After an extensive and national search, the Tiwahe Foundation Board of Directors are excited to announce the hiring of President and CEO, Nevada Littlewolf, effective March 1, 2018. Prior to joining the Tiwahe Foundation, Nevada served as the Executive Director of Rural American Indigenous Leadership (RAIL), an organization she founded in 2012 to support and grow women’s leadership in rural Minnesota. She has been an elected leader on the Virginia, Minnesota City Council since 2008. Nevada has developed culturally-specific leadership training with several national training organizations including The White House Project and Wellstone Action. Her leadership is evident across multiple platforms in the state. She has an Associate of Arts Degree from Mesabi College, a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota Duluth and is a 2016 Bush Fellow.
“We welcome Nevada’s experience in non-profit leadership, her extensive knowledge of rural Minnesota and her powerful, grassroots leadership and national presence. Nevada is a trusted leader and we look forward to working with Nevada on a strategic planning process that will build upon our success and continue to catalyze the ground-breaking work of our outgoing President/CEO Kelly Drummer and the remarkable founders of The Tiwahe Foundation.” said Amanda Norman, Chair of the Tiwahe Foundation Board of Directors.
“I understand firsthand the importance of indigenous voices in decision-making spaces. I am passionate about growing resources and building opportunities for indigenous people. From philanthropy to working in the courts with the Indian Child Welfare Act to affecting policy changes in the political arena, I have spent my life working as a leader, advocate and champion. I am so excited to bring all that I have to build upon and grow Tiwahe Foundation’s vision for indigenous leaders in Minnesota.” said Littlewolf.
Nevada Littlewolf is an active community leader across the state of Minnesota. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of The Northland Foundation, Board Secretary of ClearWay Minnesota and as a Board member of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Governor Dayton appointed Nevada as a non-attorney member of the Sixth Judicial District Judicial Selection Commission in 2009. She continues to provide valuable input around the selection and appointment of new Judges who reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. She also serves on Governor Dayton’s Minnesota Tribal Youth Gathering Planning Team.