John was born on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. He has over 40 years’ experience as a caseworker, program manager, teacher, and trainer. At Fort Belknap he worked as a tribal health planner, group home director, parenting project coordinator, foster parent, tribal councilman, and tribal college president.
In Oregon he directed a student substance abuse program at Chemawa Indian School in Salem for 7 years (1988-95) and directed the Social Services Department at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for 3 years (1995-98). He also taught for 20 years at the Portland State University School of Social Work (1998-2017).
Since 2009 he has helped provide therapeutic horsemanship workshops that have included several hundred Native American youth from all the 9 Oregon Tribes. He and his partners have also provided equine therapy workshops at 4 of the 9 Oregon Tribes. He is certified through Becoming One with the Spirit of the Horse at Standing Rock, ND. John served 6 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and has been sober for 37 years.
