Urgent Legislative Updates: Protecting Our Urban Native Community
Recent federal actions threaten the well-being of urban Native communities, impacting ...
Kumthut ventheev!
I am from the Kwatsán people, born for the Turtle Clan, and a citizen of the Fort Yuma Indian Tribe. With 17 years of experience across corporate, Tribal, and nonprofit sectors, my work has centered on organizational development, strategic communications, and Tribal law and policy. A key focus of my career has been identifying and addressing the barriers Urban Indian health organizations face.
As a legal professional, I maintained an Indian Health portfolio and was part of the campaign team that successfully advanced the first-ever advance appropriations bill for the Indian Health Service—securing more stable funding and holding the federal government accountable for its treaty and trust responsibilities. I have long advocated at the federal level for Indian Health, and for the past six years, I have worked alongside Tribes, Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), and Native organizations to implement programs utilizing the federal dollars we fought to secure.
While policy and advocacy have been central to my work, my passion has always been in directly serving the community. I am committed to supporting and uplifting our people and ensuring that the programs and policies we shape translate into meaningful, lasting impact.
