Volunteer leaders honoring tradition and uplifting the next generation.
The Native American Rising Generations Foundation is an all-volunteer-run organization where leadership is not defined by titles, but by responsibility. It is a responsibility to carry stories, hold space, and uplift the next generation with care, intention, and cultural integrity.
Canya Barnes
Chairperson
Program Director
Canya is a proud Native Hawaiian and a dedicated advocate for Indigenous communities across Washington State. For over two decades, she has supported cultural preservation and youth empowerment through leadership roles with the Ke Kukui Foundation and Native American Rising Generations, where she helped grow programs, coordinate cultural gatherings, and secure vital support for community needs.
She works professionally as a Project Handler at UL Solutions. Outside of work, she dances hula, she is a hula dancer, grounding herself in ancestral practices and carrying forward the values of aloha, intention, and service to Indigenous community.
Melanie Dominguez
Vice Chairperson
Community Engagement Director
Melanie is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Hooper Bay and has been an active member with the local Native American community for over 20 years. She is a dedicated advocate for environmental justice, youth empowerment, and community engagement. Melanie has expanded access to cultural and environmental programs, including securing community garden plots for native families to plant and harvest together. Her Pacific Northwest roots fostered a love for hiking and the outdoors, which she carries alongside a lifelong dedication to uplifting Indigenous communities and preserving culture, tradition, and connection for future generations.
Nanette Robinson
Board Member
Cultural Program Coordinator
Nanette, a proud member of the Yakama Nation, serves as our Class Culture Coordinator and teacher. She works with children and adults of all ages, sharing history, stories, and hands-on cultural projects. Her teachings include a wide range of traditional arts and crafts—from diverse weaving and beading styles to sewing techniques rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
Nanette also guides students through an exploration of tribal regions, traditional clothing, homes, foods, games, and the uses of plants—both medicinal and material. Her work fosters cultural understanding, creativity, and connection across generations.
Debbie Achong
Treasurer
Debbie brings over 35 years of accounting experience and 15 years of experience working with Native Hawaiian nonprofits. She previously served as treasurer for the Ke Kukui Foundation and her children’s elementary school PTA in Hawaiʻi. Of English, Spanish, and Passamaquoddy Native American ancestry, Debbie grew up on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Now retired, she continues to embrace her cultural heritage and lifelong passion for hula, which she has enjoyed dancing since childhood.
Secretary
Indigenous Youth Leadership Program Director
Meghan descends from Celtic and Scandinavian ancestors. With over two decades of experience in education, she plays a key role in strengthening partnerships between our program, local schools, and educators. As a teacher leader and dedicated ally, Meghan supports peer educators and advocates for culturally accurate teaching practices that honor and reflect diverse Native perspectives and experiences.
Meghan has served as a board member for the past three years. With a background in technology, she is our acting Google Admin, supports field trip organization and vendor coordination.
She shares: "I originally sought out the program for my own learning, to be a better advocate in the classroom. But, this group quickly became a cornerstone for me and my family. The work of the foundation aligns with my core values of loyalty and legacy. I am so incredibly grateful for the experiences and friendships that this group has brought my granddaughters and I".
Lauren Bovee
Board Member
Volunteer Coordinator
Lauren is a descendant of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people of New Brunswick, Canada, through her late grandfather, an enrolled member of the Wolastoqiyik tribe, with additional family ties to Wolastoqiyik and Passamaquoddy communities in the United States. On her father’s side, she also honors her Irish and Czech heritage, embracing the diversity of her family’s story. Inspired by her late mother’s journey of reconnecting with her Native roots, Lauren is passionate about ethnobotany, food sovereignty, and the preservation of cultural ecosystems. As a board member of the Native American Rising Generations Foundation, she is dedicated to revitalizing traditional ecological knowledge, strengthening community-led food systems, and fostering intergenerational connections that honor ancestral wisdom while empowering future generations.
Jacquelyn Menor
Board Member
Social Media Marketing Director
Jacquelyn Menor is a proud member of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and serves as a Native healer, author, and public speaker. Her work is rooted in Indigenous healing practices, cultural resilience, and community-centered approaches that support long-term wellness and empowerment.
Jacquelyn was a recipient of a grant from Running Strong for American Indian Youth, which supported initiatives focused on strengthening Native sovereignty, leadership, and cultural connection among Indigenous youth in the Portland metropolitan area.
As a board member of the Native American Rising Generations Foundation, Jacquelyn brings a strong commitment to intergenerational healing, youth advocacy, and advancing culturally grounded support for Native communities.
Mike Johnson
Board Member
Technology Coordinator
Mike is proud of his Indigenous Mexica (Aztec) heritage and roots. That pride wasn’t always easy to embrace while growing up as a minority in a small town. Today, he continues to write his own story, reclaim his voice, and take his power back.
Mike is passionate about being part of this organization because he believes every person, young and old, deserves to feel they belong.
Life comes with many challenges, and everyone needs a safe and supportive space where they can learn, grow, share and discover who they are. He believes NARGF helps provide and protect that space.
Preserving and celebrating culture is deeply important to Mike. He is proud to be a member of a foundation that brings together youth and elders to strengthen community and keep Indigenous knowledge, beliefs and culture alive for future generations.
Starr Slagiel
Board Member
Member at Large
Starr is a proud daughter of the Pascua Yaqui and Kewa Pueblo peoples. She carries a deep and enduring love for her community, guided by respect for the land, animals, and the teachings passed down through generations.
She leads yoga classes for elders twice a week, sharing breath, movement, and teachings as pathways to healing and balance. Her creativity and commitment are also expressed through beadwork, gardening, and leads in community book circles. Prioritizing indigenous authors.
She finds joy in, cultural gatherings, and community spaces that strengthen Indigenous identity and resilience.
Starr remains mindful of those around her, offering guidance, support, and encouragement whenever it is needed. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to healing, connection, and the empowerment of Native American people.
Rochelle Nielsen
Board Member
Cultural Program Coordinator
Rochelle is a member of the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation. She was very involved in the Native American community having spent the last ten years as Coordinator of the Native American Education Program in Vancouver, WA. She currently is an Adjunct Professor of Art and Native Studies at Portland Community College, and an affiliated faculty with the Indigenous Nations Studies Program at Portland State University having taught a course on Indigenous Critique of Native American Art. Rochelle served as the coordinator of the Northwest Indian Story Teller Program with the Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. Rochelle maintains an active studio practice, with over 30 solo, competitive group and invitational exhibitions and portfolio exchanges dealing with Indigenous inappropriate appropriations and Indigenous history.
Breanna Potter-Utley
Board Member
Youth Outreach Coordinator
Breanna is Kituwah, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Having lived on her Tribe’s reservation, she has deep roots in her tribal community, culture, and language.
With 15 years of experience in education and social services, Breanna’s background includes Indian child welfare, Indigenous social services, nonprofit leadership, and federal Indian law. She holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law and is an accomplished grant writer, social worker, educator, and advocate. Above all, her favorite titles are Mama and Auntie.
As a member of a family of Indigenous educators, Breanna believes education can either perpetuate erasure or empower Indigenous communities. She is committed to advancing equity, removing barriers, and creating opportunities for Native youth while honoring the legacy of her ancestors.
She currently serves as the Family and Community Outreach Coordinator (FCRC) for Evergreen Public Schools and is an active member of the Mt. Hood Cherokees, the district’s Equity Team, and the local Indigenous community.
Vicki Abousmra
Board Member
Elder Program Coordinator
Sebastian Whitebear
Board Member
Maya Puch
Youth Board Member
Maya is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Hooper Bay and is also half Mayan. She has been connected to and involved in the Native community since birth, consistently showing up to support and uplift community spaces when needed. Maya currently serves as a youth board member and is a sophomore in high school. While her future plans are still unfolding, she has a strong interest in environmental justice and stewardship. In her free time, she enjoys playing acoustic and electric guitar, as well as drumming.