WHITESWAN ENVIRONMENTAL
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Board Members
WE - ONE MIND FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE WORK


Our board members advocate for the true sovereignty and ways of life of the
​Saltwater Salmon People of the Salish Sea.
WE - PRESIDENT
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Nancy C. Tsawayugah Maryboy, PhD is the WE Interim President.  She is Navajo and Cherokee, and she lives in the San Juan Islands.  Nancy is the Founder of the Indigenous Education Institute and she is a Affiliate Professor in the School of Environmental and Forestry Sciences.   Nancy has been Principal Investigator for groundbreaking National Science Foundation projects such as “Cosmic Serpent: Bridging Native Ways of Knowing with Western Science."  The work of Dr. Maryboy and her colleagues has opened a portal for collaborative science programming with traditional indigenous wisdom, which is invaluable for addressing environmental concerns of the present and future. Her pioneering work will leave a legacy for generations.

Nancy invited Whiteswan Environmental to present at her Indigenous Worldviews for Informal Science Conferences held in New Mexico and Washington DC  at the National Museum of Natural History.  WE are forever grateful to Nancy for her amazing mentorship and willingness to be on our board.
WE - CO VICE PRESIDENT
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Paul Cheokten Wagner and his mother Sasayatha are Traditional Local Knowledge keepers who have been working with our youth and community members  since 2015.  Cheokten and Sasayatha are WSANEC Nation members who have generously shared a wealth of historical knowledge, cultural teachings, stories, songs, traditional healing remedies, and way of life in the archipelago of the Salish Sea as they remember lifeways before there was a International border.  Cheokten also teaches our youth flute and drum making.  Cheokten is the Founder of Protectors of the Salish Sea.
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WE - CO VICE PRESIDENT
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​Bonnie Duran, PhD (mixed race Opelousas/Coushatta descendent) is a Professor in the Schools of Social Work and Public Health at the University of Washington, in Seattle and is on the leadership team at the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (http://health.iwri.org ). She received her PhD from UC Berkeley School of Public Health in 1997. Bonnie teaches graduate courses in Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR), and Mindfulness. She has worked in public health research, evaluation and education among Tribes, Native Organizations and other communities of color for over 35 years.
WE - SECRETARY
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Rachel E. Wilbur, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Research Professor with IREACH in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. She is descendant Tolowa and Chetco and grew up in northern California and western Washington state. Her research focus is on the role of cultural engagement and revitalization in promoting wellbeing for American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and she is a particularly invested in community- and strengths-based research. She received both her MPH in health behavior and her PhD in biological anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before continuing her training as a postdoctoral fellow in Indigenous Community Wellbeing at Harvard Medical School, where she was also a scholar with the Harvard University Native American Program.
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WE - TREASURER
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Rayanne Morris is a member of the Lummi Nation. She has worked at the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) since the opening of the Portland (Oregon) Regional office in May 1999. In addition to (25)+ years of Indian Gaming experience, Ms. Morris has dedicated most her life working in Indian Country. She enjoyed serving as a Police Officer, providing community policing on her reservation. In alignment with her passion for Indigenous rights, Ms. Morris’ formal education embodies the importance and respect of tribal culture, traditions, history and Indigenous governance.

She was the first graduate of the Bachelor of Arts Native Studies Leadership degree at the Northwest Indian College. She went on to obtain a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law. Growing up, she witnessed her parents be active leaders of the Lummi Community, both having served on the Lummi Tribal Council. As an adult, she is in indebted and respects the magnitude of their efforts, the impact they and other traditional leaders have had in protecting Lummi culture and tribal sovereignty. Her teachings, formal education, and work experience motivates her to participate and contribute to her Tribe. Ms. Morris served as the Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Lummi Law & Justice Commission from June 2014 – August 2016. She is currently serving as the Vice-Chairman of the Lummi Commercial Company Board of Directors (May 2018 – current), Secretary of the Children of the Setting Sun Production Board of Directors, and a member of the Northwest Indian College Board of Trustees.
WE - BOARD MEMBER
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Shelly Black (Tsawout) is a Traditional Local Knowledge keeper as well as a primary school teacher on Vancouver Island, BC. 
WE - BOARD MEMBER
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Cheryl Bryce (Songhees) is a Traditional Local Knowledge keeper who educates and practices sustainable self-determination and Indigenous approaches to cultural restoration and revitalization.
Here’s how you can support our mission and vision today:   

  • Tap on the donate symbol to the right and give a gift through PayPal or credit card.
  • Give a gift with a check at 2348 Lummi View Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226.
  • A tax deductible letter is available upon requests for all contributions.  
  • CONTACT US to learn more and share our website with at least five people you know.​​
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  • Home
    • Principles & Values >
      • Community Engagement Methodologies
  • Sacred Trust Responsibilities
    • National Parks Service
    • National Monument
    • Land Banks
    • National Museum of the American Indian
  • Cultural Heritage
    • Spirit of the Sxwo'le (SOS) Coalition >
      • SOS Stewardship Corps
      • Indigenous Public Health
      • Digital Ecocultural Mapping
      • 13 Moons Food Sovereignty
      • Field-to-Classroom Programs & Curriculum >
        • Whatcom Intergerational High School
      • Longhouse Restoration
      • Call to Action >
        • What is Truth and Reconciliation?
        • Indigenous Truth Washington
        • Resources
  • Videos & More
    • Videos
    • Articles
    • Photos
    • Acknowledgement & Awards
    • Summer Newsletter 2021
    • Spring Newsletter 2021
    • Winter Newsletter 2021/2022
  • ABOUT US
    • Elder Advisory Council
    • Board Members
    • Staff & Interns
    • Co-Founders
  • Events & Action
    • Register for Events
    • Call to Action
  • Donate Here