Meet Our Team

Board of Directors

Rebekah Wanke

Chairwoman (Cherokee Nation)

Aurolyn Stwyer

Vice Chairwoman (Celilo / Wasco / Warm Springs)

Wayne Shammel

Chairman Emeritus

Gary Ogan

Music Director (Chrokee Nation)

Laurie Ogan

Board Member

Nic Sanford Belgard

Board Member (Chinook / Rogue River Tututni / Chippewa Cree)

Speak/Sing Native Curriculum Development Team

Dr. Brook Colley, Ph.D.

Speak/Sing Native™

Bio

Dr. Roni Adams, Ph.D.

Speak/Sing Native™

Bio

Dr. Jesse Moon Longhurst, Ph.D.

Speak/Sing Native™

Bio

Tessa Tschantre

Speak/Sing Native™

Bio

Teresa Cisneros

Speak/Sing Native™

Bio

Staff & Crew

Sean Cruz

Executive Director (Chicano)

In Memorium

Ko-Na Foster Kalama

Founding Board Member (Wasco / Warm Springs)

Katherine Quartz

Northern Paiute

Shalaya Williams

Artist Archive Researcher (Umatilla)

Robert Van Pelt

Founding Board Member (Siletz)

Ken Man Miller

Flying Eagle Band (Warm Springs)

The Jim Pepper Native Arts Council Non-Discrimination Policy

The Jim Pepper Native Arts Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or status as a veteran. The Council also prohibits sexual harassment. This nondiscrimination policy covers employment and participation as a volunteer in any of our programs and activities. Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Section 472 & 473).

Dr. Brook Colley, Ph.D.

(Wasco, Warm Springs, Eastern Cherokee)

Dr. Colley currently serves as Chair and as an Associate Professor of the Southern Oregon University Native American Studies program. She has a Ph.D. in Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis. Her research is focused on federal Indian law & policy, Oregon Tribes, intertribal relations & conflict, and community health & healing.

Dr. Roni Adams, Ph.D.

(Lakota)

Dr. Roni Adams, (Lakota) has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, with a specialization in Teaching and Learning, from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She is currently a professor of teacher education at Southern Oregon University, focusing on teaching Multicultural Education and Diversity courses. She has served as coordinator of the Elementary Education program and spent eight years as Chair of the School of Education. Her fields of inquiry and scholarship include school reform, holistic education, Native student achievement, and culturally responsive teaching. Her Native heritage fuels her passion for decolonizing education and pursuing equity and inclusion for diverse students. She is also the Tribal Nations Liaison, doing outreach to Native communities to attract, recruit and retain future educators.

Dr. Jesse Moon Longhurst, Ph.D.

(English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh)

Dr. Jesse Moon Longhurst (English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh), has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University. Dr. Longhurst coordinates the secondary education Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Southern Oregon University. Her research concerns the intersections of place and culture in rural, remote and island schooling, rural teacher preparation and rural education policy. Her commitment to rural places and peoples often intersects with Native, First Nations and Indigenous education issues.

Tessa Tschantre

(Tewa)

Tessa Tschantre (Tewa) is a Senior and McNair Scholar at Southern Oregon University majoring in Psychology with a Native American Studies Certificate. She is Tewa from San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico and Blackfeet. She is deeply passionate about Native American Studies, connecting with her Native roots, and discovering other Native American artists that inspire and empower Native youth.

Teresa Cisneros

(Chicana/Indigena, Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas)

Teresa leads the Professional Development component of the Speak/Sing Native^TMcurriculum team, bringing her 20 years of experience in social justice work, community organizing, organizational development and facilitating training in equity, diversity and inclusion to the project. She is a leading educator in Tribal History/Shared History in Oregon, having provided professional development training in the subject in several school districts around the state as well as Indian Education program support and conflict resolution. More than 100 teachers and administrators have completed her training, so she created a Community of Practice for these educators to continue their professional development in understanding tribal culture in public education. She is also the vice-president of the Oregon Indian Education Association and board member of Coalicion Fortaleza, an organization developed in response to the Almeda fire to develop sustainable housing and fire-ready communities.