Our Mission
The Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee ensures that tribal leaders have direct and consistent contact with department officials, facilitating discussions on intergovernmental responsibilities, exchanging views, sharing information, and providing advice and recommendations regarding departmental programs and funding that affect tribal nations.
This initiative is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with tribal leaders on critical issues and addressing the urgent challenges facing Indigenous communities. The STAC strengthens the federal trust relationship with federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and their leadership.
The STAC is composed of a primary tribal representative from each of the 12 Bureau of Indian Affairs Regions, and one alternate member from each region. The members are appointed on a staggered term for up to two years. The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, will designate one member of the STAC to serve as chairperson.
Current STAC Tribal Members
Alaska Region
- Primary member: Gayla Hoseth; First Tribal Chief for the Curyung Tribal Council
- Alternate member: Walter Jim; Chairman Orutsararmiut Native Council
Eastern Region
- Primary member: Stephanie Bryan; Tribal Chair, Poarch Creek Indians Nation
- Alternate member: Ann Richardson; Chief, Rappahannock Tribe of Virginia
Eastern Oklahoma Region
- Primary member: Gary Batton; Chief, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Alternate member: Chuck Hoskin, Jr.; Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation
Great Plains Region
- Primary member: Cora White Horse; Councilwoman, Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Alternate member: Janet Alkire; Chairwoman, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Midwest Region
- Primary member: Whitney Gravelle; President, Bay Mills Indian Community
- Alternate member: Jon Greendeer; President, Ho-Chunk Nation
Navajo Region
- Primary member: Buu Nygren; President, Navajo Nation
- Alternate member: Crystalyne Curley; Speaker, Navajo Nation
Northwest Region
- Primary member: Timothy Greene; Chairman, Makah Tribe
- Alternate member: Jarred-Michael-Erickson; Chairman, Colville Confederated Tribes
Pacific Region
- Primary member: Erica Pinto; Chairwoman, Jamul Indian Village of California
- Alternate member: Meryl Picard; Chairwoman, Bishop Paiute Tribe
Rocky Mountain Region
- Primary member: Vacant
- Alternate member: Jeffrey Stiffarm; President, Fort Belknap Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes
Southern Plains Region
- Primary member: Reggie Wassana; Governor, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma
- Alternate member: Lawrence SpottedBird; Chairman, Kiowa Tribe
Southwest Region
- Primary member: Christopher Moquino; Governor, San Ildefonso
- Alternate member: Vacant
Western Region
- Primary member: Terry Rambler; Chairman, San Carlos Apache Tribe
- Alternate member: Serrell Smokey; Chairman, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
