Judith Le Blanc (Caddo)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Judith
Judith is a citizen of the Caddo Nation. She has been the Executive Director of Native
Organizers Alliance (NOA) for eight years. She leads a national Native training and organizing
network which supports Tribes, traditional societies, and community groups – urban and
reservation – in organizing grassroots political power to achieve Native sovereignty and racial
equity for all.
Judith is a board member of Movement Strategy Center and chair of the board of the NDN
Collective. She currently serves on the Environmental Justice Working Group convened by US
Representatives Raul Grijalva and Barbara Lee. Judith was a 2019 Roddenberry Fellow. In 2022,
she was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Harvard
University.
Brandon Barela (Diné)
DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS MANAGER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Brandon
Brandon Barela (he/him) is the Development Operations Manager for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to the overall operations of the Development Office. Brandon is enrolled in the Navajo tribe.
Much of Brandon’s work has focused on empowering Natives, strengthening the community, and humanitarian relief. Brandon’s previous experience includes [database management, developing successful fundraising systems, and building and maintaining relationships with donors who ally with Native nonprofits. Brandon holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico.
Outside of work, Brandon mentors youth in his community. He enjoys being behind a camera, capturing life moments, and enjoying random adventures with his partner and their new baby boy.
Iko’tsimiskimaki “Ekoo” Beck (Blackfeet/Métis/Ojibwe)
ORGANIZING FELLOWSHIP MANAGER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Ekoo
Iko’tsimiskimaki “Ekoo” Beck [they/she] is the Organizing Fellowship Manager for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to elevating and equipping leaders throughout Indian Country. Ekoo is Blackfeet, Red River Metis, and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana, they are also German American. Ekoo grew up in western Montana and currently resides in Bdeóta Othúŋwe/ Gakaabikaang (Minneapolis) Minnesota, the traditional lands of the Dakota. Ekoo’s work has focused on community engagement, community organizing, and historic preservation. Ekoo has worked for Saokio Heritage, The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, Montana Women Vote, and Montana Native Vote/ Western Native Voice. Ekoo graduated from Harvard University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies and a Focus Field of Indigenous Oppression and American Indian Culture. They wrote their senior thesis “The Black Robes must be to them in the place of their Wise Woman” on the impacts of Holy Family Mission Boarding School on gender roles in Blackfeet cosmology and society.
Robert Chanate (Kiowa)
TRAINING DIRECTOR
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Robert
Robert Chanate (he/him) is a member of the Kiowa Nation and has supported Indigenous Peoples’ efforts at their request for most of his adult life. At times his roles have changed but over the last 20 years, he has been asked to serve in a trainer, organizer, and facilitator role. Robert has worked with Indigenous grassroots groups, traditional native societies, tribal governments, and various Native-led nonprofits in the U.S and Canada. He’s also worked with People of Color and White ally-led organizations in the areas of environmental, racial, and social justice through the years. Robert feels it’s an honor to work for the Native Organizers Alliance.
TeAta DeCorah (Oneida/Ho-Chunk/Nakota)
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES & EXECUTIVE LIAISON
Native Organizers AllianceMore about TeAta
TeAta DeCorah is the Executive Liaison to the Executive Director for Native Organizers Alliance. She is committed to providing support in NOA’s initiatives, strengthening the political empowerment of Native grassroots movements for sovereignty, as well as the health and well-being of Indian Country through tireless dedication to honoring Native cultures and practices. TeAta is affiliated with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the Fort Belknap Assiniboine Sioux.
Much of TeAta’s work has focused on healthcare administration and building better systems to support growing organizations and institutions. TeAta worked within the Bellin healthcare system before feeling called back into her roots within the Native community. TeAta has a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in management. An interesting aspect of TeAta’s family history is that her great-grandmother was Juanita Tucker, a renowned artist known for making Indian artifacts whose work has been displayed at the Smithsonian and in museums all over the world. Juanita was also featured in Montana’s Indians Yesterday and Today.
Wicanhpi Winyan EchoHawk (Pawnee/Ojibwe/Dakota)
NATIONAL ORGANIZER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Wicanhpi
Wicanhpi Winyan EchoHawk (She/Her) is a National Organizer for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to providing training coordination and support to grassroots groups and initiatives nationwide. Wicanhpi is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation, and is a descendant of the Lower Sioux and Red Lake Nations.
Much of Wicanhpi’s work has focused on logistical support for local/national trainings, the fellows program, assisting in campaigns such as the Red Road to DC Totem Pole Journey and the Indigenous Futures Survey, as well as on the ground work around elections and “Natives Vote.”
Previously coming from a background in film as a set PA and producer’s assistant for Indigenous centered film and media, much of Wicanhpi’s work has centered around narrative change and community engagement. She credits much of her passion for her work to her family’s long history of native organizers.
Jennifer Fairbanks (Blackfeet/Ojibwe)
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Jennifer
Jennifer Fairbanks (she/her) is committed to elevating Native-led grassroots movements at the national and local levels through narrative change. Jennifer is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation and a descendant of the Blackfeet Nation. Much of Jennifer’s work has focused on Native representation, storytelling, and social justice. Her previous experience includes strategic digital marketing, analytics, web development, and working within the philanthropic sector to increase funding to Native nonprofits. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies.
April Fournier (Diné)
SENIOR TRAINING AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIST
Native Organizers AllianceMore about April
April Fournier (she/her) is the Senior Training and Voter Engagement Strategist for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to providing training coordination and support, building strategic partnerships to support voter engagement activities and supporting the enhancement of outreach and education for long term political power building in Native communities.
April is Diné and currently resides in Maine, the unceded and ancestral land of the Wabanaki Nations.
Much of April’s work has focused on training, curriculum development, and facilitation while working in business, education, public health, and leadership environments. April pursued early childhood intervention and family supports after her child was diagnosed with autism, recognizing that systems were not set up for her child and family to succeed, using that lived experience to change future children and families’ experiences. April’s passion for public policy and civic engagement led her to run for city council in the largest city in Maine and become the first Native person to hold a council seat. She is currently in her second term and the chair of Health, Human Services & Public Safety. April has also engaged in supporting several Maine Tribal Nations initiatives like the implementation of Wabanaki Studies in Portland Public Schools, ending the use of Native mascots, and advocating for Tribal sovereignty.
April has served on the Wabanaki Studies Advisory Group, currently serves on the board of the Equality Community Center, is a fellow with Democracy Rising’s ‘Democracy Transformation Project’, and is an alumni of the Future President’s Project of the Women’s Democracy Lab. She is also a founding member of the Local Indigenous Leaders Circle with the National League of Cities and a founding member of Team Indigenous Rising Roller Derby.
April holds a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Maine.
Taylor Gibbs (Mvskoke/Cherokee)
DATA AND SYSTEMS MANAGER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Taylor
Taylor Gibbs [she/her] is the Data & Systems Manager for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to supporting Native-led grassroots movements with impactful data management, analysis and collection strategies, while defending digital & data sovereignty.
Taylor is a descendant of the Mvskoke & Cherokee.
Much of Taylor’s work has focused on data storytelling and leveraging strategic data management & governance practices.
Taylor’s work has supported social equity initiatives, national & local policy. More recently, she is a co-founder of an Indigenous-led AI/Data collective.
Taylor holds a Master’s in City & Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s in Geography & Political Science from the University of Florida.
Sidney Kabotie (Crow/Hopi/Pueblo)
TRAINING MANAGER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Sidney
Sidney Kabotie is the Training Manager for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to developing curriculum for public, partner, and staff education utilizing Indigenous frameworks and worldview to center community and enable grassroots problem-solving. Sidney is a descendant of the Crow Nation, Hopi Nation, and Santa Clara Pueblo and currently resides in Albuquerque, NM on the traditional lands of the Sandia and Isleta Pueblos. Much of Sidney’s work has focused on facilitating consensus-based group process throughout Indian Country, responding to issues in urban houselessness, Indian child welfare, Tribal economic development, natural resource management, teen suicide prevention, food sovereignty, resilient energy development, and beyond. Sidney holds a master’s degree in Indigenous Leadership and Sustainable Community Building from the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership from Tufts University, and a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from Fort Lewis College.
Tremayne Nez (Diné)
POLICY DIRECTOR
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Tremayne
Tremayne Nez is the Policy Director for Native Organizers Alliance. He is committed to working with tribal leaders and grassroots organizers to ensure Native voices are heard and represented at all levels of government.
Tremayne is enrolled in the Navajo tribe and currently resides in Arizona. Growing up on the Navajo reservation, Tremayne developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing the Indigenous community. He has since dedicated his career to advocating for policies that respect the Indigenous communities’ unique needs and cultural perspectives. Tremayne’s work includes tribal housing advocacy with the National American Indian Housing Council and government contracting work focused on Indigenous perspectives for Avid Core, a Virginia-based communications firm.
In addition to his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University, Tremayne also attended the Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University and the Indigenous Leadership Academy at Arizona State University.
Miengun Pamp (Ojibwe)
NATIONAL ORGANIZER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Miengun
Miengun Auzhabek Pamp (he/him) is an organizer for Native Organizers Alliance, committed to providing training and support to grassroots groups and initiatives nationwide.
Miengun is Saginaw Chippewa, Little River Odawa, and Huron Potowatomi and currently resides in Michigan on Saginaw Chippewa lands.
Much of Miengun’s work has focused on facilitating trainings, security, and on-the-ground organizing for elections and various grassroots movements. Since his start at Standing Rock, much of Miengun’s work as an organizer has centered around water rights and supporting families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, including his own. His past experience includes organizing “Get Out the Native Vote” campaigns in the Great Lakes region and providing security to the House of Tears on their Red Road to DC totem pole journey.
Lonnie Provost (Dakota)
NATIONAL ORGANIZER
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Lonnie
Lonnie Provost (he/him) is a member of the Ihanktonwan Oyate & resides on the ancestral lands of the Oceti Sakowin in South Dakota. Lonnie is a National Organizer & part of the trainers’ cohort for NOA. He is committed to helping grow the circle of Indigenous leaders across Native country who understand the need to be organized to further our efforts for Tribal sovereignty, environmental justice, & racial equality.
Lonnie also works with Brave Heart Society, a traditional Dakota women’s society, on the Mni Wizipan Wakan Project (Sacred Water Bundle). The project’s goal is to re-establish the Ihanktonwan & the Oceti Sakowin’s inherent rights to Co-Managenment of the Missouri River.
Nicole Anangoons Smith (Ojibwe)
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Native Organizers AllianceMore about Nicole
Nicole Smith is the Director of Operations for Native Organizers Alliance where she provides leadership and support to the areas of operations, advancement, finance, human resources, and fiscal sponsorship. Nicole is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribe. She has worked as a grassroots organizer for several years with the youth in her community as well as neighboring communities. Nicole holds a Masters in Tribal Administration and Governance from the University of Minnesota. In her free time Nicole enjoys traveling to powwows across Indian Country with her family dancing.
