Youth Chairman
Esselen Tribe

Andrew MacDonald, the Youth Chairman of the Esselen Tribe, who studies Sociology at Monterey Peninsula College, is dedicated to learning as much as possible about First Nations’ cultures, practices, societies, and values, and contributing to the reviving of Indigenous worldviews. He is also intent on reuniting his tribe.

Community Organizer

Bette Billiot, a member of the United Houma Nation Tribe of Louisiana who is a Community Organizer with the Sierra Club and Housing Louisiana, has represented and advocated for her community as part of several Gulf South delegations speaking on Louisiana industries, climate and land-loss issues internationally.

Youth Ambassador
Sacramento Native American Health Center

Manaia Taula-Lieras, 17, (of Diné, Umatilla, Samoan and Chicana ancestry), a Youth Ambassador at the Sacramento Native American Health Center, founded and is President of the World Justice Club at her high school, where she focuses on promoting diversity and a safe space for underrepresented students, along with providing accurate information about social and environmental issues. Manaia, who has received several scholarships from the Native Like Water program to exchange cultural knowledge with indigenous peoples from Hawaii to San Diego, has a passion for writing and ethnic studies and spends her free time involved in hula and Tahitian dance, as well as surfing.

Culture Director
Association of Ramaytush Ohlone

Gregg Castro [t'rowt'raahl Salinan/rumsien-ramaytush Ohlone] has worked preserving his indigenous heritage for three decades as a writer-activist. He is Culture Director for the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone; the Society for California Archaeology’s ‘Native American Programs Committee’ Chair; and Adviser to the California Indian Conference, California Indian History Curriculum Coalition and American Indian Cultural District of San Francisco.

Title VI Indian Education Coordinator
Oakland Unified School District

Manny Lieras (Navajo & Comanche), the Title VI Indian Education Coordinator for the Oakland Unified School District who relocated to Oakland to work with urban American Indian youth at the American Indian Child Resource Center, is an influential role model and change agent in the Oakland Intertribal community. Beyond his educational work, he teaches pow-wow drumming and singing, leads programs such as Native Like Water, and has been an activist state-wide and nationally fighting for American Indian education, land rights, fishing and hunting rights, Indian child welfare, and sovereignty. A well known artist and singer in American Indian drum circles, Manny is also the producer of the mixed-media project, Injunuity. 

United Houma Nation

Christie Lacoban, 16, a citizen of the United Houma Nation tribe residing in Houma, Louisiana, is a Community Resource Coordinator for a non-profit there and studies pow-wow dance styles and beadwork through the Federal Indian Education Program. Christie, a highly accomplished beadworker at such a young age, was taught that traditional craft from Houma elder, Louise Billiot, and has mastered the embroidery stitch, two-needle, brick and peyote stitch styles.

Intercultural Conversations Program Manager
Bioneers

Nazshonnii Brown-Almaweri, Intercultural Conversations Program Manager for Bioneers’ Indigeneity Program, is a West Oakland-based STEAM educator who advocates for exposure and opportunities for historically excluded people, especially Black and Native youth. She has provided many middle and high school students with the space to learn about STEAM at the intersection of ancestral knowledge and their lived experiences and has worked to help Oakland youth thrive in disciplines such as engineering. Nazshonnii is also a farmer connected to the Gill Tract Community Farm in Albany and was previously a STEM tutor, media educator, and youth program assistant for the American Indian Child Resource Center.

Program Director of the Indigeneity Program
Bioneers

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Program Director of the Bioneers Indigeneity Program, previously served her Mojave-based tribe in several capacities, including as: first Executive Director at the Chemehuevi Cultural Center, a member of the tribal council, and Chair of the Chemehuevi Education Board and Chemeuevi Headstart Policy Council. Cara is also a highly accomplished photographer/artist.

Co-Director, Indigeneity Program
Bioneers

Alexis Bunten, Ph.D., (Aleut/Yup’ik), Co-Director of Bioneers’ Indigeneity Program, has been a researcher, media-maker, manager, consultant, and curriculum developer for organizations including the Sealaska Heritage Institute, Alaska Native Heritage Center, and the FrameWorks Institute. She has published widely about Indigenous and environmental issues, and is the author of So, how long have you been Native?: Life as an Alaska Native Tour Guide.