Meet Your Tribal Council

Chairman Ray Gardner

Birthplace: South Bend, WA

Current Residence: Menlo, WA

Current Family Information: Spouse: Jill

Family Descendency: Hawks (Huckswelt)

Education: South Bend High, 1974

Employment Information and Location: State of Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Transportation Specialist/ Investigator IV, working out of Satsop.

Liaison between WUTC and the Native American Tribes of Washington, and City, State, federal and Law Enforcement Agencies.

Head investigator for all fatalities involving the railroad in the state.

Special projects. This involves working with other agencies as well as Tribes to ensure that safety concerns are addressed around railroad property.

Hobbies: Fishing.

Chinook Committee Involvement:
Fisheries Committee - Chairman

Years Served on the Council: Elected June 2001

Year of Re-Election: 2012

Goals While on the Council: It would be hard to pick one main goal to work on while on the council. There are many issues that need to be worked on. A couple examples of these are Acknowledgment, which is the highest priority, and getting the enrollment issues straightened out. One of my goals are to help get our government ready to start negotiations with the Federal and State governments once we have our Acknowledgment

Additional Personal Information: I have been fortunate with my job to be able to work with Native American Tribes in our state as well as in Oregon and Idaho. I have also spent a lot of time working with City, State, and Federal Law Enforcement agencies. With this opportunity, I have been able to establish many good contacts within these different groups that will be able to help the Tribe in our endeavors. I have been fortunate to receive training in Law Enforcement, Management, Law and Rule writing, and Government relations. This training will help me to be of assistance to the Tribe. I am also Executive Board Member of American Rivers in Washington DC.

I would like to take this time to ask for Tribal members to get involved with the committees. The committees are very important to the tribe and need to have more help with their work. The committees play a very important part in the operation of the Tribe. The committees gather information and bring it completed and detailed to the Council, which in turn helps them to make decisions. By doing this, it allows the Council to work on the governing of the Tribe.

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Samuel Robinson - Vice-Chairman

Birthplace: South Bend, WA

Current Residence: Vancouver, WA

Current Family Information: Wife: Mildred Daughters: Casandra, Rebecca

Family Descendency: Hawks (Huckswelt)

Education: LaCenter High, Clark Collage

Employment Information and Location: Plant Manager for Calvert Co. Inc (34yrs in 2012) Prior to that four years in the U.S. Army.

Hobbies: Drumming ,Carving and Canoeing Speaking in public about the Chinook Indian Nation. Being a Chupi (Grandpa) and helping share some of the Chinook ways with my Granddaughter Destany.

Chinook Committee Involvement:
Business Committee since 2002
Alvina Frisbie Scholarship Foundation since 2001

Year first elected to Council:2001

Year of Re-Election: 2010

Goals While on the Council:Obtaining Chinook restoration. Making sure we keep the doors open at our tribal office. Obtaining social services for our tribal members. Educating and getting support from the public for the Chinook Indian Nationas we move ahead.

Additional Personal Information: On the board for the Friends of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.
Serving on the Cathlapotle Plankhouse Committee.
Serving on the board for the Chinook Web-site in partnership with the Center for Columbia River History.
Working with the Title Seven Program (Battle Ground,Evergreen,Vancouver and Camas School Dist.)
Serving as a Tribal Elder.

Tribal Secretary Peggy Disney

Birthplace: Raymond, WA

Current Residence: Bay Center, WA

Current Family Information: Spouse: Terry Disney Sons: (1) Marshall Daughters: (2) Falan, Mataya

Family Descendency: Pickernell, Tonwah, Aubichon-Elmermach

Education: South Bend High, 1977

Employment Information and Location: Self-Employed: Manke Seafoods Inc. Bay Center, WA

Hobbies: Cultural activities with the immediate family. Parents, brothers, sisters, etc. Camping, gathering berries, basket materials, cedar strip, etc. weaving.

Chinook Committee Involvement: No Committee involvement at this time. I have previously been on the Cultural Committee, Enrollment Committee, and the Communications Committee.

Years Served on the Council: 9 Years

Year of Re-Election: 2007

Goals While on the Council: Reach the final goal for the Tribe-Recognition from the U.S. Government!!

Additional Personal Information: I have lived my entire life in Chinook Country, always leaning toward the best thing for Chinook.

Lisa Kay Elliott - Position 2

Birthplace: Palmer, Alaska

Current Residence: Rainier, OR

Current Family Information: Husband - Peter Bach; Son - Joseph Stanley Elliott-Bach

Family Descendency: Ducheny, Rondeau, Elliott

Education: Degree in Nursing

Employment Information and Location: Nurse Care Manager at Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR

Hobbies: Sewing, gardening

Chinook Committee Involvement:
Health/Social Services Committee since 2000, current Chair

First Elected to the Council: 2007

Year of Re-Election: 2013

Goals While on the Council: To work on Tribal Restoration so that the Tribe can be eligible to get funding for Health/Social Service programs for our members.

 

Kate Elliott - Position 9

Birthplace: Longview, WA

Current Residence: Great Seattle Area, WA

Current Family Information: Spouse: Chad / Children: Eduardo, Beau, Austin, Natalie, Josh and Noah

Family Descendency: Ducheny, Rondeau, Elliott

Education: BA, Anthropology - BS, Business/Information Systems

Employment Information and Location: Sr. Management Consultant, DOD, Ft. Lewis, WA

Hobbies: Kate enjoys drumming, Singing, Reading, Hiking, Writing and Volunteering for causes she cares deeply about.

Chinook Committee Involvement:
business committee since 2010

Year of Elected: 2011

Goals While on the Council: and even after - Kate will take this opportunity to utilize her skills and further help our Nation in becoming a community always striving to serve its people and its ancestors through educational, cultural and economic programs.

As in the past, she will continue to volunteer her expertise as a Project Manger and will help develop fundraisers, business proposals, strategic plans, grant proposals and other projects set forth by our leadership. In the unique role as a Council member, she can also use my diplomacy experience as a US government representative in US-to-Foreign policy planning to work with the US administration as Chinook Nation representative.

Either as a Federally Recognition Tribe or a Non-Profit Organization, she sees many possibilities for success in our Nation.

Kate looks forward to seeing everyone at our events.

Additional Personal Information: Kate served in the AF National Guard '91-'95 and on Active Duty in the Army '95-'99. Since leaving the military, Kate’s career as a civilian has been dedicated to helping businesses become more competitive and responsive in a technical world. Kate has worked with small businesses, to large corporations, to non-profits, to government agencies in the US and abroad. Her most important work has been with the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) who’s objective is to work with 33 different nations at the military level, to assist Humanitarian Organizations in a time of disaster, and with STRATCON, working with groups such as the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT), the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indian (ATNI) and Wells Fargo Bank’s Native American Banking Services to assist tribes in networking, funding, planning and business development.

In 2009, Kate became the Chair of the Chinook Nation’s Development Committee. The purpose of the Development Committee was to 1) Develop and secure critical financial resources to support tribal programs and services and 2) Foster positive community relations through effective communications. She volunteered for 18 months until the Chinook Council disbanded the committee and divided into two groups, the Business Committee and the Communications Committee. Kate currently serves as the Chair of the Chinook Nation Communications Committee and the Vice Chair (ad hoc) of the Business Committee.

 

 

Charles Funk - Position 5

Birthplace: South Bend ,WA

Current Residence: Chehalis, WA

Current Family Information: Spouse: Mary, Daughters: Mary Beth, Elaine, Karen, Cheryl, Megan, Christine

Family Descendency: Mc Bride

Education: Attended Art Center School of Design Los Angeles, Graduated Central Washington University

Employment Information and Location: Retired

Hobbies: Drawing

Chinook Committee Involvement: Business Committee

Years Served on the Council: 4th year

Year of Re-Election: 2008

Goals While on the Council: To see the Chinook Tribe a recognized, self sufficient people.

Additional Personal Information: I do all types of artwork and produce a line of Native American shirts.

Jane Pulliam -

Birthplace: Puyallup, WA

Current Residence: Bay Center, WA

Current Family Information: married to Ron Pulliam

Family Descendency: Pickernell

Year of Election: 2012

Employment: Self-employeed graphic and web designer. My husband started the business, Nautilus Design, in 1985 and I came on board in 1994. I love my work!

Hobbies: I really enjoy crafting with the craft group in Bay Center but quilting is my favorite.

Committees: Culture Committee and Communications Committee.

Goals While on Council: I want to get more tribal members involved with the tribe. I've been reaching out to people and inviting them to events and encouraging them to volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to get to know other tribal members. I can say from first-hand experience that volunteering has made my life fuller and richer.

I have also been working to encourage our committees to grow and work hand-in-hand with the council. And finally I'd like to see a strong Development Committee in place to ensure our finincial future.

Marcheta Van Patten- Position 8

Birthplace:

Current Residence:

Current Family Information:

Family Descendency: Hawks (Huckswelt)

Year of Election: 2012

Jeremy Wekell

Birthplace: Tacoma ,WA

Current Residence: Tacoma, WA

Current Family Information:

Family Descendency: Pickernell

Education:Northwest Indian College

Employment Information and Location: Al'Ta Counseling & Testing. I am the founder of the agency. Our primary focus is on US DOT compliance with drug and alcohol policy. In addition we assist people with accessing drug and alcohol treatment.
Durwood Properties- I have a small apartment building, I like providing a nice home for my tenants.

Hobbies: Tribal activities are one of my favorite hobbies. I really enjoy 1st salmon & the story gathering.

In addition I enjoy most outdoor activities, including hiking camping and canoeing (both Tribal canoeing and hobby canoeing).

Lately I have been really involved with remodeling projects, I find them fun & challenging.

Chinook Committee Involvement:
Health & Social Services since 2005
Tribal Lands Committee, which I formed in 2011

First Year Elected to Council: 2011

Goals While on Council: My ultimate goal is the restoration of federal recognition of the Chinook people. With restoration I would like to see a priority placed on healthcare and education.

Additional Personal Information:I like to be open and available for people to contact me. If you have anything to discuss, please email me: Jeremy Wekell@Gmail.com