2009 Leadership Honoring Awards

Awards are given in five areas of leadership:

Economic Development

The Antone Minthorn Economic Development Award

Bill Tovey, whose leadership of the Umatilla Tribes Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has fundamentally changed the economy and landscape of the Pendleton region. The DECD drove the development of the Wildhorse Resort, the purchase of the Arrowhead Tuck Plaza and the development of 520 acre Coyote Business Park. Of particular note Mr. Tovey was able to attract two Fortune 500 companies as lead tenants of the Business Park which in turn led to the partnered development of Cayuse Technologies which has brought 170 jobs to the region. Mr. Tovey has also been involved in developing and redeveloping numerous other Tribal businesses which has enabled, these businesses to complement the returns from the Wildhorse resort and have meant a more stable and secure future for the Umatilla Tribe.

Civic Participation

The Pearl Capoeman-Baller Civic Participation Award

Native Vote Washington was created by a group of grassroots tribal people in 2006 who realized the need for an organization to get out the Native Vote on an annual basis. It is important for tribal people to vote in every election, not only their tribal elections but federal, state and local elections as well. Native Vote Washington is non-partisan, non-profit organization that supports and encourages Native American men and women to run for elected office and participate in the political process in any way they can. In 2009 Native Vote Washington ran a highly successful statewide Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) campaign. Native Vote Washington’s membership is open to all Native and non-Natives who share the common goal of increasing the Native Vote, educating the public on Native issues, and encouraging Native candidates to run for office.

Natural Resource Protection

The Billy Frank Jr. Natural Resource Protection Award

Roy Sampsel (Choctaw and Wyandotte) serves as the Executive Director of the Tribal Leadership Forum and has a long history of working in the natural resources environment of the Pacific Northwest over the past thirty-five years. From 1971 through 1976 he served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior. He also served as Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. He has served as a consultant to tribal governments and federal and state agencies in the development and implementation of their fish and wildlife programs and projects over the past twenty-five years. Mr. Sampsel has served as Chairman of the Board for the Institute for Tribal Government at the Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University and currently serves as an adjunct faculty at Portland State University and at Lewis and Clark College in the Graduate School for Education and Counseling. He serves as Chairman of the External Advisory Board for the National Science Foundation-funded Center for Coastal Margin Observations and Predictions.

Education

The Patricia Whitefoot Education Award

Michael Pavel, Ph.D an associate Professor (Leadership & Counseling) at Washington State University. Mr. Pavel is an enrolled member of the Skokomish Tribal Nation. He is a tradition bearer, a scholar, an artist, a researcher, a conservationist and a community leader. Mr. Pavel was nominated for this award for his work on the 2008 Native American Achievement Gap Study and for the successful implementation of the Listening Sessions that were part of the study in Washington’s Tribal and Urban Indian Communities.

Cultural Preservation

The Fran James Cultural Preservation Award

Cheryle Kennedy the Chairperson of the Grand Ronde Tribe. Ms Kennedy has been a leader and health administrator in Grand Ronde. Her Tribe was terminated in 1954 and Ms Kennedy and her family were leaders in the effort for federal restoration and recognition. Ms Kennedy’s work has not only affected the Grand Ronde Tribe but she’s strived for inclusiveness of Indian issues in federal and state policy. Her work at the NW Portland Area Indian Health Board, for example, focused on building health policy and delivery systems that have the opportunity to affect every Indian and Tribe across the country. Within Grand Ronde she has also led efforts to preserve language, canoe traditions, gathering rights, together with Grand Ronde songs and dances.

past awards