NWI Leadership

Native Wellness Leadership

By bringing together many of the most dedicated and knowledgeable minds in Indian Country, the Native Wellness Institute continues to bring about positive changes in the physical, spiritual, emotional and mental well-being of our Native Community. What began as a grassroots organization has evolved into a sophisticated, rich resource for Native communities and families.

Staff

Jillene Joseph (Gros Ventre)
Executive Director
Jillene is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre or Aaniiih people from Fort Belknap, Montana. She lives in Oregon with her life partner and children. She is the Executive Director of the Native Wellness Institute and helped to found the national non-profit organization in 2000. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Education and has served Indian Country for 30 years providing training and technical assistance in a variety of areas. Jillene has traveled to hundreds of Native communities and interacted with and learned from thousands of people. Whether she is providing youth leadership training, assisting women heal from childhood trauma or helping to bring wellness to the workplace, Jillene shares her passion for being positive, productive and proactive. She enjoys beading, reading, pow wowing and spending time with family and friends.

Contact Jillene

Shannon Kissinger (Colville)
Project Director
Shannon studied at Olympic Community College with a focus in integrated multimedia and computers. She has been with NWI for over ten years. Shannon coordinates all of NWI's events from conference planning, to onsite registration and support. In addition she maintains and creates graphics and media support for the Native Wellness Institute, including web sites, internet projects, print, social media, email marketing and other projects.

Contact Shannon

Board of Directors

Charlie Tailfeathers Sr. (Cree /Blackfeet)
NWI Board of Directors. With 20 years for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs where he assisted in creating a family wellness court system. He also served as a Victim of Crime Advocate, Elders Advocate & Juvenile Advocate. He has provided training & technical assistance to tribal court systems. He has provided Native wellness and healing training in Indian country for over 35 years.

Theda New Breast, M.P.H. (Montana Blackfeet)
Theda is a founding board member and master trainer/facilitator for the Native Wellness Institute (NWI). She is one of the pioneers in the Native training field and an original committee member for the Men’s and Women’s Wellness gatherings. Theda has been a leading authority on Indigenous Cultural Resilience Internationally and has worked with over 500 Tribes in 34 years on Proactive Healing from Historical Trauma, Post Traumatic Growth, Mental Health Healing, and Sobriety/Recovery/Adult Child of Alcoholic (ACOA). She is the co-founder and co-writer of the GONA (Gathering of Native Americans) curriculum, one of the Ten Effective Practices and Models in Communities of Color. Theda has facilitated over 600 GONA’s. She lives on the Blackfeet Reservation in Northern Montana and is a Khan-nat-tso-miitah (Crazy Dog) Society member, herbalist, Sun dancer, Pipe Carrier, and lives as Niitsitapi, like all her Ancestors for thousands of years. In 2013, The Red Nations Film Festival Honored Theda with a Humanitarian Award for her lifetime of healing work with tribes and with a Red Nations statuette for her documentary short called, “Why The Women in My Family Don’t Drink Whiskey.” The Blackfeet Tribal Council has recognized her Leadership skills and appointed her unanimously to The Board of Trustees for Blackfeet Community College for years 2014-2017.

Robert Johnston (Muskogee Creek/Choctaw)

“When you hold back, you stand behind the mountain. When you step up, you stand on top of it!”

Robert is a founding member of the Native Wellness Institute and a popular Native American speaker and coach who has served Indian Country for over 15 years. He uses humor, storytelling, and music in his highly interactive presentations. As a leadership trainer for youth, Robert has served many organizations including White Bison, United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY), National Congress of American Indian (NCAI), and the Native Wellness Institute. He is a certified hypnotist and has studied Sports Motivation. Robert’s hypnosis shows have delighted Native communities all over the United States and Canada.

Gene Tagaban (Tlingit, Cherokee, Filipino)
www.storytellingraven.com

Gene, “One Crazy Raven” is an influential storyteller, speaker, mentor, performer and counselor of the spirit. Gene is of the Takdeintaan clan, the Raven, Freshwater Sockeye clan from Hoonah, AK. He is the Child of the Wooshkeetaan, the Eagle, Shark clan from Juneau, AK. He is of the wolf clan from his Cherokee heritage and his last name Tagaban comes from his Filipino heritage. Gene is a teller of stories that teach, entertain and heal. He has been a featured teller at storytelling festivals nationally and internationally sharing traditional Native stories as well as stories from his personal experience, family and historical events. Gene was honored to perform with the Dalai Lama at the “Seeds of Compassion” gathering in Seattle, WA. and the Nature Conservancy's 50th anniversary with Jane Goodall. Gene is a board member of the Native Wellness Institute and Seattle's Native youth theater company "Red Eagle Soaring." He is a trainer of COMPASS, a men's mentorship program with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Gene works with the Nisqually tribe as a Adult Case Care Worker and in Community Outreach. He is also a specialty instructor and honorary uncle with the Wilderness Awareness School. Gene's passion is teaching and working with the people performing, presenting, and facilitating workshops on prevention, empowerment, leadership, relationship, communication, self-awareness, spirit, honor and healing.

Cecelia Fire Thunder (Oglala Sioux)
Cecelia left the reservation when she was 15 years old but returned home in 1987. South Dakota-born, she was given the Lakota name of Good Hearted Woman. She is a licensed nurse, widely known as an advocate for wellness and women’s issues, and for her unique way of reaching the hearts of communities and people. Cecelia has co-written several healing and wellness curricula including the Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) for CSAP. She has presented at over 50 national conferences in the US and Canada. Cecelia is presently the Board President for KILI Radio and hosts the community healing programs. She is a Board member for the Native Wellness Institute and is instrumental in bringing wellness gatherings to Indian Country. Her skills include superior translation of English to Lakota, and she is recognized internationally for her traditional doll making. Cecelia’s humor, tears, hugs, hope, encouragement, and care have helped others begin their journey to wellness and balance.

Anthony "Thosh" Collins (Onk-Akemiel-Authum/Wazazi)
Thosh is a photographer and wellness trainer from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona. He works extensively as a freelance photographer in the Native community and throughout the United States and Canada.Thosh started doing photography at the age of 15 at The New School for the Arts High School of Scottsdale, Arizona, and later attended the San Francisco Art Institute on a full-ride scholarship. Thosh uses photography as a tool to document contemporary Native peoples and their many talents and the realities of Native people as they strive to help preserve their identities in today’s world.

Jackie Blackbird (Gros Ventre)
Jackie is a member of the Gros-Ventre and Assiniboine tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation of Montana. Her traditional name is ‘Itha-Gibi-That.’ Translated from the Gros-Ventre language to English means ‘Walking Woman.’ Jackie attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Carlson School of Management, earning a BSB in Business. She received two leadership awards from the University President’s office and the Business Association of Minorities.

LoVina Louie (Coeur d'Alene, Colville, Nez Perce)
LoVina is currently attending the University of Idaho for her Bachelors in Community Wellness with an emphasis in Tribal Wellness, She is a national trainer and facilitator in youth leadership development, strategic planning and community planning. She is Healthy Native Communities Fellowship Certified and PAK Physical Activity Kit Certified. Lovina has worked with youth and families in wellness for over twenty years. She developed the revolutionary exercise series “Powwow Sweat” and Co-directed the American Indian Film Festival and Red Nation Film Festival award winning music video “We Shall Remain”.