The CUJ invited all Board of Trustees and General Council candidates to respond to a written questionnaire about their priorities and goals. Candidates were given the opportunity to respond to each question with 3-5 sentences. Following are the responses received by the CUJ deadline.
Lavona Herrera, Board of Trustees Chair Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am an enrolled member of the Walla Walla Tribe and am running for the position of chairman of the Board of Trustees. I wanted to run to bring back some flagrant issues that are allowing our homes and jobs to be overtaken by other tribes. This reservation was made for our people and should stay that way. We must keep all constitutional rights within the United States, the state of Oregon and tribal governments fair, equal and correct. I attended the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College, and I am currently at BMCC here in Pendleton, majoring in criminal justice with a minor in political science. I want to secure our children’s future with fewer issues and better ethics and morals so there will not be struggles for our children.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priorities are to work on removing the word “military” from the Social Security application — it’s irrelevant. For jobs, I want to lower job standards and requirements to work. I will work to change policies that caused me to lose my jobs at the casino/Arrowhead over a phone call; life eviction is what I received. We will strengthen our job security, freedom of speech and constitutional rights — no fear. For housing, I will ensure we have homes on our reservation and stay strong in providing each qualified tribal member with housing first.
Julie Taylor, Board of Trustees Chair Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am running for chairwoman of the Board of Trustees because my lifelong commitment to serving our people has prepared me to lead with integrity, experience, vision and heart. For the past 14 years, I’ve served as the director of the Department of Children and Family Services, where I’ve strengthened my leadership through programs that empower our youth and support families. I’ve seen firsthand how strong cultural identity and community support can transform lives. My previous service on the Board of Trustees from 1997 to 1999 and in 2011 taught me the importance of collaboration, listening and accountability in tribal governance. As a grandmother, mentor and community advocate, I believe leadership means walking alongside our people, not ahead of them. This role allows me to continue that work on a greater scale for the well-being of all CTUIR members.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priorities are strengthening youth and family support systems, advancing community health and healing, and protecting our environment and treaty rights. I will continue to champion culturally grounded initiatives that empower our children to lead with confidence and pride. To improve wellness, I will advocate for expanded mental health and addiction recovery programs rooted in our traditions. I will also prioritize sustainable practices by directing funding and resources toward initiatives that support CTUIR’s energy independence, organic agriculture and river conservation — ensuring the long-term health of our lands and waters. Through collaboration with tribal programs, staff and families, I will ensure decisions reflect the collective wisdom of our people.
Kathryn Brigham, Board of Trustees Chair Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I decided to run for the Board of Trustees chair position because I was the BOT chair two years ago and believe I can do a good job representing CTUIR in planning for the future. I care about CTUIR and CTUIR members’ futures. I have served on the Board of Trustees and on several CTUIR commissions and committees that have helped move issues and services forward.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
I would like to lead the Board of Trustees in finding ways to improve internal processes to enhance services for our youth and elders; work on the CTUIR Energy Plan to explore how CTUIR can access more affordable energy; promote job and career training; seek special health services to come to CTUIR; respond to the two motions that the elders approved; ensure the CTUIR webpage is updated and accessible; and encourage CTUIR members to watch live Board of Trustees meetings and workshop sessions to learn what the board is doing.
Rosenda Shippentower, Board of Trustees Treasurer Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I ran for the Board of Trustees treasurer position because I hope to serve CTUIR and our members in this important role in 2025–26. I served as the Board of Trustees treasurer for several years in the past and have served CTUIR on many commissions, committees and boards over the years. I am also familiar with our tribal government and many members, as well as our businesses and programs.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priorities are to ensure that I uphold the treasurer’s constitutional duties by working closely with the Finance teams and through self-study. Elders, veterans and education are also at the top of my list. I hope the Board of Trustees retreat will be a good place to start promoting priorities. Although I do have some insight on these last three priorities listed, my plan is to further research them and learn more from staff, tribal members and others before I jump in feet first.
Monica Paradise, Board of Trustees Secretary Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I made a promise — to my ancestors who endured, to my children who deserve better, and to myself — that I would rise above the pain and use education as my tool for empowerment. My goal has always been simple yet powerful: to strengthen my mind so I can help my people make sound, informed decisions that protect our future. This isn’t just about personal success; it’s about restoring balance and ensuring our next generations inherit a community that is strong, self-reliant and guided by wisdom.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priority is bringing more tribal members into the heart of our decision-making — through community engagement, committees and commissions. When we share information openly and across every platform, we empower one another. That’s how we move forward together — solving problems, strengthening our government and protecting our sovereignty. I believe in outreach, education and making sure everyone knows how to use the resources available to them. Our strength grows when everyone has a voice.
Roberta Wilson, Board of Trustees Secretary Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I have always had a fierce determination for the protection of our people, our treaty rights, and the preservation of our homelands. I was born and raised on the Umatilla Reservation and have felt the plight of my people firsthand, starting with public school attendance, and I was there to see and feel what we had to endure from “mainstream.” I witnessed us being squeezed out of our traditional areas due to encroachment and changing perspectives of those around us. This taught me compassion early in life and the need to protect my loved ones, friends, and family with a far-reaching perspective.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priority is putting tribal members first. Somehow, we have lost vision of what that entails. Our homeland is just that: a place to call home and a place where we can build our homes. Our prosperity needs to include providing for our families and homes and protecting the rights of individuals, especially our children and young families in need of care. Remedies should include strengthening our tribal member workforce and keeping it intact. We need to safeguard our water and other sacred resources in the ceded areas. Our lands need defending, and we promised the Creator we will take care of the gifts he gave us.
Lloyd Commander, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am running for an at-large member
position because serving our people has been part of my family and extended family history, and I firmly believe in public service to our people. My education, training, and work experience have prepared me to run for this position. I have served 22 years as an employee of CTUIR. It would be an honor to serve our people as an at-large member on the Board of Trustees.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priorities are to work hard for a new Nicht-Yow-Way Senior Center and a long-term care facility for our elders and veterans. I will fight for our children’s educational system and expand it to include a middle school. Lastly, I will work for financial accountability and stability by meeting current challenges that affect tribal employees and our community.
Lisa Ganuelas, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am running for a Board of Trustees member-at-large position because I am a member of CTUIR and I believe in and will advocate for our treaty-reserved rights and interests, our members, and our resources. My professional career has been dedicated to working for and advocating for two treaty tribes. First, I had the opportunity to work for the Yakama Nation as a legislative aide in their Office of Legal Counsel from 1991 to 1996. From 1998 to 2015, I served CTUIR as their legislative coordinator in the Public Affairs/Communications Department. Given that work history, it was a continuous learning process for both governments and myself as we engaged the Washington and Oregon state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. Learning from all these tribal elected officials and staff, my parents and family, and life experiences has guided my advocacy as a BOT member-at-large for the last two terms.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
High priorities for me are our water, our land, and our people. I would like to continue to serve on the committees and commissions I currently serve on. Through the past two terms, I have learned that you can affect change through the committee/commission process, but you have to be vigilant and continually advocate for what you believe is right. From my perspective, tribal members deserve continuous and accurate communication from their tribal government on issues that are being issued frequently by the federal and state governments, and how we are interacting with or reacting to these issues, including data centers, water use, and small modular nuclear reactors.
Crystal Pond, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am running for a Board of Trustees member-at-large position because I want to rebuild my relationships with my people, sharing the same vision and inspiration in our shared values for our cultural needs and beliefs. My knowledge and understanding of our cultural ways, and still practicing them, has always been important to me, as has carrying on these ways of life.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
Our children have a lot of unmet needs that should be addressed properly, with families struggling to find childcare. Our elders deserve a new facility that feeds them three times a day. They could also use a retirement home and/or a nursing home. We need to care for and honor our elders. Our first foods need to be more prioritized as the land changes each year due to climate change. We need to learn to adapt better to these growing changes with our food and the land.
Nizhonia Toledo, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I chose to run because I believe our people deserve leadership that listens, acts, and truly reflects the strength of our community, not just in words, but in work. My background in community art, youth engagement, and cultural advocacy has grounded me in the heartbeat of our people’s struggles and hopes. I’ve seen firsthand the gaps between policy and lived experience, and I’m ready to bridge that divide with integrity, courage,and accountability. My purpose is rooted in protecting our sovereignty, uplifting our voices, and ensuring our next generations inherit systems that serve them, not silence them.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priorities are restoring trust between leadership and our people, empowering youth and families, and addressing the cycles of addiction, violence, and neglect that too often go unspoken. I will advocate for transparency, accessible resources, and stronger cultural foundations that heal rather than punish. Through collaboration, community forums, and consistent follow-through, I’ll ensure that every decision centers the well-being of our people and the preservation of our sovereignty. I believe real change starts when we stop managing problems and start transforming systems.
Sierra Quaempts, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I decided to run for the BOT member-at-large position because I wanted to see more representation from the younger generation of leaders in our governing body. The younger generations are experiencing a much different world than those who have led before us, and our own experiences can help our tribe move into the future with everyone in mind. My background has revolved around serving the youth and families who live on or around the reservation. This time spent serving the community has given me insight into the struggles that tribal members experience and some of the hardships that can be reduced by being more trauma-informed in our services. It has also given me a chance to learn about our beautiful culture and the unwavering dedication of the knowledge keepers. I wish for our people to be happy and healthy so our community can continue to thrive for the generations to come.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
Protecting treaty rights from the current administration is a top priority for me. With the uncertainty of what we will be facing with the current administration, it is crucial for our tribe to take a stand against constant broken treaties and hold the United States government accountable. Other priorities include quality housing, modernizing tribal departments, and providing consistent communication through transparent leadership.
Kyle McGuire, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am running for the Board of Trustees member-at-large position to support the tribe’s vision and collaborate with various stakeholders while adhering to tribal laws and policies. I have 30 years of experience expressing interest in tribal government.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
If elected, my top priorities will be promoting a positive work environment and building relationships with tribal members and management team members.
Derek Quaempts, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I decided to run because I want to give back to the people and place that raised me. My background as a veteran and community member has taught me to work through setbacks, listen to others, and keep pushing forward. I’ve been encouraged by friends and family to take this step, and I see it as a way to stand up for our people and future generations.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My priorities are to support education, our language, create more opportunities for our people here at home, and protect our culture and resources. I plan to do this by listening to community voices, working together, and making sure decisions reflect what our people need. Whether I am elected or not, I want my message to be clear: I care about our people’s success and our way of life.
Ellen Taylor, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
The reason I am running for BOT member-at-large is that I have been employed at Wildhorse Resort & Casino for 28 years and have 42 years of experience as a professional artist. The Umatilla Reservation is one of the largest employers in our region.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My plan is to help continue to build a strong foundation through job training, business development, workforce training, and infrastructure development so we can continue to be successful into the future together.
Corinne Sams, Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
This is my third term as a Board of Trustees member-at-large. I currently serve as the Fish and Wildlife Chair, Law and Order Vice Chair, Columbia Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Secretary, lead negotiator for U.S. v. Oregon, lead negotiator for the Columbia River Treaty, Oregon State Tribal Consultation Task Force Chair, and 2024 recipient of the Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award. I have committed my time on the board to championing policy and legislation that protects and enhances our treaty-reserved rights and our sovereignty. I would be grateful to continue this work on behalf of our people.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My top priority during this volatile political climate is to push back hard on the federal government to honor its treaty trust obligations to the CTUIR. Currently, we are experiencing a federal shutdown and devastating losses to federal staff in key agencies. This impacts several projects and funding sources that directly support natural resources and fish restoration. The protection of our way of life, foods, and sovereignty is at the forefront.
Kathleen Elliot, General Council Chair Candidate
What had led you to run for this position, and how has your background prepared you for it?
I am running because I believe the voices of our tribal members should be heard at every Board of Trustees meeting, not just once a month. I have many years of leadership experience in my work and in our community. I’ve served on the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Commission, the Wildhorse Foundation, the Land Protection and Planning Commission, and the Elder Advisory Group. In these roles, I have learned to listen, work with others, and find good solutions through teamwork and compromise. I know that real leadership means serving the people and making sure everyone feels heard and respected.
What are your top priorities if you’re elected, and how will you work to achieve them during your term?
My main goal is to help more tribal members take part in our General Council meetings. I want to look at new meeting times and ways to join, including by Zoom, so more people can attend and share their thoughts. I also want to make sure the meetings focus on what members care about most. I will work with the General Council Office to ask members what they want to hear from our tribal departments and make sure those topics are on the agenda. Listening to our people and acting on their ideas will guide my work every step of the way.
All candidates running for election
Board of Trustees Chair Candidates:
N. Kathryn Brigham, Gary Burke, Lavona Herrera and Julie Taylor.
Board of Trustees Vice Chair Candidates:
Aaron Ashley and David Wolf Jr.
Board of Trustees Treasurer Candidates:
Andrea Hall, Raymond Huesties and Rosenda Shippentower.
Board of Trustees Secretary Candidates:
Monica Paradise, Cedric Wildbill and Roberta Wilson.
Board of Trustees Member-at-Large Candidates:
Lloyd Commander, Lisa Ganuelas, Jill-Marie Gavin, Steven Hart, Malvin Jamison III, Kyle McGuire, Toby Patrick, Crystal Pond, Derek Quaempts, Sierra Quaempts, Corinne Sams, Ellen Taylor and Nizhonia Toledo.
General Council Chair Candidates:
Alan Crawford, Kathleen Elliot and Lindsey X. Watchman.
General Council Vice Chair Candidates:
Michael Ray Johnson, Boots Pond and Donald Sampson.
General Council Secretary Candidate:
Shawna Gavin
