Team

Cynthia J. Frank (Kiowa/Northern European/Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish) - Executive Director of Resource Development

Cyndi Frank has been a development professional and fundraiser in the nonprofit sector for 30 years. More

Arlene Kato (Japanese American) - Executive Director of Programs and Operations

Arlene Kato is an operational and project management leader with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector. More

Anthony Reese - Chief Operating Officer

Anthony Reese is TCC’s first Chief Operating Officer. More

Redbird Willie (Pomo, Paiute, Wintu and Wailaki) - Land Steward / Land Manager

Redbird Willie is a Native ecologist and educator. More

Mateo Hinojosa, M.A. (Mestizo Quechua Bolivian-American) - Media Director

Mateo Hinojosa is a documentary filmmaker and educator. More

Alexandru Salceanu (Romanian American) - Media Associate

Alexandru Salceanu is an interdisciplinary artist. More

Amythest Faria (Lakota, Irish, Welsh) - Farm Manager

Amythest Faria is a regenerative farmer, herbalist, educator, mother and grandmother. More

Joshua Hoyt (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Dakota/Metis) - Foodways Manager

Joshua Hoyt is a Native chef, educator and writer. More

Heaven Estrada, MPH (Chumash, Mexican/African/European-American) – Development and Community Evaluations Manager

Heaven Estrada is a devoted public health advocate. More

Kayley Walker - Foodways Coordinator

Kayley is an alumna of University of California, Davis, where she studied Native American Studies and Communication Studies. More

Raven E. Marshall (Sicangu Lakota, Ihanktonwan Dakota/Nakoda) - Native Media Producer

Raven E. Marshall is a journalist and multimedia storyteller. More

Alexis Stanley, MS (Diné, Acoma, Honduran) - Special Projects Manager

Alexis Stanley is a global health researcher and artist. More

Jordan Torres (Choctaw, Danish, El Salvadorian) - Facilities Coordinator

Jordan is a permaculturist, educator, journalist, and writer. More

Nícola Wagenberg, Ph.D. (Colombian/Jewish) - Senior Program Associate

Nícola Wagenberg is a clinical and cultural psychologist, artist, film producer and educator. More

Wendy Johnson - Organic Farming Teacher

Wendy Johnson is an organic gardening mentor and an ordained lay dharma teacher in the traditions of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and the San Francisco Zen Center. More

Melissa K. Nelson - Founding Executive Director/CEO, 1993 - 2021; President Emerita, 2021 More

 

Board of Directors

Melissa K. Nelson, Ph.D. (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) - Chair

Melissa K. Nelson is a Native ecologist, writer, media-maker and Indigenous scholar-activist. More

Lois Ellen Frank, Ph.D. (Kiowa/Northern European/Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish) - Vice-Chair

Lois Ellen Frank is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based James Beard Award-winning author, Chef, Native American foods historian, culinary anthropologist, and photographer. More

Kimla McDonald, M.A. - Secretary

Kimla McDonald is trained both as a landscape architect (University of California, Berkeley) and as a midwife, and is currently working in the health care field. More

Debra Harry, Ph.D. (Pyramid Lake Paiute)

Debra Harry is an internationally renowned Indigenous rights activist, educator, and thinker. More

Timotéo (Téo) Ikoshy Montoya II (Apache)

Teo Montoya is a writer, cultural theorist, and multimedia artist, focusing on Indigenous Futurisms and Indigenous knowledge systems. More

Candace Kaleimamoowahinekapu Galla, Ph.D. (Kanaka Hawaiʻi/Filipino)

Candace Kaleimamoowahinekapu Galla, is an Associate Professor in the department of Language and Literacy Education and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia.
More

 
Sculpture by Tonu Shane

Sculpture by Tonu Shane

 

Advisory Council

Kaimana Barcarse (Kanaka Hawai'i), deep-sea voyager and captain, language advocate, and educator

Priscilla Setee (Cree), professor of Native Studies, Indigenous rights advocate

Gregg Castro (Salinan, Rumsien & Ramaytush Ohlone), California Indigenous Writer and Activist

Jacquelyn Ross (Pomo/Coast Miwok), traditional food gatherer, writer, artist

Diana Almendariz (Maidu/Wintun), native plant specialist, basketmaker, "the Tule Lady"

Edward Willie (Pomo/Wailaki), California Native historian, ethnobotanist, artist

Wikuki Kingi (Maori/Hawaiian), traditional artist, master carver, cultural symbologist

Tania Wolfgramm (Maori/Tongan), cultural psychologist, evaluation specialist, language educator

Marsha Small (Northern Cheyenne), sacred site protector, buffalo restoration advocate, native educator 

Dennis Martinez (O’Odham/Chicano), Indigenous Peoples Restoration Network

Kaylena Bray (Seneca), Braiding the Sacred Indigenous corn keepers network

Malcolm Margolin, Publisher, Heyday Books/News from Native California

Image Credits:
Photos by Mateo Hinojosa, bio photos provided by those pictured