Keynote Speaker

Michael Connolly Miskwish, M.A.

Michael is a citizen of the Campo Kumeyaay Nation.  He is an award winning historian, author, and lecturer.  He has curated exhibits on Kumeyaay culture and history for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Us in San Diego, California. 

In the early 1990s, Michael served on the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Committee and the Governmental Advisory Committee for the Environmental Side Agreements of N.A.F.T.A.  He twice served on the U.S.E.P.A. National Tribal Operations Committee and the Good Neighbor Environmental Board.  He was a steering committee member of the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center from 2001-2003 and chaired the Environmental Subcommittee for the National Congress of American Indians.

He has done extensive work in bringing traditional ecological knowledge into modern land management practices; this includes assisting in the development of the history and environmental curriculum for Kumeyaay Community College. He has researched and written on the coastal legacy and contemporary efforts to reestablish a presence.  

Michael is currently a doctoral student in Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego.  He holds a Master’s degree in both Economics and Anthropology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering.  He consults with tribal governments and governmental agencies on topics of economics, government and land-use policy, infrastructure, resource management, taxation and education.  He continues to write and lecture on Kumeyaay history and culture.

Michael served 17 years in elected office for the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. 

Laurie Gonzalez

Councilwomen, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians

Laurie E. Gonzalez is serving her fifth-term of office on the Rincon Tribal Council.  Among the many interests she brings to the government are expertise in entrepreneurship, as result of her career in business, and a passion for her culture and the living legacies of Luiseño Indians.

Experienced in corporate business dealings and social protocols, Gonzalez was employed for 16 years as administrative support to the CEO/COB of Occidental Petroleum, Dr. Armand Hammer, as well as former Post Master General Marvin Watson and Board members such as Vice President Al Gore, Sr.

“As a member of the Tribal Council, one of my goals is to find ways to bridge and use the opportunities the business revenues have created to advance our culture and recognition of our place and contributions to San Diego history. At the same time, from point of view of advancing economic development, I believe our culture and traditions have much of value to offer others in these modern times,” Gonzalez stated her concerns about preserving the tribal past, includes protecting archeological artifacts of the Luiseño people, has led to the creation of the Luiseño Cultural Resources Advisory Group (LCRAG) – a new voice in the cultural arena.

“The Rincon Council works hard and is involved in making very significant decisions, and I am honored to represent the Rincon members as we plan a sustainable future for our grandchildren.”

Victoria Tran

Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of International and Tribal Affairs   

Victoria Tran is the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator and currently serves as the Acting Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of International and Tribal Affairs.

Throughout Ms. Tran’s executive career in public service, she has successfully navigated and improved upon the nexus between federal, state, and Tribal governments, having worked extensively with all three.

Previously, Ms. Tran served as Deputy Secretary of Oklahoma’s Office of the Secretary of Energy & Environment under the Oklahoma Governor, Kevin Stitt. As Deputy Secretary, she advised the state in the development and implementation of energy and environmental policies, as well as oversaw 36+ state agencies, compacts, and commissions. Ms. Tran’s federal experience is further reinforced by her time at the EPA from 2018-2021, where she served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Special Advisor in the Office of Executive Secretariat.

Ms. Tran is a proud Oklahoman, having been born, raised, and educated in the state. She graduated with distinction from the University of Oklahoma with dual degrees in Political Science and International Area Studies and received her Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law.  

Syndi Smallwood

Environmental Director, Jamul Indian Village of California, NTAA Executive Committee Chairwoman

Syndi Smallwood is the Environmental Director for the Jamul Indian Village of California, located in Southern California. She has worked in the Tribal Education and Environmental field for Tribal Coalition’s, Tribal Programs, and as an Adjunct Professor since 1994. She received her B.A. in Anthropology at Humboldt State University in 1998 and her M.A.S. in Environmental Policy and Management with a minor in Natural Resource Management from the University of Denver in 2011. 

She is a Region 9 RTOC Representative for Southern California, Region 9 RTOC Representative for the National Tribal Air Association Executive Committee and a Board member for the Native American Environmental Protection Coalition. Past positions include Region 9 RTOC California Representative to the National Tribal Caucus, a member of the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Committee and an appointee to the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. In 2013, Syndi was honored to receive the Virgil Masayesva Excellence Award. 

Susie Attocknie

Environmental Specialist, Quapaw Nation, TAMS Steering Committee  Vice Chairwoman 

Susie Attocknie is an Environmental Specialist with the Quapaw Nation Environmental Office, serving since 2002. With over two decades of experience in tribal environmental protection, she currently specializes in water and air quality data management, environmental monitoring, and regulatory ambient air quality monitoring. Her work supports long-term sustainability and health across tribal lands through the collection, analysis, and reporting of environmental data. She collaborates closely with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, lead community education initiatives, and contributes to environmental restoration efforts. Deeply committed to safeguarding natural resources, she plays a vital role in advancing environmental stewardship within Indigenous communities.

Roman Orona

Roman Orona is Apache, Pueblo, and Yaqui. Roman has worked in the environmental field for over 16 years.  Roman is the Environmental Programs Manager for the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, AZ, and the US EPA Region 9 RTOC Tribal Chair. Before that, he served as the Environmental Engineer with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community-Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Department in Scottsdale AZ, and as the Deputy Director and Director of Operations of Earth Conservation Corps-Salmon Corps in Portland, Oregon. Roman has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Arts, Culture, and Technology.

Roman is a Native American performer (dancer, singer, flutist), producer, director and owner of iamHUMAN Media. iamHUMAN Media is a national non-profit that develops programs to address social discourse, create community and unite humanity through the arts. In 2016, Roman was awarded the Best Male Vocalist Award at the Native American Music Awards for his album “Circling Spirits.” Roman works to illustrate all individuals are related through the common thread of humanity. In being human, Roman says, “We all have a responsibility to each other, for each other, for the betterment of all humankind."

Roman Orona

A member of the Yaqui people of southern Arizona, Gabriel Ayala is at the forefront of a new generation of Native Americans making a career performing classical music. He earned a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Arizona in 1997, has taught at all educational levels from elementary through college, and serves as a competition adjudicator. Although Gabriel truly enjoys being a teacher his busy touring schedule allows him to only teach in masterclass settings. 

Ayala performs regularly throughout the United States and has appeared at the Poway Center for Performing Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Museum for the American Indian, and Oscar Meyer Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2010, Gabriel was honored to perform at the Musical Instrument Museum in a series called “Guitar Masters”. He has been recognized by the former State of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, now Director of Homeland Security, for his musical achievements. In addition, he has also been honored as the Artist of the Month for the Indigenous Internet Chamber of Commerce (IICOC). Not only is Gabriel recognized locally and in the United States but has had the opportunity to be the featured performer at the “Festival Internacional de la Guitarra Academica” in Venezuela with Performances in Caracas, Guarenas, Guatire and on National Public Television throughout Venezuela. 

Gabriel was selected as one of ten musicians featured in “Native Musicians in the Groove” highlighting stories of musicians in their struggles while persevering with a career in music. He also has been featured in several media publications such as “Native Peoples”, “Indian Country Today”, “SAY Magazine” (Canadian and United States Editions), “Spirit of the Southwest (German Publication)”, “Native America Calling”, “Canadian Broadcasting Corporation” and numerous others. 

Lisa Gover

Environmental Director, Gila River Indian Community 

Lisa (Pawnee/Comanche) is the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality at Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), and has formerly served as the administrator for various tribal environmental programs including General Assistance Program (GAP), Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and Climate Change Programs. 

Lisa has served as a delegate to the Region 9 Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC), the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), and the EPA E-Enterprise Leadership Council (EELC). She also served as a Policy Analyst for EPA Region 9 RTOC, where she analyzed EPA policies and prepared position statements on EPA programs and initiatives that impact Tribes, including environmental data related topics. 

Miles Keogh

Executive Director, National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA)

Miles Keogh is the Executive Director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA). NACAA is the national, non-partisan, non-profit association of 155 state and local air pollution control agencies in the United States. NACAA provides technical resources, training, expertise, support and community to agencies advancing clean air and protecting public health from air pollution. 

Miles leads the association’s work with Capitol Hill, the media, and with industry and advocates, and oversees our legal team’s activity. He also provides NACAA’s policy expertise on criteria pollutants, mobile sources, enforcement, and climate change. Before joining NACAA, Miles started and directed the Research Lab at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), where he advised State Utility Commissions on regulatory design and on energy, environmental, and economic issues, and was a pioneering leader in grid cybersecurity issues for over a decade.

Josh F. W. Cook

EPA Region 9 Administrator 

Josh F.W. Cook began his tenure as Regional Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest on March 17, 2025. Before joining the EPA, Josh was an Advisor to the Tribal Council of the Mooretown Rancheria of Concow Maidu Indians, where he designed a decades-long large-scale forest resiliency initiative through government-to-government agreements with Tribes, National Parks, and multiple U.S. Forests in California and Nevada. Previously, Cook served as Chief of Staff to the Minority Caucus in the California Legislature. His previous environmental service includes appointments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Interior Resource Advisory Councils and tenure as a City Planning Commissioner.

Cook is a Veteran of the California State Guard and an Associate Professor and lecturer at the University of Southern California. He earned an Associate's Degree in Languages from Butte College, a Bachelor’s of Science from Charter Oak State College and a Master’s of Science from Cal State University East Bay. Josh and his wife Robin have been married 32 years and are the parents of five children. They reside in Chico, CA, where they actively engage in their church and community.

Christopher Lee, MC

Program Manager, Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center

Chris Lee serves as Manager of the TAMS Center in Las Vegas alongside EPA-TAMS Co-Director, Hayden Hardie.  Chris, a member of the Dine Nation.

Chris graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1999 in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Applied Geology. During his time at NAU he first experienced tribal environmental program work as an ITEP intern. During his internship, he was placed with the Pueblo of San Juan to assist them in their 103 air-program development; he also performed monitoring work with the All-Indian Pueblo Council. Over the years in his work with both the Navajo Nation and the Southern Ute tribe, Chris has been involved in PM and gaseous monitoring, Title V work, air-code development, grant-funding activities, and a host of other air-program efforts. 

Rincon Bird Singers

Evening Entertainment

TBA

Virgil Masaysesva Awardee

Ak-Chin Indian Community

The Ak-Chin Indian Community Air Quality Program consists of Ralph “Manny” Gomez, Air Quality Specialist, and Roman Orona, Environmental Programs Manager. The Tribe currently conducts an Emissions Inventory, an Air Flag Program, Outreach, PM2.5 Air Monitoring, PM10 Air Monitoring, Seasonal Ozone Monitoring, Radon Testing, and preparing for TAS Submittal to US EPA. Despite the multiple projects, the staff are serving on national and regional programs representing Tribal concerns. Manny is an EPA Region 9 Tribal Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) Representative and an Alternate Steering Committee member on the TAMS Steering Committee.  Roman Orona is the current Co-Chair of the EPA Region 9 RTOC.

Keynote Speaker: Will Madrigal, Jr.

Tribal Capacity and Partnerships Program Manager

As the Tribal Capacities and Partnerships Program Manager, Will works closely with Southern California Tribal Nations to build relationships between Tribal representatives, scientists, managers, and community partners to support advancement of Tribally-visioned, led, and implemented climate resilience projects within the Climate Science Alliance’s portfolio. 

Will is a California Indian Professor of American Indian Studies/History/Language, and an enrolled member of the Cahuilla Band of Indians located here in Riverside County. He grew up on the reservation learning and practicing his traditional ways. He is a Native Educator, Language Teacher, and Cultural Resource Manager, having worked for numerous tribal governments in Riverside/ San Bernardino counties as a professional for many years. As an undergrad at UCR, he was fortunate to collaborate with his professors on a joint project, Keeping the Songs Alive: California Indian Historical Perspectives (2010). This project actively sought to provide the forgotten voices and perspectives of the California native peoples regarding California indigenous: epistemologies, conversations on race, notions about the colonization of traditional native gender roles, ethno-musicology, local historiography and origin narratives, and the root of indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Will’s doctorate work includes de-constructing native studies through an interdisciplinary, indigenous lens. Archival study of his Cahuilla ancestry and interactions with early colonizers in Riverside County, with regards to impacts on the economic and socio-political identity of the region. Emphasis is also given to epistemic and ontological knowledge transfer. 

Since 2008, Will has conducted the Learning Landscapes intertribal programs for the non-profit Native American Land Conservancy LLC. The program sought to educate native youth and families by hosting a camping module located in the remote Old Woman Mtn. Preserve near Desert Center, CA. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) learning was the key curriculum for the program, where local elders taught the group traditional: plant use, stories and animals, songs and dances.