Our Staff
The Executive Director & staff shall manage the organizational affairs, carry out the duties as assigned by the Executive Board, and pursue the established goals of the Affiliated Tribes.
James Alan Parker (He/Him)
Acting Executive Director
The Executive Director directly supports Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) by coordinating day-to-day administrative functions of the ATNI Portland office. This also includes direct administrative support for the conferences and special events. Reporting to the the Board of Directors the Executive Director will have both internal and external facing responsibilities, ranging from client and project management (organizational development, framing of key approaches, high-quality membership delivery of services, written products) to administration (information technology, reporting, facilities), and human capital (HR/recruiting, mentoring, career progression).
The Executive Director works closely with ATNI staff to assist in facilitation of the ATNI executive board’s strategic planning in response to future growth and strategic response to an ever increasing demand for the organization’s services.
Chas Jones (He/Him)
Acting Climate Change Program Director
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
Amelia Marchand (She/Her)
Interim Senior Tribal Liaison
Amelia earned her BA in anthropology from Eastern Washington University, her MA in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School, and has worked for 24 years in the cultural and natural resource fields. She is the co-founder of the L.I.G.H.T. Foundation, a Public Voices Fellow of the OpEd Project at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and an alumnus of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and Presidential Classroom. Amelia has diverse Indigenous heritage and is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Tyrel Ott (He/Him)
Administrative Support Specialist
The Administrative Support Specialist supports Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) by performing administrative functions related to support and project activities, with a focus on providing excellent care to both support staff and tribal members.
Tyrel was born and raised in Southern Oregon, He grew up on a farm where his family focused on being a eco-friendly family. The earth and its occupants needs protection and he plans to spend his life making sure It’s a viable place to live for a safe and prosperous future.
Michel Lenihan (They/Them)
Communications and Membership Coordinator
Michel is a Two Spirit member of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
They were raised in Southern Oregon. After spending nearly a decade in the Hospitality field they moved to the Portland Metro Area in 2021 to work in the Indigenous non-profit sector.
Michel handles internal and external communications, as well as event coordination and planning.