Board of Directors

NICWA is a membership organization with an all-Native board of directors elected by the membership. The board meets quarterly to set the budget, policies, program plans, and advocacy direction of the organization. The board maintains several standing committees (Executive, Fundraising, Governance, Program, and Public Policy) that conduct the business of the board and provide advice and oversight of specific areas of work.

Officers

Gil Vigil (Tesuque Pueblo), President
Executive Director, Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Year Elected: 1997

Angela Connor (Choctaw), Vice President
Director of Foster Care & Adoption, Choctaw Nation Children & Family Services
Coalgate, Oklahoma
Year Elected: 2013

Alex Wesaw, PhD (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Secretary
Tribal Council Treasurer, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi; Director, American Indian Relations, Ohio History Connection
Dowagiac, Michigan
Year Elected: 2012

Aurene Martin (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Treasurer
President and Managing Partner, Spirit Rock Consulting
Alexandria, Virginia
Year Elected: 2013

Members

Teressa Baldwin (Inupiaq)
Director of Public Safety, Northwest Arctic Borough
Kotzebue, Alaska
Year Elected: 2015

Justine Bautista (Northern Cheyenne)
Kitchen Assistant, Native American Youth and Family Center
Portland, Oregon
Year Elected: 2022

Mikah Carlos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community)
Assistant Director of Youth Services, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Mesa, Arizona
Year Elected: 2019

Patricia Carter-Goodheart (Nez Perce)
Democratic Precinct Committee Officer
Lapwai, Idaho
Year Elected: 2008

Rose Domnick (Orutsararmiut Native Council)
Calricaraq Trainer/Consultant
Bethel, Alaska
Year Elected: 2021

Brad Earl (Colville descent)
Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Medford School District
Medford, Oregon
Year Elected: 2022

Rochelle Ettawageshik (Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians)
Retired; Former Director of Native American Affairs, State of Michigan
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Year Elected: 1997

Debra Foxcroft (Tseshaht)
Tseshaht First Nation Family & Child Services Consultant/Advisor
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Year Elected: 1996

Robert McGhee (Poarch Band of Creek Indians)
Tribal Council Vice Chairman, Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Atmore, Alabama
Year Elected: 2011

Gary Peterson, MSW (Skokomish)
Professor, The Evergreen State College
Shelton, Washington
Year Elected: 1987

Robin Sigo (Suquamish Tribe)
Research and Strategic Development Director, Suquamish Tribe
Suquamish, Washington
Year Elected: 2020

Mary Tenorio, PhD, RN (Santo Domingo)
Retired Director, Santo Domingo Pueblo Social Services
Santo Domingo, New Mexico
Year Elected: 1995

Stephanie Weldon (Yurok Tribe)
Director, Office of Tribal Affairs, California Department of Social Services
Klamath, California
Year Elected: 2020