MEMBERS
- Marilyn Andon
- Jack Austin, Jr.
- Beverly Cook
- Phyllis Davis
- Harold Clay Frazier
- Joseph A. Garcia
- Peter Lengkeek
- Nickolaus D. Lewis
- Juana Majel-Dixon
- Mary Ann Mills
- Jonathan Nez
- Terri Parton
- Jacqueline Platero
- Marilyn Scott
- Charlaine Tso
- Nate Tyler
Marilyn Andon is a tribal member of the Native Village of Tanana and has worked for Tanana Chiefs Conference for the past 13 years in the Health Department. In 2020 she was Tanana Chiefs Conference Employee of the Year. Her current position is Deputy Director of Health Services although most of Marilyn’s time at TCC has been spent working with the Behavioral Health Division. She has a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Alaska Native Studies. During her time as the Behavioral Health Director, Marilyn worked on a number of SAMHSA grants as both the Project Director and Principal Investigator for 12 years. Marilyn served on the Tribal Behavioral Health Directors Committee and has been on Fairbanks Native Association Advisory Committee for SAMHSA grants.
Jack Austin, Jr. serves as the Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Mr. Austin became Assistant Chief on April 29, 2014, after serving as Director of the Choctaw Nation Recovery Center in Talihina, OK. He began working for the Choctaw Nation in 1991 with the Choctaw Nation Health Care System after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. His first position in material management led to a position as a state-licensed counselor at the Recovery Center.
Mr. Austin’s duties are vast, and he enjoys working closely with tribal members and the Choctaw Tribal Council. Mr. Austin also focuses on work with the Senior Executive Officers of the Tribe who oversee the major Tribal divisions: Member Services, Tribal Relations, Health Services, and Administrative Services. As Assistant Chief, he also sits on the Choctaw Nation Business Committee, which drives all the Tribe's new business ventures.
Mr. Austin has been married to his wife, Philisha, for 24 years. Together, they have three children: Clark, a student at Carl Albert State College; Malacha, a senior at Talihina High School; and Sam, their youngest at age 5.
Phyllis Davis has served as a Councilwoman for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan (also known as the Gun Lake Tribe) for almost 2 years.
Ms. Davis is an advocate for health and wellness within her own tribal community, as well as within the Bemidji area. Ms. Davis was the Director of the Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) for her Tribe for many years. During this time, she also served as the co-chair of the Michigan Tribal Health Directors Association.
Ms. Davis has participated annually in the Regional DHHS Tribal Consultation to bring issues of concern not only from a tribal perspective but also the 34 tribes within the Bemidji area, including the urban health programs. This past year, she had the privilege of participating in the National Budget Formulation Workgroup as a representative of the Bemidji area, and most recently as the Bemidji Representative to the DHHS Tribal Consultation Workgroup.
Harold Clay Frazier presently resides in White Horse, SD, and is serving his second term as Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Mr. Frazier is a member of the Itazipco (Sans Arc) Band of the Lakota Nation. After graduating from Eastern Wyoming College, Mr. Frazier worked for the Cheyenne River Gas and CATV Company for 8 years. He left in 1998, when he was elected as a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe District 4 Council Representative for the communities of White Horse, Timber Lake, Green Grass, and West Eagle Butte.
During this time, Mr. Frazier secured the position of Vice Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He was also selected as the Aberdeen Area (now Great Plains Area) Vice President for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Mr. Frazier also served as the Chairman of the following Council committees: Claims and Legislation, Health and Welfare, and Lakota Parks.
Some of Mr. Frazier’s interests include spending time with his children, family, and friends; riding and raising horses; singing at the drum with his relatives and friends; and researching the treaties and the history of the Great Sioux Nation.
Joseph A. Garcia was born and raised in Ohkay Owingeh, NM, and continues to serve his community in traditional, educational, tribal government, and economic development efforts. He has been actively involved in the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) since 1995 and served two 2-year terms as the First Vice President of NCAI prior to being elected President in November 2005. Mr. Garcia completed his third term (January 2005 to December 2006) as Governor of Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo), located in northern New Mexico. After his term as Governor, Mr. Garcia was elected Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council, an organization formed in 1598 which serves the 19 pueblos of New Mexico. He served as Chairman from 2007 to 2010.
Mr. Garcia is an electrical engineer by profession, earning an electrical engineering degree from the University of New Mexico. In June 2003, he retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory after 25 years of service. He then started his own firm, MistyLake Consulting Services.
Mr. Garcia has been recognized for his service to his Tribe as well as to the State of New Mexico and the U.S. His awards include numerous local, state, and national awards for his work and service. In 2007, Mr. Garcia was honored to be asked to swear in Governor Richardson as Governor of New Mexico. Later, Governor Richardson proclaimed October 15, 2009, as President Joe Garcia Day in the State of New Mexico, presenting Mr. Garcia with the New Mexico State flag, which was flown over the State Capitol on October 9, 2009.
Juts-kadim' Nickolaus Dee Lewis is a tribal citizen of the Lummi Nation in Washington State, a proud veteran serving 8 honorable years in the U.S. Navy (2000 to 2008), and the father of three children: Ethan Lewis, Nickolaus Lewis III, and Tyray Lewis. Mr. Lewis is the grandson of the late Chief Sa-hum-kun (Donald Lewis) of the Lummi Nation, and believes that as his grandson he must honor his name by serving his people as his grandfather has done before him. Mr. Lewis also believes that as an elected leader of the Lummi Nation, his primary job is to serve the people. This belief has driven his work addressing homelessness on and off the reservation.
Mr. Lewis currently serves as a Councilmember of the Lummi Indian Business Council. He has also been placed on multiple boards and committees, tribal and non-tribal, with a focus on judicial and health-related issues.
Prior to his service on Tribal Council, Mr. Lewis worked as a juvenile and adult probation officer where he helped create the first Swift, Certain, and Fair Probation Model for a Native American Tribe, inspired by HOPE Probation in Hawaii. This model was called Lummi Chinqinst Probation, as “Chinqinst” translates to “Beginning to be on the right path.”
Juana Majel-Dixon is a citizen of the Pauma-Yuima Band of Luiseño Indians in California and has served a traditional appointment to the Tribal Legislative Council for 28 years.
Ms. Majel-Dixon has been an active member of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for more than 30 years, serving in various NCAI leadership capacities. For the last 9 years, Ms. Majel-Dixon has served as the NCAI Secretary. In 2003, she spearheaded the formation of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women and served as its Chair. Ms. Majel-Dixon has dedicated endless hours to the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 and continues the work of the NCAI Task Force to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
Ms. Majel-Dixon served a 2-year term with the Office of Violence Against Women’s National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women and a 6-year term with the Tribal Technical Advisory Group to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ms. Majel-Dixon has also served 2 years with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tribal Advisory Committee.
Ms. Majel-Dixon has traveled around the world representing the unique perspective of Indigenous peoples and raising cultural awareness about issues of Native sovereignty, tribal justice systems, racism, spirituality, healing, and education. Ms. Majel-Dixon soon will earn her joint doctoral degree in Education and U.S. Policy from San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University. She has a master’s degree in Behavioral Science (emphasis on community behavior) and a master’s degree in Psychology (specialty in Native school psychology). Ms. Majel-Dixon also has a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science (emphasis on substance abuse).
Ms. Majel-Dixon has taught Federal Indian Law and U.S. Policy for 26 years at Palomar College and is a visiting professor at San Diego State University, Claremont Graduate University, and Mesa College. In April 2006, Ms. Majel-Dixon became a faculty member of Clan Star, Inc. She also worked with the Alcohol and Substance Abuse director and counselor for the San Diego Indian Health Clinic and with the Women’s Resource Center, and she is a traditional Native healer.
One of Ms. Majel-Dixon’s greatest accomplishments is being an aunt, helping to raise seven boys (nephews between the ages of 19 and 29 years).
Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez was born in Tuba City, AZ, and raised in Shonto, AZ. He is the son of John H. Nez and Mabel H. Nez. His grandfather, H.T. Donald, was the former Navajo Nation Council Delegate for Shonto Chapter, and his grandmother was Mae Donald from Shonto. Mr. Nez was born into the Áshįįhí Clan (Salt People) and born for the Ta’neeszahnii Clan (Tangle Clan). His maternal grandfather’s clan is Tódích’íi’nii Clan (Bitter Water Clan) and his paternal grandfather’s clan is the Táchii’nii Clan (Red-Running-Into-The-Water Clan).
Mr. Nez began his political career after being elected as Shonto Chapter Vice President. He was later elected to serve three terms as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate, representing the chapters of Shonto, Oljato, Tsah Bi Kin, and Navajo Mountain. Mr. Nez was also elected as a Navajo County Board of Supervisor for District 1 and served two terms (he had to resign after he was elected Navajo Nation Vice President).
In 2015, the Navajo people elected President Begaye and Mr. Nez to be their leaders for the next 4 years. On May 12, they took the oath of office and began serving as the Navajo Nation President and Vice President. Mr. Nez believes strongly in education. He is currently a doctoral student in political science and has completed research on local empowerment and mobilizing communities of the Navajo Nation to reinstate their inherent local way of governance. His research focuses on reducing dependence on the central tribal government, upholding and enhancing the local inherent sovereignty of the chapter areas. Mr. Nez is an alumnus of Northland Pioneer College and Northern Arizona University (NAU). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from NAU.
Mr. Nez is an avid runner and advocate for healthy living. He enjoys training and competing in long-distance events, and has competed in multiple marathons. Mr. Nez participated in the 2015 Running for a Stronger and Healthier Navajo Nation, a 435-mile run circling the Navajo Nation. He ran more than 150 miles for the event. His current goal is to run a marathon in each of the 50 states.
Mr. Nez is married to Phefelia Herbert-Nez and they have two children, Christopher and Alexander.
My name Is Jacqueline (Jackie) Platero, I am from and live in To’Hajiilee Band of Navajos Community for the past fifty (50) years. I have been involved in my community’s political aspects as an advocate as well as a tribal leader from 3 terms served. I enjoy my leadership as an advocate for the Canoncito Band of Navajos Health Center, Inc. Board of Directors as a Chairperson and presently a Vice-Chairperson. I believe in the high quality of health care for the American Indians/Alaska Natives in all health disparities for birth to elderly.
The most valuable and important area of health care that I find important is to pamper your health with teachings, best practices, mental/psychological stability, spiritual beliefs and physical well-being. My passion to protect those individuals that are most vulnerable, susceptible and powerless to their surroundings and do not have the guidance or support from family.
In the years I was elected as a tribal leader (Vice-President) it was my determination to uphold advocacy to highest level for my Navajo Community of To’Hajiilee Navajo. To accomplish barriers for quality water, quality health care, quality education, improve roads, improve homesteads, engage in elderly care, engage in substance/alcohol abuse, advocate for expanding health facilities and improving economic growth. In the years of leadership, we were able to accomplish better water systems with quality water that will be coming from Albuquerque, NM. In the areas of health care as a health board advocate with the supports of CBNHC BOD we were funded to expand our health center. We are presently working on improving our Behavioral Health Program including traditional medicines and traditional ceremonies for cleansing as well as a traditional site. Many other developments are in the process of being constricted to provide more employment to the community of To’Hajiilee Navajo. We upscaled broadband service to 350+ houses so they can utilize virtual learning for schools they attend, tele-health to families and virtual health awareness with traditional story telling.
In my years of tribal leadership, health board member, Indian Education Parent Committee and mother of 10 (2 deceased) have accomplish many goals, certificates, awards and trainings. The certificates presented as a participant was suicide prevention, grant writing, outstanding parent engagement, emergency preparedness, strategic planning, substance/alcohol abuse prevention (8hrs) and others. I have been involved in many workshops on policies for improvements.
It is important to provide information to those that do not understand what health care services is provided to sustain and neutralize tribal communities with their health disparities. Providing accuracy on health care needs as a professional helps tribal communities improve and understand the need to make those changes or correction if needed. Moving forward in health care proper initiative of advocacy is a high demand especially in remote areas where advocacy is limited. It is important for the United States Government to understand those tribal communities that have health services due to lack of advocacy and lack of funding. The need to have each tribal communities have the utmost advocacy is a high demand and can make improvements that may minimize health disparities. Every tribal community needs quality health care in every component to ensure they are not restricted or limited due to funding. The need to fund these health disparities is very important to tribal communities and it is the responsibility of each advocate to sustain all funding to ensure exceptional quality health care.
I am currently serving on my 4th Term on the Makah Tribal Council. As a Makah Representative, I have always played an active role as a Delegate with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. My top priority has always been health care, and access to quality health care.
I have served on multiple committees and boards, including the 3rd Vice President of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. I have recently been appointed as an Alternate to the National Indian Health Board.
I had served in the USMC, being deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Being a Disabled Vet, Veteran issues are also a passion of mine.
My wife and I have raised 3 kids, and currently have 3 beautiful grandchildren.