Dr. Twyla Baker, Ph.D., Board Chair
Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation
Wayne L. Ducheneaux II
Executive Director
Cheyenne River Sioux
Wayne is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He grew up on his parents’ cattle ranch on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. His work for his Tribe included running the Cheyenne River Motel, a tribal enterprise, serving two years as Tribal Administrative Officer, and serving the people of Cheyenne River as a District 4 Council Representative. He was selected for a two-year term as Vice-Chairman of the Tribe from 2012-2014. He is an alumnus of the Native Nation Rebuilders program from Cohort 3. Wayne started his employment with the Native Governance Center in January of 2016 as Executive Director.
Email: wayne@nativegov.org
Jessa Boyer
Executive Office & Events Coordinator
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
As executive office and events coordinator, Jessa supports Native Governance Center’s board of directors and executive director. Additionally, she manages all details related to the organization’s events. Jessa is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and grew up on Lake Vermilion. She co-owns Insphyre Performance, a company specializing in event entertainment and performance art. Previously, she volunteered at the Chicago Avenue Fire Art Center, a nonprofit dedicated to art forms produced by heat, spark, and flame. She also did contract work enameling, welding, and fabricating public art pieces that can be found in various places around Minneapolis, including Bde Maka Ska. Jessa received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Entrepreneurship from Metropolitan State University in 2018.
Email: jessa@nativegov.org
Apryl Deel-McKenzie
Program Manager
Diné
As program manager for Native Governance Center, Apryl supports the implementation of the organization’s Tribal Governance Support and Leadership Development programs. She is a citizen of the Diné Nation and has years of experience working with Indigenous communities on issues related to education and college access, including a position at Diné College. Prior to joining the Native Governance Center team, she completed her master’s degree in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in American Indian/Alaska Native studies. While completing her degree, she also gained skills in the areas of social entrepreneurship, community development, and policy work. She is passionate about Indigenizing the future by reconnecting to our ancestral knowledge, teachings, values, and language.
Email: apryl@nativegov.org
Pearl Walker-Swaney
Program Manager
Standing Rock Sioux
Pearl supports the implementation of Tribal Governance Support and Leadership Development programs as one of the organization’s two program managers. She is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and has family from White Earth. Pearl grew up in the Bemidji area, and she received her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in Indian Studies with minors in Chemistry and Ojibwe Language from Bemidji State University in 2011. Pearl went on to complete a Master’s in Public Health with a specialization in Health Management and Policy from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Before joining Native Governance Center, she was the INBRE Project Manager at North Dakota State University and worked with Tribal colleges to build research capacity. Pearl is also an alumna of the Native Nation Rebuilders program from Cohort 7.
Email: pearl@nativegov.org
Lauren Kramer
External & Donor Relations Officer
Lauren has held a variety of roles at Native Governance Center and currently serves as External and Donor Relations Officer. She’s spent her career working in the nonprofit sector as a communications professional. Lauren has previously worked for Native-led organizations in Minneapolis, northern Minnesota, and Texas. She received a Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies and a Graduate Portfolio in Nonprofit Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2016. She graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in American Studies and Biology in 2013. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys riding bikes with Koochella Racing, camping and hiking, and volunteering at the Cedar Cultural Center.
Email: lauren@nativegov.org
Christopher Freeze
Development Director
As development director for Native Governance Center, Christopher is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fund development strategy, bringing in support from foundations, individuals, and corporate partners. He was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Germany and the United Kingdom, and lived in Washington State, Indiana, and Montana, before moving to Minnesota. Christopher has at times been an opera singer, a wine industry executive, and an arts administrator: he was executive director of the Bozeman Symphony prior to joining Native Governance Center. He studied English at Cambridge University (MA), is a graduate of Indiana University (MPA), and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Christopher enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling.
Email: christopher@nativegov.org
Danielle Gangelhoff
Finance & Operations Director
Danielle has spent almost two decades in nonprofit finance, administration, governance, and program development. At Native Governance Center, Danielle uses this experience to drive impact through creative problem solving and smart strategy. Prior to joining the Native Governance Center team, Danielle developed and served as Director of the fiscal sponsorship program at Propel Nonprofits. Danielle has dedicated her career to mission-driven organizations, not only as staff, but as a trainer, consultant, and board member. She is passionate about authenticity and creating space where people can be their whole and best selves. When not at work, Danielle can be found gardening, playing with her two pups, hiking around Minnesota, or globetrotting.
Email: danielle@nativegov.org
Lisa Giefer
Finance & Operations Manager
Lisa has a wide-ranging work background including stints in libraries, hotel guest services, human resources, and accounting. She worked for over a decade as Executive Assistant to the CFO at a large religious non-profit, and in Communications as web admin, also assisting with editing and graphic design. Most recently, she worked for an environmental nonprofit supporting the programs and communications of an 8-person office.
Email: lisa@nativegov.org
