About Us

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Native Action Network (NAN) is a nonprofit organized to promote Native women’s full representation, participation, and leadership in local, state, tribal, and national affairs. NAN achieves this by hosting intergenerational leadership forums, youth academies, 10-month Legacy of Leadership cohorts, leadership luncheons, nonprofit capacity building workshops, as well as other community development and civic participation activities. All of NAN’s programming and resources are intended to empower Native women of all ages.

Spanning across generations, Native Action Network creates vital connections by honoring our community’s positive impacts and empowering the next generation to truly create the social and economic world they envision. We create empowering, nurturing, and safe spaces.

We recognize that gender is both fluid and expansive. Our goal is to create safe and brave spaces for all Native womxn, including those who identify as two-spirit, trans women, and genderqueer.

Mission

Native Action Network’s mission is to enhance the beauty, strength, and integrity of American Indian and Alaskan Native communities through personal empowerment and civic participation.

Our Vision

We are committed to building collective Native power through self-determination and action. At Native Action Network we:

  • Unite generations of Native women and celebrate their service tofamily and community.

  • Dedicate sacred space for sharing and preserving Indigenous knowledge,which includes native art.

  • Encourage community-centered economic growth and leadership.

  • Nurture future leaders by upholding community values rooted in culture andtradition.

  • Honor legacies of Native women’s leadership and contributions to land andcommunity.

  • Mobilize our communities and BIPOC relations to support necessary social change.

  • Transform the future we imagine and desire through strengthenedrelationships and fierce advocacy.

Our Values

  • We believe lasting change begins with community. Our work is guided by the voices, lived experiences, and leadership of Native people, families, and Nations. We lead with humility, listening first and acting in service to collective wellbeing.

  • Cultural Grounding & Identity:   Our values are rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, traditions, and teachings passed down through generations. We honor culture not as history, but as a living foundation that informs how we govern, advocate, and build the future.

  • Intergenerational Impact:  We invest in today’s leaders while preparing the next generation. Our programs and advocacy are designed with a long-term vision—ensuring that Native youth inherit stronger systems, healthier communities, and expanded opportunities.

  • Collaboration & Partnership:   We believe meaningful change requires collaboration. We work across sectors and communities, building partnerships rooted in mutual respect, shared purpose, and commitment to Native-led solutions.

  • Strength Based Approach:  We lead with a strength-based approach that centers Native resilience, culture and community expertise. Our work builds on the strength of Native people recognizing community knowledge as the foundation for lasting change.

History

Native Action Network was founded in 2001.

NAN’s greatest inspiration comes from the founding members of the American Indian Women's Service League who recognized early on the social issues Native people would face when the federal government passed the Indian Relocation Act in the early 1950s. Thousands of Native Americans across the U.S. were relocated to major cities and Seattle became a stopping point along the way. The American Indian Women's Service League welcomed Native newcomers to the area, and provided resources including food, clothing, and shelter, along with a wide range of health and human services.

Recognizing this vital legacy inspired NAN's founders to document the strength, endurance, and contributions of Native women through the first annual Native Women's Leadership Forum and Enduring Spirit Honoring Luncheon in 2002, and more programs soon followed. NAN received the Bernie Whitebear Unity Award in 2003 and the Flying Eagle Women Award for Community-based Philanthropy in 2011.

Community Advocacy

Our board members and staff are active advocates for Native communities. NAN advises and serves as a member organization in the Seattle Urban Native Nonprofits Collaborative, Ms. Foundation’s Girls of Color National Advisory Board, Communities of Concern Commission, Seattle Indian Services Commission, South King County Native Coalition, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Board, Partners in Change: Equity in Education Coalition, Washington Census Alliance, and as part of other groups across the state.

  • Claudia Kauffman (Nez Perce) was elected and served as the Washington State Senator from the 47th Legislative District in 2006 and was re-elected in 2022.

    Claudia’s dedication to the community is found in her long history of community involvement projects, nonprofit boards, and fierce advocacy and public service. She has been foster mother to ten foster children, and advocates for foster children, for children with developmental disabilities, and for the improvement of our education system.

    Claudia has received numerous awards including the Anne Foy Baker Award from the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Association, the Adeline Garcia Community Service Award from Seattle Indian Health Board, the Governor’s Award of Excellence for a Lifetime of Volunteering from Governor Gregoire, and the Ruby Award for Women Helping Women from the Soroptomist Int’l.

    Claudia resides in Kent, WA, with her husband Larry Cordier, and is mother to three children.

  • Larry Cordier is from the Sicangu Band of the Lakota Nation. He has resided in Washington state for more than 40 years. Larry was most recently the Tribal Organizer for the WA State Democrats and a Housing Stabilizer with the Chief Seattle Club. He worked as campaign manager for Claudia Kauffman in her successful bid for the State Senate. He was a volunteer on Jay Inslee’s campaign for U.S. congress. Larry participates in powwows as a traditional dancer and the lead singer of his drum group. He serves on the board of Native Action Network, and is the founding member of the Oyate Association a nonprofit organization. Larry earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from The Evergreen State College. Larry lives with his wife Claudia Kauffman in Kent, Washington.

  • Iris Friday, Tlingit, is the co-owner of Life’s Beautiful Journey Art Gallery and principal owner of House of Raven Consulting. focused on affordable housing, homeownership, event planning, and property management. Iris has served as a past chair of the Center for Women and Democracy, as a Seattle Tlingit and Haida Community Council delegate, and on the Kake Tribal Corporation Board of Directors. Currently, she serves as President of Native Action Network and as interim Executive Director of the Seattle Indian Services Commission.

    She is a past recipient of the Antone Minthorn Economic & Community Development Award, Excellence in Public Service Award, NWIHA HUD Employee of the Year, HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Volunteerism, Flying Eagle Woman Award for Community Based Philanthropy, Heritage Keepers, Bernie Whitebear Unity Award, and, is a past graduate of Leadership Kitsap. She’s participated in international delegations to Morocco, Rwanda, Panama and Peru.

    In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and international travel.

  • Mikayla is an enrolled member of the Puyallup Tribe and of Mexican descent. She is the granddaughter of Barbara Richards (Puyallup) and Lee Stafford (Seneca), Nancy Alfaro and Joe Flores, as well as Peggy McCloud (Puyallup). Mikayla attended the University of Washington-Tacoma, she studied Communications.

    Mikayla has been working with NAN since early 2022. Some of Mikayla’s previous work includes working at the Puyallup Tribal Court as a Court Clerk and a Communications Coordinator at the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Mikayla previously worked for Native Vote Washington, as the Digital Field Organizer for 2 years. She is a 2022-2023 Legacy of Leadership Cohort member. A majority of her childhood was spent playing sports, participating in Tribal Canoe Journeys and learning other traditions from her cultures on both sides of her family. She is the mother of 3 children.

  • Jami (Snuneymuxw First Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation) was born and raised in Washington, daughter of Melody Ishmael and granddaughter of Laura Barney and Stanley Bob. Jami has a BA from The Evergreen State College in Public Health with an Emphasis in Tribal Communities. Jami is currently working as an Unemployment Navigator at Native Action Network. In her spare time she can be found spending time with her 3 year old Henri Ray, cooking or somewhere outside.

  • Kariel Galbraith (Tlingit) is Dakl’aweidi from Keet Gooshi Hit in Klukwan, Alaska. She was born and raised in Sitka, Alaska but has called Seattle home for four years. Kariel recently graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies and English. During her time at the UW, she served on the Spring Powwow Committee for three years, was a founding member of the Shellhouse Canoe Family, and mentored first-year Native students through the Native UW Scholars program. She is passionate about writing as a form to tell Native stories by Native peoples and challenge negative stereotypes. As a storytelling enthusiast, Kariel is excited to join Native Action Network as their Program Assistant and support NAN’s mission of collecting the stories of inspiring Native women. She hopes these collected stories will uplift and inspire the next generation of leaders.

  • Britany is an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, she is a member of the Tlingit nation and descendant of the Tsimshian Nation and Tahltan Nation. She represents the Tlingit yéil (raven) moiety, Kaach.ádi (raven-frog) clan, and Shtax'héen Kwáan (Stikine River People). As an Indigenous islander who was born and raised in her ancestral home, Britany is passionate about protecting the environment and advocating for indigenous people. Britany earned her B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, so has called Washington home for over a decade.

    Britany is an active alumna and project coordinator for Native Action Network. She is also a part-time Tribal Court judge for the member Tribes of Northwest Inter-Tribal Court Systems and full-time staff attorney for Hanford Challenge, a Seattle-based non-profit that works to promote a safe and effective cleanup of Hanford Nuclear Site. When she's not working, Britany loves to spend time like most Native aunties with her family and friends making new memories, laughing, traveling, adventuring throughout nature, and eating delicious food.

  • Quincy McGee is a citizen of the Osage Nation in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and is currently a junior at the University of Washington pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science while double majoring in American Indian Studies. Passionate about civic engagement and Indigenous advocacy, Quincy is dedicated to empowering Native communities through education and political participation.

    As the Civic Engagement Intern at Native Action Network, Quincy is excited to support initiatives that encourage Native women to exercise their political rights, increase civic participation, and access resources that strengthen their voices in local, state, and national decision-making. They are eager to connect with leaders and advocates across Indian Country, build meaningful relationships within the field, and gain valuable experience in Indigenous civic engagement.

    Looking toward the future, Quincy plans to attend law school and hopes to use the knowledge and skills gained through this internship to advocate for Native communities, advance tribal sovereignty, and create lasting opportunities for future generations of Indigenous leaders.

  • Bear Alexander is a Seattle-based Native community leader, nonprofit professional, event organizer, and advocate whose work centers on strengthening Indigenous communities, developing Native leadership, and creating opportunities for Native people to connect, learn, and thrive.

    Bear has extensive experience in nonprofit operations, community engagement, event production, civic engagement, and program development. Through his work with Native Action Network, he has helped coordinate leadership programs, cultural events, Native art markets, community gatherings, and large-scale initiatives designed to elevate Native voices and create opportunities for Native artists, entrepreneurs, youth, and emerging leaders.

    His work reflects a strong commitment to building spaces where culture, leadership, economic opportunity, and community come together. Bear has helped develop and coordinate initiatives ranging from Native women's leadership programming and youth engagement to artist markets, professional networking events, cultural workshops, and major public celebrations.

    Bear also brings years of experience working within Native civic and tribal communities. His leadership is grounded in relationship-building and the belief that strong Native communities are created by bringing generations together, investing in emerging leaders, supporting Native-led organizations, and ensuring Indigenous people have meaningful opportunities to participate in the decisions affecting their communities.

    Based in the Seattle area, Bear continues to work across nonprofit, tribal, cultural, and community spaces to build partnerships and turn ideas into programs that create lasting opportunities for Native people.