of the daughters of highly respected

national trainer and 40 year veteran, Donna

Fairbanks, It is safe to say that Cathee Vick has

been either directly or indirectly involved with

Indian housing for most of her life. Inheriting a

passion for Indian housing and her mother’s look,

Cathee is often referred to as Donna’s “Mini Me”.

Cathee completed a two-year internship with

Donna as a training and technical assistance

provider. She has experience working directly

with Tribes and TDHE’s in the understanding and

training of NAHASDA Essentials, Homebuyer

Education, Financial Counseling, Procurement,

Self-Monitoring, Customer Service, Foreclosure

Counseling, Policy Assessment and

Development, Board of Commissioner, and IHP/

APR. In 2011, she was contracted by Red Lake

Reservation Housing Authority to co-coordinate

a multi-Tribal pilot project in Minnesota providing

homebuyer education training. A licensed realtor

in Minnesota and a HUD approved training and

technical assistance provider under a grant

awarded to Red Lake Reservation Housing

Authority in 2013.

Cathee’s experience includes Healthcare

Management, HR, and 10 years of Automobile

Sales with many attributed awards. She serves

on the Minnesota Indian Housing Conference

Program Committee. Cathee is a descendant of

the White Earth Nation, Mississippi Band, and of

the Crane Clan.


in 2012, 36 instructors

particated in the NLC

on-site and web based

trainings. in 2013, 52

instructors particated in

NLC on-site, web based,

and technical

asssistance trainings.

Out of the 52 instruc-

tors 31 were Native

American.

2013 instructors

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | iNStruCtorS

21

Catherine Figueroa parker(Comanche)


Catherine Figueroa Parker is a member of

the Comanche Nation and lives in Tuttle,

Oklahoma. She earned her Bachelor’s degree

at the University of North Dakota and majored

in Indian Studies and Biological Sciences.

She later earned two Master’s degrees from

the University of Oklahoma (OU) in Adult and

Higher Education emphasizing in Training and

Development and a second Master’s degree

in Education, Administration, Curriculum

and Supervision with an emphasis in School

Administration. She is the Chief Executive

Officer and owner of Arrow Point Enterprises,

LLC, a training organization specializing

in education coordination, training, and

curriculum development. Catherine has

worked as a consultant for the Association of

American Indian Physicians (AAIP) as a trainer,

coordinator, curriculum developer, and web

developer. She has worked and volunteered

for many Indian and non Indian organizations

including: Western Heights Schools,

Oklahoma City Schools, Cache Schools,

Indiahoma Schools, Comanche Nation

Housing, Native American Family Wellness

Coalition, Comanche Nation Youth Programs,

United Urban Indian Council, American Indian

School Leaders Association, OU Graduate

Student Association, Oklahoma County Post-

Adjudication Review Board for Indian Child

Welfare, Comanche Nation Higher Education,

National Rural Education Association, Indian

Education Consortium of Oklahoma, and

several Native American churches. Catherine

has recently finished writing a new culturally

relevant curriculum guide for the AAIP Family

Preservation Department titled, “Family

Wellness and Youth in Distress – Preventing

Abuse and Preserving Culture Curriculum

Resource Guide” (November 2012).


Catherine parker(Comanche Nation)

Arrowpoint Enterprises LLC

Catherine Figueroa Parker is a member of

the Comanche Nation and lives in Tuttle,

Oklahoma. She earned her Bachelor’s degree

at the University of North Dakota and majored

in Indian Studies and Biological Sciences.

She later earned two Master’s degrees from

the University of Oklahoma (OU) in Adult and

Higher Education emphasizing in Training and

Development and a second Master’s degree

in Education, Administration, Curriculum

and Supervision with an emphasis in School

Administration. She is the Chief Executive

Officer and owner of Arrowpoint Enterprises,

LLC, a training organization specializing

in education coordination, training, and

curriculum development. Catherine has

worked as a consultant for the Association of

American Indian Physicians (AAIP) as a trainer,

coordinator, curriculum developer, and web

developer. She has worked and volunteered

for many Indian and non Indian organizations

including: Western Heights Schools,

Oklahoma City Schools, Cache Schools,

Indiahoma Schools, Comanche Nation

Housing, Native American Family Wellness

Coalition, Comanche Nation Youth Programs,

United Urban Indian Council, American Indian

School Leaders Association, OU Graduate

Student Association, Oklahoma County Post-

Adjudication Review Board for Indian Child

Welfare, Comanche Nation Higher Education,

National Rural Education Association, Indian

Education Consortium of Oklahoma, and

several Native American churches. Catherine

has recently finished writing a new culturally

relevant curriculum guide for the AAIP Family

Preservation Department titled, “Family

Wellness and Youth in Distress – Preventing

Abuse and Preserving Culture Curriculum

Resource Guide” (November 2012).


Caree Graybow(Minnesota Chippewa Tribe – White Earth

Reservation)


As one of the daughters of highly respected

national trainer and 40-year veteran, Donna

Fairbanks, it is safe to say that Caree

Graybow has been involved either directly or

indirectly with Indian housing for most of her

life. Inheriting a passion for Indian housing,

Caree has had the honor of completing a two-

year working internship with Donna traveling

nationally as a training and technical assistance

provider working on many Indian housing

topics. Caree has experience working directly

with Tribes and TDHE’s in the understanding

of NAHASDA Essentials training, Homebuyer

Education training, Credit Counseling training,

Financial Literacy training, Procurement

training, Self-Monitoring training, Customer

Service training, Foreclosure Counseling,

Policy Assessment and Development training,

Board of Commissioner training and IHP/APR

training. Caree is a HUD approved training and

technical assistance provider under a grant

awarded to Red Lake Reservation Housing

Authority announced on February 13, 2013

by HUD, for the Office of Native American

Programs (ONAP).

Caree’s experience includes but is not limited

to: Feng Shui Practitioner and Automobile

Sales. Caree serves on the Minnesota Indian

Housing Conference Program Committee.

She is an enrolled member of the White Earth

Nation, Mississippi Band and of the Crane

Clan.


Chance rush(Three Affiliated Tribes (Hidatsa))

Cloudboy Consulting, LLC

Chance Rush is the founder of Cloudboy

Consulting, which provides trainings to youth,

families, staffs, and communities. Chance’s

goal is to promote positive out reach amongst

peer leaders, parents and community mentors.

For the past 14 years, Chance has been

blessed to conduct trainings throughout North

America to promote and be an advocate

for healthy living. His areas of interest and

commitment are in the strength of family,

community, education, and culture.

Chance spent a part of his life in North Dakota

on both the Standing Rock and Fort Berthold

Indian Reservation before moving to Oklahoma

with his mother where he established his

education, family, and home. Oklahoma is

where he lived, but Fort Berthold is where he

originated, it’s where he calls home, its where

he’s from, it’s his roots, and will be his final

resting place.


Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | iNStruCtorS

22

Chris Hansen(Chippewa)

First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Christopher Hansen is currently the Training

Coordinator for First Nations Oweesta

Corporation. He is responsible for the

coordination and delivery of training for

Oweesta, and is actively involved in many

programs to increase awareness in regards to

financial literacy and asset building in Native

communities. He studied Communications at

Colorado University in Boulder, Colorado, and

has worked as a Real-Estate Broker for twelve

years specializing in residential sales where he

was active in mentoring and teaching first-time

homebuyers on how to qualify for community-

based as well as conventional residential loan

products.


Christine dennisDennis & Company, PC

Christine Dennis, CPA is the owner of Dennis

& Company, PC, a firm specializing in Tribal

government activities including Housing,

Casinos, and Economic Development as well

as the primary government organization. She

is a presenter for National American Indian

Housing Council and Southern Plains Indian

Housing Association as well as a training

provider for Tribes throughout the United

States. In addition, she performs audits, self-

monitoring, audit preparation, and internal

control assessments for Tribal organizations.

instructor at the Native Learning Center 5th Annual Summer Conference & Kerretv Online Webinar Series Financial and Compliance Audit preparation

daniel Glenn(Crow Tribe of Montana)

7 Directions Architects/Planners

Daniel Glenn is an NCARB-certified architect

with twenty-seven years of experience in the

design of affordable, sustainable architecture

in urban and rural environments across the

United States and abroad. He is the Principal

of 7 Directions Architects/Planners, an Indian-

owned design and planning firm based in

Seattle, WA. Much of Mr. Glenn’s work focuses

on sustainable design for Tribal communities,

rooted in his heritage from the Crow Tribe

of Montana. His design work has received

national and regional recognition, including the

2012 LEED for Homes Project of the Year for

the Puyallup Tribe’s Place of Hidden Waters.

Four of his projects were published in 2013

in Design Re-Imagined: New Architecture on

Indigenous Land. A graduate of MIT’s Design

and Housing Program, he is on the Board of

Directors of Navajo FlexCrete, a subsidiary

of the Navajo Housing Authority, and is a

regularly invited speaker on sustainable design

at professional and academic conferences,

including HUD Office of Native American

Program events nationally, and is currently

providing technical assistance and training to

multiple Tribes in the greening of Indian housing

for HUD’s Sustainable Construction in Indian

Country program, the Enterprise Community

Partners Rural and Native American Initiative

and for the Sustainable Native Communities

Collaborative.


david EisenbergDevelopment Center for Appropriate

Technology

David Eisenberg co-founded and has led the

nonprofit Development Center for Appropriate

Technology (DCAT) since 1992. DCAT launched

their program Building Sustainability into the

Codes in 1995 to create a sustainable context

for building codes. David’s wide-ranging

building experience — from troubleshooting

construction of the high-tech cover of

Biosphere2, to conventional concrete, steel,

masonry and wood, to adobe, rammed earth,

straw bale — has grounded DCAT’s work in

both building, codes, and standards. David

served two terms on the U.S. Green Building

Council Board of Directors, founded and

chaired the USGBC Code Committee for

ten years, served on the ICC committee that

drafted the International Green Construction

Code (IGCC), and was Vice Chair of an ASTM

subcommittee where he led the task group

that developed the ASTM Standard Guide

for Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems.

DCAT and David received the ICC’s 2007

Affiliate of the Year Award and a 2007 USGBC

national leadership award. Recent work

includes participating in the EPA Tribal Green

Building Code Working Group and developing

the framework and much of the content

for the EPA’s Tribal Green Building Codes

Development Guidance website, as well as

working on a new EPA Tribal green building

and codes online toolkit.


denise Harvey(Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde)

Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems

Denise Harvey, an enrolled member of the

Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde

Community of Oregon, is Chair of the Grand

Ronde Gaming Commission and has served

on the Gaming Commission since 2004.

Grand Ronde is one of only two tribes that

have earned the National Indian Gaming

Commission Certificate of Self-Regulation.

The Grand Ronde Gaming Commission takes

pride in the achievement of self-regulation and

strives for excellence in the regulation of the

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s gaming

operation, Spirit Mountain Casino. Ms. Harvey

previously served her Tribe through her position

in Human Resources as Mentorship/Workforce

Development Coordinator for several years.

Ms. Harvey’s strong commitment to health and

wellness is seen in over 25 years experience

working in health care settings. Ms. Harvey

was first certified in the Team Awareness

training in 2002, and she subsequently

delivered the training to employee/members

of the Confederated Tribes Tribal government.

She also has assisted Dr. Bennett in providing

training-of-trainers (2004). Since that time, she

has used the concepts and principles of the

program in her various leadership roles.


diana dickinson(Blackfoot)

Community Alliance Resource &

Division Services

Diana Dickinson is from Tulsa, Oklahoma

where for the past 14 years she has worked

as a Family & Divorce Law Mediator, Court

Appointed Parent Coordinator in high conflict &

domestic violence cases, Visitation Supervisor,

District Court Program Developer, Wellness in

Native American Relationships Trainer, and

Native American Youth in Distress Trainer.


23


Eugene GoldfarbGreat Lakes Environmental Planning

Eugene Goldfarb was the Midwest

Environmental Officer for the U.S. Department

of Housing & Urban Development for

approximately 15 years and retired in 2004

to start his own environmental consulting and

training firm. Eugene is a certified planner (AICP)

& licensed attorney. Eugene spent much of his

30 year HUD career in the environmental area,

preparing environmental impact statements,

noise, historic, and other environmental

reviews. He has also worked for HUD’s Office

of Housing on mortgage insurance, subsidized

and public housing programs, and was the

leader of the region’s 1985 office automation

effort. He has worked for a single-family

homebuilder, the New York City Housing

Authority, the U.S. Postal Service, and has

also driven a New York City taxicab. Eugene

has been active in environmental training for

over 30 years. In the late 70s and early 80s,

he organized environmental training for local

governments administering HUD programs

and lectured at various universities (U of I at

Chicago, IIT, University of Chicago), U.S. Civil

Service environmental workshops, and the

American Planning Association’s Institute of

Zoning (1977). More recently, he has helped

organize Housing & Urban Development

training at UIC’s Great Lakes Center for local

government officials and lectured at various

environmental conferences sponsored by

the Energy Resource Center, IEPA, USEPA,

Northeast Midwest Institute, etc. In 2000, the

Great Lakes Center training received a Best

Practice award from HUD and Eugene was

named a USDOE Energy Champion. In 2002,

he was named HUD’s “Brownfield Guru” in

American Planning Association’s Planning

Magazine.


Eugene Wilkie(Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians)

Tawa Power

Eugene Wilkie has been active in developing

alternative and renewable energy markets

throughout the United States, Central America,

South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa

since the 1980s. He has been the owner and

operator of various other successful renewable

energy-related business ventures, which have

earned him a highly respected name in the

renewable energy industry. Emphasis has

always been on the development, design,

installation, testing and start-up of solar,

hydro, geothermal, and wind-driven power

generation systems as a systems configuration

specialist, manufacturer’s representative,

agent, distributor, and installer. Because

of the nature of installation of this type of

equipment, Eugene is experienced in building

and engineering construction related to these

types of installations including adaptation of

a specific type of equipment to an existing

building or structure and vice-versa. As a

systems integrator for commercial and utility

renewable energy systems, Mr. Wilkie assumes

many different responsibilities. Best described

as Chief Executive “Liaison,” he coordinates

all aspects of utility interactive systems from

feasibility and system sizing to installing and

authorization to operate electrical equipment

in parallel with established utility providers.

For these, and off-grid “direct” powered

systems, Mr. Wilkie relies on many years of

technical sales for renewable energy systems

and system integration experience in the

renewable energy industry. He began his

career with small wind turbine systems for

off-grid battery charging. In the past twenty-

plus years, Mr. Wilkie has grown right along

with the environmental movement, and the

fast-advancing renewable energy industry.

He is known for his innovative approach to

system configurations and creative solutions

to seemingly difficult problems.


Funston Whiteman(Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes)

Shawnee Public Schools

Funston Whiteman is currently working as an

Assistant Principal at Shawnee Middle School

in Shawnee, OK. He is also a doctoral student

at the University of Oklahoma. Funston is

Cheyenne and Navajo with most of his life

spent in Oklahoma. Mr. Whiteman has eight

years of experience as a public educator,

and he successfully developed an Indian

curriculum for his Tribe in order to preserve

Tribal history and, more importantly, integrate

it into public schools in the Tribal service

area. He also developed and taught an online

course titled “Southern Cheyenne History”

for an online high school. Mr. Whiteman’s

dissertation will focus on quantitative research

and methodology to better predict success

among American Indian students.


Gregory GiakoumisTravois Design & Construction Services

As Construction Services Manager, Greg

monitors all Travois projects during the

construction phase to assure compliance with

state and investor requirements. Greg and the

inspection staff monitor construction through

regular site visits, and submit reports during

the construction phase of the project. Greg

is an expert construction cost estimator, and

creates project-specific budgets to better

assess market costs for clients. Greg is a

Certified Building Official and holds many

other certifications from the International Code

Council.


Jaci ree(Crow Creek Sioux)

First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Jaci Ree, is a Programs Manager at First

Nations Oweesta Corporation, for over

five years. Her roles include assisting with

training and technical assistance measures

for Native Community Development

Institutions throughout the United States by

providing financial literacy training and overall

development of asset building endeavors for

Tribal communities. She has been working

with Native community development issues

for over 10 years. She has a background in

social service working with Tribal Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),

workforce development, and as a juvenile

detention counselor for Native youth. As part

of her asset building endeavors, she is an

active advocate for the Earned Income Tax

Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

program. She is an IRS-certified tax preparer,

and acted as the facilitator for The South

Dakota Native Free Tax Prep Coalition.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Human Service,

and is pursuing her Master’s of Business


24

Administration. Jaci is a descendant of Turtle

Mountain Chippewa and an enrolled member

of Crow Creek Sioux; she is dedicated to her

work in Native communities.


Jamie BlosserSustainable Native Communities Collaborative/

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Jamie Blosser, AIA, LEED AP, is the founder

of the Sustainable Native Communities

Collaborative and an associate at Atkin Olshin

Schade Architects. From 2000 to 2003, Jamie

was an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow

at the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority. Her

work includes the development of Tsigo bugeh

Village, an award-winning Tribally owned

affordable housing project and Owe’neh

Bupingeh Rehabilitation Project, which recently

received the HUD Secretary Empowerment

and Opportunity Award. Jamie has lectured

throughout the country on the importance

of cultural and environmental sustainability.

Her work has been featured in Architectural

Record, Indian Country Today, American

Indian Report, Affordable Housing Finance,

and Progressive Planning. Jamie served on

the Enterprise Green Communities technical

advisory group for the 2011 Criteria, helping

to develop a new Tribal and rural pathway for

compliance. She serves voluntarily in a number

of capacities, including as a project reviewer

for SEED certification through Design Corps,

as a board of director for the Housing Trust

of Santa Fe, and on the AIA Housing National

Knowledge Community Advisory Group. Jamie

graduated with a Master of Architecture from

the University of Pennsylvania.


Jared FormanCurriculum Design and Development Specialist

Native Learning Center

Jared Forman joined the Seminole Tribe of

Florida Native Learning Center (NLC) as the

Curriculum Design & Development Specialist in

July of 2011 where he works to plan, develop,

and evaluate NLC educational programs. By

utilizing a variety of technologies, he works to

develop cutting-edge programs and courses

that support the educational goals of the

Native Learning Center. Jared played a central

role in the procurement, implementation, and

administration of Kerretv (Key-thee-duh, Creek

word for “Learning”) Online the first and only

tuition free learning management system

(LMS) designed specifically for the learning

needs of Native Americans. Jared’s goals

are to continuously learn new skills in order

to develop impactful educational programs.

In this manner, he has attained the Building

Native Communities trainer certification as

well as a Grant Writer certification in the time

that he has worked at the NLC.

Prior to this position, Mr. Forman was a

secondary Language Arts and Social Studies

teacher in Broward County, Florida as well

as an English instructor at Broward College.

He holds undergraduate degrees in English

and Education, as well as a Master’s degree

in Educational Technology form Nova

Southeastern University.


Jill Sherman-Warne(Hoopa Tribe)

Sherman Grant Writing & Consulting

Jill Sherman-Warne grew up on the Hoopa

Indian Reservation located in the mountains

of Northern California. Jill received her

Bachelor’s Degree from Humboldt State

University. She worked for her Tribe in many

capacities and even served as elected Tribal

council member before moving to Southern

California. Jill is the Executive Director of the

Native American Environmental Protection

Coalition and is owner/consultant of Sherman

Grant-Writing and Consulting. For over 15

years, Jill has worked on environmental and

grass roots issues with Tribal communities

in Southern California. Jill is the former

Environmental Director of the Pechanga

Band of Luiseno Indians. She served as the

Assistant Government Manager of the Viejas

Band of Kumeyaay. Ms. Sherman-Warne

received support from the Southern California

Tribes to serve as a Governor Appointed

Commissioner to the California Native

American Heritage Commission. She serves on

the San Diego Urban Indian Health Board and

was recently appointed to the Good Neighbor

Environmental Board (GNEB) an independent

federal advisory committee with the mission

to advise the President and Congress of good

neighbor practices along the U.S. border with

Mexico. Her intimate understanding of Tribes,

Tribal operations, and Tribal communities

is a tremendous asset to any project

involving Tribes.


Jim Warne(Oglala Lakota Sioux)

Warrior Society Development, LLC

Jim Warne is a member of the Oglala Lakota

(Sioux) Tribe. Jim earned a BS from Arizona

State University and a MS from San Diego

State University (SDSU). He has also earned

a post-graduate certificate in Rehabilitation

Administration (PET-RA) at SDSU. Jim is the

TVR CIRCLE Training Coordinator through

CANAR (http://tvr-circle.canar.org) and

SDSU Interwork Institute. Jim administers

the Post Employment Training - American

Indian Rehabilitation (PET-AIR) Post-Graduate

Certificate Program and is a trainer for TACE at

Interwork Institute (http://interwork.sdsu.edu/

arpe/web_education/pet_air.html).

Jim is also President of his consulting firm,

Warrior Society Development, LLC (WSD). He

is contracted with SSA’s Ticket-to-Work for

American Indian/Alaska Native outreach and

Employment Network development through

WSD. Jim has contracted with many various

organizations and Tribal Nations for WSD,

LLC consulting services. Jim is a motivational

speaker with experience in professional

football, Hollywood acting, Indian Country

advocacy, and youth development and

academic/professional accomplishments.

instructor at the Native Learning Center 5th Annual Summer Conference and indian Housing Training Conference

Joanna donohoeSeven Sisters Community Development

Group, LLC

Joanna specializes in organizational and

program development, capitalization

strategies, coalition building, policy

development, community development

financial institution (CDFI) development,

financial education, event planning, and

private sector partnership building. Joanna

has 22 years of experience with banking,


25

housing, and community development issues.

She has overseen national efforts including

the Native Financial Education Coalition and

the development of a homebuyer education

curriculum called Pathways Home: A Native

Homeownership Guide. She also served as

the Director of Financial Education and Asset

Building at Oweesta Corporation, a national

nonprofit Native Community Development

Financial Institution (CDFI) intermediary. She

worked on policy issues in Washington, D.C.

where she was an attorney at the Office of

the Comptroller of the Currency, a bureau of

the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and a

legislative representative for the Independent

Bankers Association of America. She also

worked as a Community Builder Fellow in

the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development’s Southwest Office of Native

American Programs, where she coordinated

the One-Stop Mortgage Center Initiative in

Indian Country. Joanna earned a Bachelor

of Arts in American Government from the

University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA and

a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of

America in Washington, D.C.


Joel BennettOrganizational Wellness & Learning Systems

Joel Bennett, PhD, is President of Organizational

Wellness & Learning Systems, a consulting

firm that specializes in evidence-based and

e-learning programs for organizational and

employee well being. Dr. Bennett first delivered

stress management programming in 1985 and


programs have reached over 20,000 workers

across the United States. He is the primary

developer of Team Awareness (TA), recognized

by the U.S. Department of Health as effective

in reducing employee behavioral risks. TA

has been adapted by the U.S. National

Guard and has been used by restaurants,

small businesses, Native American Tribal

government, and recently in South Africa.


has received close to $4 Million in Federal

Research Grants to assess, design, and deliver

workplace wellness programs. Organizational

Wellness & Learning Systems service line

includes the Small Business Wellness

Initiative, IntelliPrevTM, PrevToolsTM, and

ExecuPrevTM (livewell, leadwell). Dr. Bennett

is author of over 20 peer-reviewed research

articles and three books, including “Heart-

Centered Leadership,” “Time & Intimacy,” and

“Preventing Workplace Substance Abuse.”

In 2008, he was acknowledged with the

Service Leadership award from the National

Wellness Institute. He earned his Bachelor’s

Degree in Psychology and Philosophy from

State University of New York (Purchase), and

his Master’s and PhD in Psychology from

University of Texas-Austin.


John ClancyGodfrey & Kahn, S.C.

John L. Clancy leads G&K’s environmental

and energy strategies team. John’s energy-

related work includes advice regarding funding

opportunities for renewable energy and large

energy efficiency projects, the siting of both

renewable and traditional energy facilities,

negotiation of power purchase agreements,

purchases and sales of energy facilities,

certification and transfers of renewable energy

credits, negotiation of co-generation facility

agreements, land use disputes regarding

the siting of transmission lines and related

facilities, negotiation of individualized energy

tariffs, intervention in regulatory rate cases,

and advice regarding Tribal energy issues and

development. John received the 2004 Leader

in Law award from the Wisconsin Law Journal

for his successful representation of the Forest

County Potawatomi Community with respect

to their opposition of the proposed Crandon

Mine. John is listed in The Best Lawyers in

America - Environmental Law (2010 - 2013),

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers

for Business (2011-2012) and Wisconsin

Superlawyers. John earned his B.A. degree

from the University of Wisconsin- Madison,

Phi Beta Kappa, and his law degree from the

University of Virginia.


Joseph Kunkel(Northern Cheyenne)

Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative

(SNCC), and the Santo Domingo Tribal Housing

Authority

Joseph Kunkel, Assoc. AIA, is a Rose

Architectural Fellow currently working directly

with the Sustainable Native Communities

Collaborative (SNCC), and the Santo

Domingo Tribal Housing Authority. His recent

work with SNCC funded by a Sustainable

Construction in Indian Country (SCIC) Grant

showcases exemplary Native American

housing nationwide. The outcome of this work

begins to build and develop best practices

that are emerging from this successful work.

His professional career has centered on

community-based educational design. His

work ranges from material research and

fabrication, to community based design and

planning. Prior to the Rose Architectural

Fellowship, Joseph co-lead the design of

two public first nations schools in Vancouver,

British Columbia, and White Horse, Yukon

Territory. There, Joseph helped to facilitate

an integrated collaborative process where

students, teachers, parents and elders worked

together to create an environment designed

around culturally appropriate learning. Joseph

has taught, lectured and presented on the

topics of land, culture, and place. His current

work in southeast Montana on the Northern

Cheyenne Reservation focuses on the need

for culturally relevant sustainable housing. The

project has allowed Joseph, who is an enrolled

Tribal member, to use his education and

professional skills to sensitively impact the

needs of the reservation’s built environment.

Joseph received his Master of Architecture

from the University of Maryland.


Julie MalakieBig Water Consultants

Julie Malakie is a Geospatial Specialist at Big

Water Consulting. Along with a wide range of

academic and professional experiences, Julie

brings an earnest desire to develop and share

new ways to use GIS and other technologies

to contribute to a greater understanding of

the world. In addition to completing an MSc

in GIS and Spatial Analysis in Archaeology

at University College London and an MA

in Anthropology from the University of

Washington, she has worked as a GIS

specialist and graphic production designer at

major environmental planning and landscape

architecture firms, been part of a Harvard

University-based research team modeling

the impact of changing land use and climate


26

on water availability along the Mekong River,

and surveyed and mapped a wide variety of

resources from eelgrass beds off the coast

of Maine to archaeological excavation units

in Thailand. Julie is an experienced user of

several commercial and open-source GIS,

statistics, and database software packages

as well as many GPS and field data collection

units. She also has the programming skills

to develop custom tools and interfaces for

these programs to enable new users perform

complex analytical tasks easily. Julie has long

recognized the importance of having control

over how data is collected and managed

and how terms are defined. She is eager to

work toward empowering American Indian

communities to tell and document their own

story—whether of the past and present—

and has the technical skills to contribute to

this cause.


Kathy Locklear(Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina)

Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

Kathy Locklear resides in Lumberton, North

Carolina, widow, and mother of two adult

sons. They are members of the Lumbee Tribe

of North Carolina. Her background includes

many years as an Industrial Engineer for

Converse Rubber Company, and a short

term with Abbott Laboratories. After the

industry crash in Robeson County, she made

the change to become a public servant. She

began her service as a housing coordinator for

the National Self Help Program funded by the

USDA and administered by the North Carolina

Indian Housing Authority. Eventually leaving

that position to be closer to home with her

sick husband, she spent a year with Consumer

Credit Counseling, and then transitioned to

the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. In her

position as housing and financial education

manager, she is responsible for an average

annual budget of 2 – 4 million dollars for the

construction of new homes, down-payment

assistance for new homes, emergency rental,

and mortgage assistance. The Lumbee Tribe

receives annual funding from NAHASDA. She

interacts with Tribal members daily, helping

families understand their finances, an area

where she believes our public education

system is weak. Kathy says, “My faith in God

makes it easier to help others”.


Kevin FitzgibbonsFitzgibbons and Associates

Mr. Fitzgibbons is currently Principal at

Fitzgibbons and Associates. He provides

a wide range of housing and economic

development services to Tribal governments

and their housing entities. In addition, Mr.

Fitzgibbons provides training and technical

assistance to other governmental entities

including state and local governments, public

housing authorities, and nonprofit entities. He

also facilitates partnerships with the private

sector and Tribal business ventures to foster

economic diversification in Indian Country.

Mr. Fitzgibbons served as Administrator for

HUD’s Eastern Woodlands Office of Native

American Programs for a twelve-year period. In

that capacity, he was responsible for funding,

oversight, and monitoring of ONAP related

programs in a 26 State region. He administered

approximately $70 million in annual Indian

Housing Block Grant (IHBG) assistance for

housing and related activities and $8 million in

Indian Community Development Block Grant

(ICDBG) funding. Mr. Fitzgibbons developed

strategies to ensure Federal government

responsibilities were met in a timely manner for

the review of grant applications, awarding of

grant funds, monitoring of issued grants, and

the enforcement of problem grants.

In addition, Mr. Fitzgibbons conducted

extensive outreach activities to foster a greater

understanding of the Department’s programs

with Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing

Entities (TDHEs), other Federal and State

agencies, Nonprofits, and the private sector.

Previous to the Administrator’s position, Mr.

Fitzgibbons held other positions with the

Eastern Woodlands office including Director of

the Grants Management Division.

Prior to his HUD experience, Mr. Fitzgibbons

worked as a Professional Staff Member

on the Select Committee on Narcotics

Abuse and Control in the United States

House of Representatives. He also served

as a Legislative Assistant for a Member of

Congress focusing on housing related issues.

Mr. Fitzgibbons has a Master’s of Science

Degree in Public Administration.

Instructor at the Native Learning Center Indian

Housing Training Conference

Kevin KlingbeilBig Water Consulting

Kevin Klingbeil is an attorney and owner of

Klingbeil Law Office, PLLC and Big Water

Consulting, which are located in Seattle,

Washington. Big Water Consulting is currently

serving as General Coordinator of the Dakota

Housing Needs Assessment Pilot Project,

which is a needs assessment and data

collection project sponsored by five Tribes in

North and South Dakota that seeks to challenge

and replace inaccurate census data and

develop a national needs assessment model

to be implemented by Tribes nationwide. Mr.

Klingbeil previously worked as an associate

with Wagenlander & Heisterkamp in Denver,

Colorado where he served as general counsel

to several Tribal housing entities, and as

Regional Manager for Quality Assurance for

the Denver Region (and operational liaison to

the 91 Tribes encompassed by that Region)

during the 2010 Census.


Laura BartelsGreenWeaver, Inc.

Laura Bartels, president of GreenWeaver Inc.,

is a consultant, facilitator, and educator in the

areas of high performance and appropriate

building technologies and sustainable building

codes, with a focus on Tribal and rural

communities. She serves as a design and

technical consultant to Tribal organizations,

educational institutions, design professionals,

and contractors. Currently, she serves on the

team for EPA to develop their Tribal green

building and codes online toolkit and to provide

direct green code and technical assistance to

Tribes. She is a coordinator in a national effort

to change building codes to address toxic

flame-retardants in foam insulation. Her recent

work has included facilitating the National Tribal

Green Building Codes Summit, the Sustainable

Codes Policy Retreat, participating in the EPA

Tribal Green Building Code Working Group,

and technical consulting and training for the

Pinoleville Pomo Nation. Laura has developed

curriculum for and taught at the Sinte Gleska

University, University of Colorado, and United

Tribes Technical College. Her presentations


27

include those for Department of Interior, Office

of Indian Energy and Economic Development,

USDA Resource Conservation & Development,

USDA Rural Development, Alaska InterTribal

Council Speaker Series, the International

Straw Bale Building Conference and the

United States Congress.


Mark Ford(Chiricahua Apache)


Mark originally is from Alamosa, Colorado and

is of Chiricahua Apache and Spanish descent.

Mark spent 17 years as a Roman Catholic

priest. He worked as a pastor on the Navajo

and Hopi Reservations in Arizona. He also

ministered in parishes in Dallas, New Orleans,

and in campus ministry in Arkansas. Mark was

living in New Orleans, Louisiana at the time

of Hurricane Katrina, and was appointed by

Governor Kathleen Blanco to be the Assistant

Director of Disability Affairs in 2006 to assist

persons with disabilities after the hurricane.

He was then appointed by Governor Bobby

Jindal as the Executive Director of the

Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs in 2008

assisting the tribes after Hurricanes Gustav

and Ike. Seeking a change of career outside

church and state politics, Mark moved to

South Dakota and began working as the

Collaboration and Training Coordinator at

National Relief Charities in November 2010.

Mark’s training/teaching experience includes:

Training of Church Leaders, Intercultural

Communication Workshops, Animal Spirit

Medicine, Youth Leadership Development,

Emergency Preparedness and Disaster

Recovery for Tribal Communities, and The

Spirituality of Storytelling and Drumming. Mark

also has spoken at a number of regional and

national conferences.


Micheal James(Skowkale First Nation)

All Aboriginal Healing & Native Games Program

For the past 28 years Mike James has been

traveling throughout North America delivering

self help programs. He delivers programs

on Ancient Traditional Native Games,

Health & Wellness Issues, Culture, Suicide

Prevention, etc. Mike’s programs are very

popular, successful, and motivational; some

communities have been utilizing his services

for the past 27 years. Mike is a single parent

from Chilliwack, B.C. Canada and has brought

his daughter, Collette with him every since

she was a young child. Mike’s dedication to

helping the Native People cope with typical

life issues extends beyond his work life; Mike

is an avid soccer player and also coached his

daughter since she was 7 years old.

Mike is a certified Alcohol & Drug counselor,

Sacred Bundle Carrier, and Sacred Sweat

Lodge keeper. He conducts Ceremonies for

numerous individuals of all Nations when

requested.

Mike is also very involved in his community; he

coaches a division 1 womens soccer team, and

also sponsors and coaches numerous other

teams is a variety of soccer tournaments. Mike

is also called upon to speak, drum and sing

at local Ceremonies, such as funeral, special

Cultural events, and various community

activities. For more information, please refer to

Mike’s website: www.aahngp.com.


Montoya Whiteman B.S.(Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes)

Montoya Whiteman is an enrolled member

of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of

Oklahoma. She is a senior program officer for

First Nations Development Institute located in

Colorado. Her varied career includes aspects

of communications, resource development,

membership, group facilitation, event planning,

and board management. For over twenty

years Montoya has worked with individuals

and organizations in the government, private,

and nonprofit sectors. She holds a degree

in Business Administration from Regis

University. Since 2010, she has served on

the Editorial Board of the American Indian

Science and Engineering Society’s Winds

of Change Magazine. At First Nations, she

currently supports the Strengthening Native

American Nonprofit Program through technical

assistance, training, site visits, institutes, and

webinars for improving nonprofit capacity

and organizational effectiveness. She

implements several Department of Justice

Office on Violence Against Women grants,

and the Housing and Urban Development One

CPD Technical Assistance grant. Montoya

has developed an exceptional background

in training and project management and

a professional style based on excellent

interpersonal communication. When not

working, Montoya enjoys photography and

the physical and mental challenges of half-

marathon running.


rachel LindvallSDSU Extension/Rosebud Reservation

Extension

Rachel Lindvall has been involved in community

development on the Rosebud Reservation

since 1986; first with Sinte Gleska University

as a vocational educator in Forestry and

Natural Resource Management; then as SGU’s

Director of Library Services and most recently,

as a Community Development Field Specialist

for South Dakota State University’s Rosebud

Extension which is part of the Federally

Recognized Tribal Extension Program. Rachel

works with entrepreneurs, local agricultural

producers, gardeners, and with people who

want to up their skills in financial literacy.

Her office is the hub of growing 4-H/youth

curricula, as well as social leadership and

asset enhancement programs for all ages.

Rachel enjoys her diverse job because it

blends so many of her interests and allows her

to interact with lots of people. Completing her

undergraduate degree in Wildlife Science from

the Univ. of Wisconsin, Rachel also pursued a

Masters in science education at Post College

and went on studying for her Master of Library

Science in an online program from S.CT State

Univ. She enjoys gardening, reading novels,

travel, and being outdoors.


ramona Moore Big Eagle (Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina)


Ramona Moore Big Eagle, M.Ed. is an Oral

Historian, Legend Keeper and enrolled

member of the Tuscarora Nation of North

Carolina. Ramona has served on the Tribal

Council and in various other capacities. She


28

earned a M.Ed from East Tennessee State

University and a B.A. from Catawba College.

Ramona is a Motivational Speaker, Cultural

Educator, Consultant, Workshop Facilitator,

and Storyteller. Her workshops and programs

of American Indian culture and history educate

and empower audiences of all ages since

1978. Ramona does workshops on Leadership

through Storytelling, Finding Your Corporate

Story, and Team Building and Motivation.

Ramona is the CEO and President of Dare

to Soar Enterprises and Big Eagle Travel,

founder and president of the Storytellers Guild

of Charlotte, Inc., a member of the National

Storytelling Network, and the NC and SC

Storytelling Guilds. A winner of numerous

awards and recognition as a professional

Speaker and Storyteller, Ramona has been

a featured speaker at various universities,

corporations, conferences, and museums.

Ramona was honored as Teacher of the Year

in Drama for 2001-2002 at Community School

of the Arts. Ramona was selected as the 2012

Faculty Leadership Award Recipient by the

University of Phoenix where she is an Adjunct

Professor.


ray demersEnterprise Community Partners

Ray Demers is a program director with

Enterprise Green Communities. He is a

member of the technical team that developed

2011 Enterprise Green Communities Criteria,

and will coordinate the development of the

upcoming Criteria revision. Ray performs

technical reviews for Enterprise Green

Communities Certification, assists with

green training development and delivery,

and advocates for sustainable solutions

throughout Enterprise’s National Initiatives

- vulnerable populations, transit-oriented

development, and design. More recently, he

has been working closely with Enterprise’s

Rural & Native American Initiatives to develop

tools and trainings to drive sustainable building

practices. He has presented on cultural

appropriate sustainability practices at the

numerous national events sponsored by the

North American Indian Housing Council, Native

Learning Center, and Construction in Indian

Country. Prior to joining Enterprise Green

Communities, Ray was an intern architect at

Erdy McHenry Architecture in Philadelphia, PA,

and as an assistant project manager at Harvey

Construction Corporation in New Hampshire.

He holds a Master of Architecture from the

University of Pennsylvania.


rebecca MeyerFirstPic, Inc.

Rebekka Meyer, Project Director at FirstPic,

Inc., has extensive program and administrative

experience in youth development, education,

and government programs. Through a

partnership with the National Congress of

American Indians and FirstPic, Inc., she wrote

and piloted the T.R.A.I.L. Diabetes Prevention

program curriculum for Native American

youth. She has served Boys & Girls Clubs

of America affiliates as an employee in Pine

Ridge, SD and Lower Brule, SD, as a National

Training Associate, and as a nationwide on-

site training and technical assistance provider

to Tribal communities. Rebekka is an alumnus

of AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps National

Civilian Community Corps. She holds a

Bachelors in Political Science from Truman

State University in Missouri and a Masters

in International Business from St. Mary’s

University of Minnesota.


robin ThorneTravois, Inc.

Robin Thorne, Vice President for Education

and Regulatory Affairs, develops and manages

relationships with Tribal clients, Tribal

advocacy groups, state allocating agencies,

and elected officials. Robin works with these

groups to ensure that tax credit and grant

program policies reflect the concerns and

needs of Tribal organizations. Robin has

worked at Travois since 2003, previously

as Director of Asset Management. She is a

frequent speaker at industry trainings and

events, conducts seminars, and makes on-

site visits to clients and Tribal partners.

With the National American Indian Housing

Council, Robin created the NAHASDA & Tax

Credit Compliance Professional (NTCCP)

curriculum, training course and certification,

which designates professional experience and

expertise in continuing operational compliance

under the two programs. Robin is certified as

a National Compliance Professional Executive

(NCPE) and serves on the NCPE Advisory Board

for the Housing Credit College. She is also a

Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP),

designated by the National Association of

Home Builders. Robin graduated from the

University of South Florida with a degree in

Communications and English.


ron Gurley(Cherokee Nation)

Gurley & Associates, LLC

Ron is an enrolled member of the Cherokee

Nation of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Elders

Council. He holds degrees in Bachelor of Arts

Education and Master of Science Education.

He is in his 42nd year working with Native

American families and youth. To date, Ron has

assisted over 200 Tribal Nations.

Most recently, Ron served as the Projects

Manager, Native American Program Specialist,

FirstPic, Inc., Consulting. His work included

Child Abduction Response Team Training,

Internet Crimes Against Children and AMBER

Alert in Indian Country training. Also, Ron

has led trainings in Bureau of Justice’s

Methamphetamine & Pharmaceutical Abuse

for Tribal Law Enforcement and Community

Education Technical Assistance as well as

Law Enforcement Investigative Technique

Training. Ron also has experience in HUD’s

Office of Native American Program Training

and Technical Assistance for Tribal Community

Youth Programs and Boys & Girls Clubs of

America’s Funding Initiative.

During his 22 years in public education he

served as a Music Teacher, Indian Education

Reading and Math Teacher, Counselor,

Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent

of Schools.

Following his career in education, four and

a half years were spent as a Case Manager

Supervisor in a newly created Social Services

Department within the Housing Authority of

the Cherokee Nation.

Ron served as founder and Chief Professional

Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country,

Inc. located within the Cherokee Nation from


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1997 to 2007. He served as Chairman for Boys

& Girls Clubs of America’s Native American

National Advisory Committee. Special

recognitions include BGCA’s Masters and

Mentors Level of the Academy of Boys & Girls

Clubs Professionals.


ron Sheffield(Quechan of Fort Yuma)

Organizational Sciences and Culture, Inc.

Dr. Ron Sheffield is a member of the Quechan

Tribe of Yuma Arizona. He recently completed

his formal education at The George Washington

University in Washington D.C. in Human &

Organizational Learning. Ron is currently

employed with Bank of America as a Process

Design Executive and is the Managing Director

of Organizational Sciences and Culture, Inc.,

a Native owned corporation focused on

organizational diagnostics. His research in

the summer of 2012 was conducted on the

Quechan Fort Yuma Reservation and was

titled, “The Influence of Language on Culture

and Identity: Resurgence of the Quechan

Native American Tribal Language”.


rose Fraser(Oglala Lakota Sioux)


Rose is a descendent of Charlie and Rose (Owl)

High Hawk both of the Oglala “Lakota” Sioux

Tribe, who traveled with the Buffalo Bill Wild

West Show, and a descendent of Thomas and

Katie (High Hawk) Lays Hard who owned a large

potato farm in the early 1930’s. Rose is Oglala

“Lakota” Sioux of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

She studied Computer Science at Oglala

Lakota College. Rose worked at the Oyate

Teca Project from 1992-2004. She was then

employed by Little Wound School, and served

as the administrative assistant for the Lakota

Student Alcohol Prevention Program for teens.

In 2010, she returned to Oyate Teca Project as

the Program Director where she coordinates

educational, recreational, and healthy

programs for the youth in eight communities

around Kyle, South Dakota. Rose collaborates

with local agencies to offer nutrition education,

physical fitness, community gardening, and

obesity prevention. In 2011, Rose partnered

with South Dakota State University Extension

to educate families on the benefits of having

individual gardens, creating community

gardens, and opening a local farmers market

to create local entrepreneurs. Rose’s training/

teaching experience includes: Organized

School-Wide Assemblies and Conferences,

Student Forums, Community Awareness

Programs, Collaboration/Networking, and

Certified Master Gardener.


Sarah EchoHawk(Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma)

Ms. EchoHawk is an enrolled member of the

Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. She is currently

the CEO of the American Indian Science

and Engineering Society (AISES). Before

joining AISES, she worked for First Nations

Development Institute (First Nations) for six

years. During her tenure with First Nations, she

initially served as the Director of Development

and Communications and most recently held

the position of Executive Vice President.

For nine years, Ms. EchoHawk served as an

adjunct professor of Native American Studies

at Metropolitan State University of Denver and

was the interim Director of the Native American

Studies program for the fall 2006 semester.

From 1997 through 2003, Ms. EchoHawk

worked for the American Indian College Fund

raising support for Tribal colleges. During her

tenure with that organization, she served in

many areas, including program management,

communications, foundation relations,

and individual giving. Ms. EchoHawk has

also worked as an independent consultant

offering training seminars and services to

American Indian and nonprofit organizations.

As a consultant, she focused primarily in the

areas of organizational development, board

management, and fundraising. Ms. EchoHawk

holds a Master of Nonprofit Management

(M.N.M.) degree from Regis University and

earned her undergraduate degree in Political

Science and Native American Studies from

Metropolitan State University of Denver.

She attended law school at the University

of Colorado and has completed graduate

coursework in applied communication at the

University of Denver.

instructor at the Native Learning Center

5th Annual Summer Conference

Staci Eagle Elk(Osage Nation)

Director of Training and Technical Services

Native Learning Center

Staci Eagle Elk is one of the Osage Nation’s

proud women professionals. Staci is

considered to be an expert in public affairs

and tourism marketing. Staci began her

career in Indian Country with her own Tribe in

1995 and although she cut her teeth in social

services, Staci had an interest in Tourism

Marketing and charted a new course in 2003

as her Tribe’s Tourism Director. Staci had the

honor of serving as the Osage Representative

for the Circle of Tribal Advisors (COTA) during

the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, Standing

Bear Memorial, and Board of Directors for the

Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce.

When looking back on her progressive career

path, Staci credits her formal education.

She completed her undergraduate degree at

the University of Central Oklahoma, where

she earned a B.A. in Journalism Public

Relations/Advertising and has completed her

course work for her Master’s degree in Rural

Sociology, specializing in Native Community

Development at South Dakota State University.

As a tourism professional, Staci served as

a member of the Board of Directors of the

American Indian Alaska Native Tourism

Association (AIANTA). Staci was part of a

dynamic team and helped launch AIANTA

as a national Native American nonprofit

association dedicated to introducing, growing

and sustaining American Indian and Alaska

Native tourism. The Board of Directors saw

Staci as a valuable resource and decided

her role would best be filled as a member

of the organization’s executive staff. During

her tenure, Staci held the titles of Marketing

Director, Operations Manager and Public

Affairs/Media Specialist for AIANTA as well

as the International Outreach Coordinator.

Staci also served as Interim Executive Director

during several national search efforts.

Staci is passionate about creating

opportunities for Native communities and

believes that diverse Tribal economies with

a strong grassroots focus will enhance the

entrepreneurial spirit of Native youth and

future generations of Native Americans.


30


Tiffany Lee(Navajo/Oglala Lakota)


Tiffany S. Lee is Navajo from Crystal, NM

and Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge, SD. She

is a currently Associate Professor of Native

American Studies at the University of New

Mexico. She is a former high school teacher,

and has worked extensively with Native youth

as a teacher, researcher, coach, and through

community-service work. She has many

publications about Native youth identity and

effective educational approaches in schools

serving Native students. Her particular area

of focus is on Native language revitalization

and cultural identity among youth and young

adults. She is committed to sharing this

work in diverse settings and through various

methods that are engaging and stimulating

for participants. Drawing upon her 15 years

experience teaching Native youth and adults,

she utilizes methods to stimulate the most

interest and meaning for her students or

participants, such as through role-playing,

multi-media, and experiential methods where

students’ own lived experiences are honored

and used to make connections with the

content of the course.


Travis Trueblood(Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)

Trueblood Law Group, P.A.

Travis W. Trueblood, an enrolled member of the

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is an attorney

with extensive experience working with Tribes

throughout the United States. He is the former

corporate counsel of the Seminole Tribe of

Florida, Inc.


Tiffany LandryLandry Consulting, LLC

Tiffany Landry is the owner and manager of

Landry Consulting, LLC. She specializes

in the MAP (Market Access Program) of the

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Her areas

of expertise are international promotions

project management, marketing strategy,

market research, grant writing, and strategic

evaluations. Tiffany has over eighteen years

experience in project management, sixteen

years international experience and ten years

experience working with Native American

communities.

Projects include:

• managing promotions for Native

food products from across Indian country

• developing the strategic plan for a

national Native trade association

• training Native producers in

marketing, strategic planning and basics

of exporting

• developing and managing a

nationwide outreach program to attract

Native participants into a Native marketing

initiative

Before starting Landry Consulting, LLC, Tiffany

fulfilled the role of Generic Program Director

with the Southern US Trade Association. As

Program Director she was responsible for

the direction of over 90 international trade

promotions. Experience includes project

management from trade missions & shows, to

larger marketing initiatives covering multiple

countries and products using various media

channels. One initiative won the Produce

Marketing’s Marketing Excellence award in

Canada.

As the Latin American International Trade

Specialist for the Louisiana Department of

Economic Development, Tiffany organized

and led company delegations to international

trade shows and trade missions. Tiffany also

coached small and medium-sized businesses

in their business practices as a marketing

consultant for the United Nations Industrial

Development Organization. She is fluent

in Spanish and has direct multi-cultural

experience living two years as a Peace Corps

volunteer in Nicaragua.

She has served as a committee member of

the Young Member Network of the World

Trade Center New Orleans; At-Large Board

Member, Louisiana Peace Corps Association;

International Committee Chairperson,

Young Leadership Council; and on the

Meeting Committee, US Agricultural Export

Development Council (USAEDC).

Tiffany has a B.S. in Marketing from Louisiana

State University in Baton Rouge.

Recent Clients:

Intertribal Agriculture Council

Louisiana Seafood & Marketing Board

Organic Trade Association

Southern U.S. Trade Association

International Cooperation & Development

Program, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA

Sales & Training Institute of Louisiana

PSM Consulting Services

instructor at the developing a Marketing plan Workshop Technical Assistance

veronica Hix ONABEN

Veronica Hix is the Executive Director for

ONABEN - Our Native American Business

Network. As the leader of a national

organization, Veronica works with aspiring

entrepreneurs and small business owners

throughout the United States and Indian

Country providing training and technical

assistance. Previously, she was the

Entrepreneur Development Manager for the

Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance

Center in Oklahoma. An advocate for small

business creation and economic development,

Veronica was named the Minority Business

Advocate of the Year, by the Native American

Business Enterprise Center, a facet of the

Minority Business Development Agency and

was recognized for her achievements twice

by the National Center for American Indian

Enterprise Development by being named a

recipient of the organization’s 40 Under 40

Award. With a background in marketing and

public relations, Veronica works to create

opportunities for Indian-owned businesses

to grow and prosper. Over the course of the

last year, Veronica has assisted more than 400

aspiring entrepreneurs and small business

owners in workshop settings, and has created

a network of opportunities designed to

enhance business development within Indian

Country.

instructor at the Native Learning Center indianpreneurship

veronica iukes(Tulalip Tribes)

Tulalip 477


31

Veronica Iukes is an enrolled member of the

Tulalip Tribes. She currently works for the

Tulalip 477 Program and has worked for the

Tulalip Tribes for more than seven years. She

has also volunteered in her community since

she was a teenager winning numerous awards

for setting up programs such as a tutoring

program, clothing drives, food drives, and

the YES group (Youth Experiencing Success).

Within in her work, she has helped develop

training programs and taught many classes

such as Dependable Strengths, Who Moved

My Cheese, and Building Native Communities

for over four years, amongst many other

trainings.


vince FrancoCompliance & Resource Development Director

for the Native Learning Center

Vince Franco joined the Seminole Tribe of

Florida’s Native Learning Center (NLC) as the

Grants Compliance Manager in November

2011. Before joining the NLC, he was the

Executive Director of the Marine Industry

Education Foundation of Palm Beach

County - a 501 (c)(3) charitable nonprofit

organization that supports youth oriented

programs in boating, fishing, and maritime.

He developed and managed numerous

outreach and fundraising events, including

conferences and workshops, specialized

training programs, unique fishing tournaments

and golf outings, as well as scholarships and

endowments, planned giving, and grants. Prior

to working in Florida, he held the position of

Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania

College Foundation, and as Vice President

of Education for Associated Builders and

Contractors, Keystone Chapter, both located

near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.


Wanda Jean Lord(Cherokee/Choctaw)

Lord & Associates

Wanda Jean Lord has devoted the last 20 years

to bringing the resources needed to improve

the lives of people and their communities.

She has worked with mainstream nonprofits,

Indigenous nonprofits, Tribes, and National,

State, and Local planning and policy entities,

on projects for Health, Housing, Natural

Resources, Economic Development, Arts

& Cultural Tourism, Transportation, and

Construction. On an annual basis, dependent

upon client needs, she has raised from 10’s of

thousands to over $15 Million from foundations,

individual donors, corporate giving programs,

state funders, federal grants and contracts or

low interest federal guaranteed loans. Over the

last two decades she has provided customized

services for Indigenous and non-Indigenous

not for profits, Tribes, and other organizations.

instructor at the Native Learning Center 5th Annual Summer Conference and Kerretv Online Webinar Series increasing your Funding & Sustainability


32

TECH NiCAL ASSiS TANCE

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | teChNiCaL aSSiStaNCe

33

TECH NiCAL ASSiS TANCE

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | teChNiCaL aSSiStaNCe


2012, President Obama signed the Helping Expedite and Advance Response Tribal Homeownership Act into law. It allows tribes to lease restricted lands for residential, business, public, religious, educational or recreational purposes without approval from the Interior Secretary.


34

he Native Learning Center offers technical assistance, which provides direct support to Native Americans and Tribal communities in the NLC’s 5 focus areas along with NAHASDA related courses. The NLC has created a program to track and report all

Technical Assistance (TA) Requests. From this program, the NLC is able to extract how many TA requests have been logged and the measures taken to address those requests.

The requests are diverse in nature and range from how to log on to Kerretv Online for a webinar or specific training requests from Tribes, Tribal Housing Authorities and Tribal organizations with topics such as grant administration, the conveyance of mutual help homes and deeded property, board development, and strategic development and fundraising for nonprofits.

The most notable requests the NLC received were to provide specified training on:

1. Internal Control for Tribal Organizations (Seminole Tribe of Florida, Florida)

2. Grant Education and Fundraising (St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, New York)

3. Strategic Development and Funding Opportunities for Non-Profit (Navajo Nation, Arizona)

4. Developing a Marketing Plan (Seminole Tribe of Florida, Florida)

5. Customer Service (Seminole Tribe of Florida, Florida)

areas Of interest fOr ta request

Celebrating Culture & Language 4

Conference Attendance 1

Email update request 6

Event Feedback 2

Financial Wellness 5

Grant Assistance 2

Grants Education 18

Housing Strategies 2

instructor Application 1

Kerretv Account 4

Other 10

partnering and Offering Services 2

proposed Training 4

Training and Tech Services 1

Training Questions 4

Tribal Government 2

Webinar Training 4

in, 2013 the Native

Learning Center

received 75

Technical Assistance

request from 33

different Tribes.

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | teChNiCaL aSSiStaNCe

35

Grant Education and Fundraising - St. regis Mohawk TribeNovember 13 - 14, 2013Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Akwesasne, NY

Highlights include:

Number of Attendees - 14Number of Tribes Served - 1

- St. Regis Mohawk TribeNumber of Topics - 4

- Grant Writing Essentials- Searching Grants & Funders- Fund-raising for Your Organization- Economic Stability in Uncertain Times

Number of Instructors - 1- Vincent Franco (Compliance & Resource Development Director, NLC)

Strategic development and Funding Opportunities for Non-Profit -Navajo Nation November 14th, 2013Twin Arrows Casino ResortGanado, AZ

Highlights include:


- Navajo NationNumber of Topics - 1Number of Instructors - 1

- Staci Eagle Elk (Director of Training and Technical Services, NLC)

internal Controls for Tribal Organizations: protecting your Tribe’s Financial Assets -Seminole Tribe of FloridaJune 20 - 21, 2013STOF Head Quarters Hollywood, FL

Highlights include:


- Seminole Tribe of FloridaNumber of Topics - 1Number of Instructors - 1

- Joel Friel (Falmouth Institute)

developing a Marketing plan -Seminole Tribe of FloridaDecember 3 - 4, 2013STOF Fire & Rescue Building Big Cypress, FL

Highlights include:



- Tiffany Landry (Landry Consulting, LLC)

Customer Service -Seminole Tribe of FloridaDecember 19 - 10, 2013STOF Fire & Rescue Building Big Cypress, FL

Highlights include:



- Marie Dufour Bonville (Training and Development Specialist, NLC)

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | teChNiCaL aSSiStaNCe

36 Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | outreaCh

OuTr EACH

37

OuTr EACH

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | outreaCh


In November 2012, Gmail unveiled its Cherokee language setting. The Cherokee Nation teamed up with Google to integrate the language in the email service. Gmail and Google Web Search both include a virtual keyboard for typing the Cherokee syllabary. The Oklahoma tribe said it was an opportunity to use technology to encourage everyday use of the language, especially among young people.


38

he Native Learning Center’s (NLC) website is the portal through which Indian Country can connect with the NLC and learn more about what we have to offer. Through the NLC’s website, our visitors are able to view our

tuition free courses and trainings, tap into valuable funding opportunities, and request technical assistance.

Since the redesign of the NLC website in March 2012, our pages views has increased by 50.89%. It is important to us that viewers who visit our site are able to navigate through information with ease and find the resources or information they needed quickly. In efforts to track what our visitors were benefiting from when visiting the Native Learning Center website Google Analytics was integrated July 1, 2012.

cOMMunity Outreach effOrts

The Native Learning Center has maintained its core efforts of email blast, web & print outreach, and press releases for community outreach in 2013. When, where, and how we reach Indian Country is key to getting the valuable trainings and resources that the NLC has to offer to Native communities. In 2013, the NLC has reached 3,430 community members within over 477 Tribes throughout the United States through its on-site and online trainings, Technical Assistance, and trade show exhibits. Some of our valuable community outreach resources go into details here:

eMaiLs bLast (e-bLasts)

E-Blasts have been an essential way the NLC delivers different information to people throughout Indian Country.

The NLC sends out weekly emails to our email database of over 4,843 contacts about webinar trainings offered via Kerretv Online. The NLC also uses email as a way to send out updates about future events and trainings and other opportunities being offered by the Native Learning Center.

Web & Print Outreach

During 2013, the NLC utilized web and print space with Indian Country Today, Native American Times, Indianz.com, Cherokee Phoenix, Navajo Times, First Nations, The Circle, and Native Sun News. These outreach sources have been a pivotal way for the NLC to reach target Native American audiences throughout Indian Country and support Native owned publications.

Press reLeases

Many events and trainings hosted by the NLC are shared with our audiences via press release sources. The NLC currently uses 3 press release outlets that help us share our information throughout Indian Country.

natiVe aMerica caLLing

In 2013, the NLC maintained its relationship with Native America Calling to speak to their audience about our events, trainings, and E-Learning. This community outreach medium is a great way to connect directly with Native American listeners and inform them about the NLC and what we have to offer Native communities.

in 2013, the average

amount of time

visitors spent viewing

a specified page or

set of pages was

3.14 minutes verses

2.29 minutes

in 2012.

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | outreaCh

3.14 MIN

39

Top 4 Most viewed pages on the NLC Website in 2013

Home page 13,133

5th Annual Summer Conference

4,344

Courses 3,177

indian Housing Training Conference

2,735

NLC Website page views

2013 43,267

2012 22,019

increase of 49%

Google Analytics References - Page views is the total number of pages viewed. Repeated views of a single page are counted.

Top 4 Traffic Sources to the NLC website in 2013

direct links to the NLC 6,221

Google 4,038

Semtribe.com 1,288

Bing 1,078

Top 4 regions in the u.S. with the most visits to the NLC Website

5,058

1,560

1,458

1,019

NLC Website unique page views

2013 33,952

2012 16,915

increase of 50%

Google Analytics References - Unique Page views is the number of visits during which the specified page was viewed at least once. A unique page view is counted for each page URL + page Title combination

NLC Growth in database

2013 7,024

2012 5,712

2011 4,250

increase of 19% from 2012 to 2013

Database is a combination of Emails and Mailing Addresses

Page Views 2013

Page Views 201243,267

22,019Unique Page Views 2013

Unique Page Views 201233,952

16,9152013

2012

2011

7,024

5,712

4,250

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | outreaCh

FL

CA

OK

Az

40 Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | SoCiaL Media

n 2013, the NLC maintained its social media presence to immediately connect with our attendees and supporters. Currently the NLC is using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram and has seen a substantial increase in the amount of people we to connect with through

social media. Whether it is announcing upcoming trainings and courses or just sharing pertinent information that affects Indian Country, social media has been a great community outreach source for the NLC.

LinkeDin enDOrseMents

LinkeDin PrOfiLe cOnnectiOnsSocial Media visits to the

Native Learning Center Website

Facebook 644

Linkedin 393

Twitter 21

Overall visits From Social Networks

visits 18,826

visits via Social referral 1,064

Keep in Touch with

the NLC

500+

41Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | SoCiaL Media

2,000

1,000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

010/01/2011 09/01/2012 12/01/2012 01/01/2013

NLC Fan page Likes NLC Fan page reaches

NLC youTube Channel

views 404

Estimated Minutes Watched 486

Shares 4

Number of videos uploaded 3

NLC instagram @NativeLearningC

photos 105

Following 180

Followers 123

NLC Twitter page @NativeLearningC

Tweets 654

Following 220

Followers 262

10/01/2011 09/01/2012 12/01/2012 01/01/2013

NLC Group Member

300

200

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

42 Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | trade ShowS

rade show and exhibits is another way for the Native Learning Center to reach out to and network with those within Indian Country. Trade shows and exhibits allow for the NLC staff to have face-to-face interactions and connect with our

audiences in a way that other forms of outreach do not allow. At each exhibit the NLC disseminats NLC branded items that include calendar of events, brochures, Kerretv Online information booklet, pens, tote bags, water bottles, business cards holders, and academic calendars.

reserVatiOn ecOnOMic suMMit & aMerican inDian business traDe fair (res2013)March 11 - 14, 2013Mandalay Bay Resort & CasinoLas Vegas, NevadaNumber of Attendees: 3,000

30th annuaL gathering Of natiOns POWWOW (gOn)April 26 - 27, 2013The PitAlbuquerque, New MexicoNumber of Attendees: 3,000

sustainabLe cOnstructiOn in inDian cOuntry initiatiVeMay 2nd, 2013 National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DCNumber of Attendees: 100

natiOnaL aMerican inDian hOusing cOunciL (naihc) 39th anniVersary cOnVentiOn & traDe shOW May 21 - 23, 2013The Sheraton ChicagoChicago, IllinoisNumber of Attendees: 500

tribaL PrOfessiOnaL DeVeLOPMent career fair 2013July 31, 2013Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoHollywood, FLNumber of Attendees: 100

uset 2013 annuaL Meeting & exPO suMMaryOctober 28 – 31, 2013Harrah’s Cherokee Casino ResortCherokee, North CarolinaNumber of Attendees: 500

27th annuaL aMerinD risk cOnference & traDe fair September 24 – 25, 2013Hilton Anchorage Anchorage, AlaskaNumber of Attendees: 500

natiOnaL inDian eDucatiOns assOciatiOn 44th annuaL cOnVentiOn anD traDe shOW (niea 2013) October 30th - November 2nd, 2013Rapid City Convention CenterRapid City, South DakotaNumber of Attendees: 3,000 - 5,000

Overall Stats of Trade Shows and Exhibits

Total # of Exhibits Attended 8

Estimated # of Exhibit Attendees reached 2,388

Estimated # of Tribes reached 95

Total # of potential instructors 10

inquiries # of Native American Business reached 102

Total # of Technical Assistance request 2

* Estimates are based on the Contact Us forms received back during the

Trade Shows.

43Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | trade ShowS

Tribes reached1st Tribal Lending

Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico

Alabama-Conshatta

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas

Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation,

Wyoming

Arikara

ASRC

Blackfeet tribe of the Blackfeet Indian

Reservation of Montana

Chemawawin Cree Nation

Cherokee

Cherokee Nation

Cherokee/Mohawk

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of The Cheyenne

River Reservation, South Dakota

Chickasaw Nation

Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boys

Reservation, Montana

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Cofurd Alene

Coharie

Colorado River Indian Tribes

Comanche

Copper River - Gakona

Dine/Zuni Tribe of Zuni reservation, New

Mexico

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River

Indian Reservation, Arizona

Hawaii

Hopi Tribe of Arizona

Houlton Band of Mailseet Indians

Jena band of Choctaw Indians

Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico

Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan

Klamath Tribes

Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO)

Laguna-Pueblo

Lakota

Lower Elwha Tribal Community

Lumbee Tribe

Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

Mescolero Apache

Mississippi Choctaw

Muscogee (Creek) Nation

Navajo

Navajo

Navajo Nation

Navajo Nation

Ni Mii Pu/Dine

Northern Cheyenne tribe of the Northern

Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Ojibwe Tribe

Omaha Tribe

Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin

Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma

Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tucson

Penobscot Nation

Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

Poarch Band of Creeks

Point Lay

Pojoaqie Pueblo

Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians,

Minnesota

Red Lake Nation Ojibway

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian

Reservation, South Dakota

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona

Samson Cree Nation

San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos

Reservation, Arizona

Santa Clara

Santa Inez Chumosh

Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska

Santo Domingo Pueblo

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of

Michigan

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma/ Absentee-

Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

Seneca Nation of Indians

Seneca Nation of Indians

Shivwits Band of Paiutes

Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation,

Wyoming

ShoShone-Bannock

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake

Traverse Reservation, South Dakota

Spokane Tribe of Spokane Reservation

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of the Both &

South Dakota

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and

Chippewa Indians

Tlingit Tribe of Alaska

Waccaman

Walker River Paiute Tribe

Walker River Paiute Tribe

White Earth Chippewa

White Earth Nation

Yakama

Yakama Nation

Yavapai - Apache Nation of the Camp Verda

Indian Reservation, Arizona

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CuLT urAL AWAr ENESS

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | CuLturaL awareNeSS

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CuLT urAL AWAr ENESS

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | CuLturaL awareNeSS


On November 16, 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act was enacted. NAGPRA provides a process for museums and federal agencies to return certain Native American sacred items, human remains, and cultural and funerary objects to tribes.


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ncient acOMa PuebLO - sky city cuLturaL center anD MuseuM

During the NLC’s visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico the team had the opportunity to engage in cultural training by

visiting Ancient Acoma Pueblo - Sky City Cultural Center and Museum. Acoma Pueblo’s Sky City is situated on a 370-foot high mesa, which is the homeland of the Acoma people. There are 300 homes and structures on the mesa, which are owned by Acoma women. The hour long guided tour, led by a member of the Acoma Tribe, guided us through the history of Acoma reservation that included the story of the church that was built by Acoma men, under the supervision of the Spanish friars. This cultural awareness training allowed the NLC to takes photos that could be used with in our trainings and bring back the history of the Acoma reservation to the rest of team. This cultural awareness experience allowed the NLC to have a hand on experience of the issues within Indian Country, allowing us to improve on topics of our training sessions.

Pine riDge inDian reserVatiOn, WOunDeD knee MeMOriaL site

During the NLC’s visit to Rapid City, South Dakota the team had the opportunity to engage in the following cultural training:

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Lakota Native American reservation. The Village of Wounded Knee the Massacre/Memorial Site is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Wounded Knee Museum was closed for the season but the NLC team was able to pay their respects at the Massacre/Memorial Site. The museum brings history to life, telling

the unforgettable story of the last major military operation by the U.S. in its long battle to subdue the Native populations of North America. The final blow was struck on December 29, 1890, at Wounded Knee Creek. There, up to 300 Lakota men, women, and children died in what has become known as the Wounded Knee Massacre.

the crazy hOrse MeMOriaL

The Crazy Horse Memorial officially started June 3, 1948 by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear, who commissioned by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. The Memorial’s mission is to honor the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians. The Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation demonstrates its ongoing commitment to this promise by following these objectives.

• Continuing the progress on the world’s largest mountain sculpture, carving a memorial to the spirit of legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse and his culture;• Acting as a repository for Native American artifacts, arts and crafts through the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center.• Establishing and operating the Indian University of North America, and when practical, a medical training center for American Indians.

the DeViLs tOWer MeMOriaL

Devils Tower is American’s first national monument, created by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act in 1906. All who have seen the gigantic stump-like formation, known as Devils Tower, rising some 1,200 feet above the Belle Fourche River, understand why it inspired the imagination of the Indians. They called it Mateo Tepee,

Native LearNiNg CeNter 2013 aNNuaL report | CuLturaL awareNeSS

Celebrating Culture

& Language

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meaning Grizzly Bear Lodge, and name several legends regarding its origin. Today, the Tower continues to draw thousands of visitors each year. It is a place to enjoy nature by walking the trails and looking for wildlife. American Indian people travel to the Tower because it is a sacred place. According to the National Park Service, over twenty Tribes have potential cultural affiliation with the Devils Tower National Monument.

Native LearNiNg CeNter2013 aNNuaL report | CuLturaL awareNeSS

6363 Taft StreetHollywood, FL 33024

p. 954.985.2315 | f. 954.989.3864email: [email protected]

www.NativeLearningCenter.com | www.KerretvOnline.com

The Native Learning Center would like to thank the Seminole Tribe of Florida and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for their Contiune Support.

2013 ANNuAL rEpOrT

Documents

Seminole Tribe of Florida Native Learning Center 2013 Annual Report