Hizakisana, hinikaragiwina. Greetings everyone! My name is William "Willy" Bass and I am a member of the Bear Clan of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and I have four college degrees. I am a teacher at heart so it is an honor to be a speaker at the 2021 NNYG because it is my opportunity to inspire our Native youth to be the best versions of themselves now and in their future endeavors.

wbass@hochunkinc.com

I am Ofc Ruteena Alcantara, patrol officer with the Omaha Police Department. I was born and raised in Omaha and I am a member of the Omaha tribe. I am excited to speak to our Native students because Law Enforcement is a great career, you can improve and make a difference in your community and Natives need to be represented among First Responders.

ruteena.alcantara@cityofomaha.org

My name is Aaron LaPointe and I am an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. I was born and raised in Winnebago and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016. I currently oversee Ho-Chunk Farms and Winnebago Ag. and Industry, which are two subsidiary companies of Ho-Chunk Inc. I am excited to present my career path and why I decided to go into the agriculture field.

alapointe@hochunkinc.com

Halito, my name is Asia (pronouns: she/her/hers) and I'm a Sexual Health Communications Specialist at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB). I am excited to share my experience about pursuing Public Health, the twisty road I unapologetically took to get here, and being in humble presence of our amazing Youth. I am an enrolled tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

ambrown@npaihb.org

I am a member of the Navajo Nation working for the Title VI program in Omaha Nebraska. I coordinate the Indian Education program for Omaha Public schools. I earned my Master of Public Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I am excited to speak with our youth on the importance of knowing who they are. Honoring ourselves and our ancestry is the pathway to living a balanced and healthy life.

elefthand@gmail.com

Nikki Ducheneaux is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and a first-generation descendant of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She is a founder and partner at Big Fire Law and Policy Group, a 100% Native owned, majority Native woman owned law firm that focuses exclusively on federal Indian law. Ms. Ducheneaux practices primarily in the area of litigation. She represents tribes across the country in state, federal, and tribal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ms. Ducheneaux has been lead litigation counsel for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in a number of important litigations including the ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline litigation, which resulted in significant victories on summary judgment in June 2017 and April 2020. She also represents the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in the Tribe’s suit challenging the government’s abuse of federal authority to force the Tribe to dismantle checkpoints that have been set up to screen people for COVID-19. Among many other litigations for numerous tribes, Ms. Ducheneaux was also honored to be on the team that represented the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe) in their 2017 victory in the U.S. Supreme Court in Patchak v. Zinke, 138 S. Ct. 897 (2017).

I am a married, father of 6, enrolled Omaha tribal member, looking to inspire the next generation of Native youth. I went back to school at 35 years old, and I really want to give back to the youth. I love to encourage, educate, and hopefully motivate the Future of our people.

marcel.blackbird@ihs.gov

The Umóⁿhoⁿ Language & Cultural Center Relatives have a team hands on approach to teaching about our Four Hills of Life.

vstabler@unpsk-12.org

Thomas Lee Ghost Dog Jr., BS, (Burns Paiute, Oglala Lakota), Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Thomas is the Project Coordinator for We R Native at the NPAIHB, in Portland, Oregon. He manages We R Native’s monthly contests, community service mini-grants, and gear requests for the website: www.WeRNative.org, as well as, shepherds 130 We R Native Youth Ambassadors. Tommy blends NPAIHB’s resources with his own life experiences growing up on the Burns Paiute reservation.

tghostdog@npaihb.org

Michelle LaMere is a Project Development Specialist with the HoChunk Renaissance Language & Culture Program. She is from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and from the Wolf Clan. Her name is Nieja Habax wi, Comes From the Water. She is excited to share the ways our ancestors used plants and lived in relationship with the land.

michelle.lamere@winnebagotribe.com

Elksoldier is a drumgroup out of South Dakota. They were founded in 2004 by the Lead singer Hehaka Akichita Elk Soldier aka Gary Drapeau. They were inducted in the music hall of fame in 2009. We will keep sharing our music and sharing teachings for many moons to follow.

elksoldier333@gmail.com

Enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota and Chicana. I run the SOMS Youth & Family Program at Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition in Omaha, NE focusing on culturally appropriate youth substance abuse and suicide prevention. I love the time I get to spend with young people because we get to learn, grow and motivate each other together.

nicole@nuihc.com