Inash wanisha shiaputumki Nicole Charley. Inmi tananma paw-ii-wanicht-sha Taixpam ku Wascopam. My name is Nicole Charley. I am a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. I am of the Taix people and the Wasco Dog River Band.
As a traditional food gatherer for my community, Tribal food systems work is very important to me personally and professionally. Growing up, I did not realize how much the world of agriculture impacted me and my people. My maternal family was a cattle family until the late 70s-early 80s.
For the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), I am the Membership Relations & Board Affairs Manager. My work centers around relationships with IAC Member Tribes and working closely with our board members. I am so happy to have found a Native-led organization that works to strengthen Tribal food systems. The IAC staff are committed to amplifying the voices of Tribal producers and communities.
To effectively meet the distinct needs of our communities, it is important for Tribal Nations to participate as Member Tribes, ensuring that the diverse perspectives and priorities of Indian Country are heard and represented. This includes advocating for the interests of the 574 federally recognized Tribes and upholding the trust relationships they maintain with the federal government.
IAC is a member organization, and Member Tribes shape IAC’s work. Guided by the leadership and needs of our Member Tribes, IAC actively supports Tribes and Tribal producers across the country with on-the-ground technical assistance and services, as well as advocacy for improvements in the policies that govern the landscape in which Tribal producers must operate.
Engage with the IAC as a Member Tribe to formally submit your caucus issues and collaborate with other Tribes to uplift our collective strength. To Tribal representatives, I urge you to join the IAC as a Member Tribe. Producers and traditional foods producers, please share the Membership information with your Tribes. By joining IAC, you ensure your Tribe’s unique needs and regional food system challenges are heard, documented, and addressed.
In closing, we want to share an invitation to join us December 10-12 at The Palms in Las Vegas for our 2024 IAC Annual Conference! We will have Member Tribe-specific events and look forward to seeing you there!
Kwałanuu (Thank you),
Nicole Charley, Membership Relations & Board Affairs Manager
Nicole Charley is of the Taix Band and the Wasco/Dog River Band of the Columbia River region and a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Currently, Nicole is the Manager of Membership Relations and Board Affairs with the Intertribal Agriculture Council, where she plays a crucial role in nurturing relationships with Member Tribes and overseeing board interactions.
Nicole holds a B.A. from Portland State University and has enriched her professional journey through several prestigious programs. She is an alum of the Coalition of Communities of Color’s Bridges NAYA LEAD program, the Fertile Ground Leadership Institute, and the University of Arizona’s Indigenous Governance Program. Her most recent accomplishment is participating in the Native Action Network’s Legacy of Leadership Cohort.