SJRIHEC - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Leader
• President
• Executive Board
• Member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation

David is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Shawnee, Oklahoma. David and his daughter Tina lived on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation at Hogansburg, New York for approx 10 years. David is the founder of SJRIHEC. It has been his dream and commitment for over 20 years. It began with scraps of paper, personal notes, a wonderful compilation of Native American tradition, philosophy and lesson plans. He has made this dream come true through hard work and dedication peppered with a sense of humor to help when things get difficult. David is a Veteran and achieved the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Paratroopers, 101st Airborne, and 187th RCT. David "Big Bear" Johnson spent 12 years in New York learning plant recognition, processing, use and preservation. He was trained in survival skills and ecology practices from the Native American perspective. This training was his University work, which was added to a life long study of the local area, its people and Native American life. David is a respected leader and is committed to promoting understanding and education about Native American philosophy, history, life and community. . He was the Traditional Leader at opening ceremonies for the inception of DQ University, Davis, CA. David is always willing to help prepare the grounds for local gatherings, to work with and help elders and youth. He is on the Board of Trustees for the Literacy Interactive foothill Team (LIFT) in Auberry, California. He is an artist who creates original sculptures in bone, steatite and wood. He also creates original jewelry. The new Learning Center at Chawanakee School once again is due to the hard work and dedication of David. He is committed to help youth grow, understand, find their history and gain self-respect. His understanding of the diversity of Indian people in the region and the need for a curriculum that goes beyond local history is an example for respect and acceptance. His commitment, dedication and hard work are an example for all whose lives he touches.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Vice President

A member of The Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma, James, better known as Jack, served 6 years as a US Marine, spending 27 months in Viet Nam with the 1st and 3rd Marines during 1965-68. While stationed at Treasure Island Naval Base, CA, Jack served as security at the Brig and the Gate and performed Special Duty escorting Marines home to their final resting place. Immediately following his discharge, Jack served as a California Peace Officer in Fresno County. For the past twenty-eight years he has worked in the Motion Picture Industry as a Lighting Director.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Secretary

Peggy has been exhibiting her award winning Fine Art photography in Museums and Galleries across the United States for the past nineteen years. Her images are included in many permanent collections, including The First Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico. An activist in social issues, and influenced by her American Indian heritage, Peggy produced a Photographic Expose - Secrets Behind The Wall: An American Indian Viet Nam Veteran's Private Battlefield At Home. The exhibit consists of over one hundred black and white images depicting the life of one Viet Nam veteran, while encompassing many veterans' lives. This project, among others, led her to her current involvement in photographing and interviewing veterans from across the United States. America's Veterans, the non-profit corporation she is the co-founder of, will bring this multi-media traveling photographic exhibit, The Living Wall©, into existence. The Living Wall© will honor all living veterans, while bringing awareness to who our veterans are and in what conditions they exist today - www.thelivingwall.com In 1999, Peggy also co-founded Citizens For Veteran's Rights, in an effort to help stop the privatization of veteran land; a nationwide issue that later became known as "The Land Grab". During her involvement with Citizens For Veteran's Rights she served as their Media Coordinator. Since 1981, Peggy has been exhibiting an on going project of Sepia toned Gelatin Silver images, Tipis of the Plains Tribes, depicting American Indian home life, both past and present. The traveling exhibit also includes portraits of contemporary American Indians. She is known nationally for her beadwork and silverwork. Peggy shares her expertise by teaching beaded loom work and beaded jewelry at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, CA. She is currently a Board Member of the San Joaquin River Intertribal Heritage Educational Corporation where she teaches photography, silver work and beadwork. Her prior community service involvement includes sitting on the Board of Directors for The Boys and Girls Club and The Parent Teachers Association, and in an advisory position for Chapter 1 - At Risk Children.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Board Members
• Program Coordinator for the Millerton Area Watershed Coalition

Steve is currently the Program Coordinator for the Millerton Area Watershed Coalition - Sierra Foothill Conservancy, which is a community-based program in the Sierra Foothill area of Eastern Madera and Fresno County encompassing 250 square miles of the upper San Joaquin River watershed. As the Senior Program Manager for Getronics - Americas (formerly Wang Global), a Global Information Technologies Services Company, Steve managed a group of project managers and senior technical personnel in the introduction of new application systems into data centers; Business Development and Sales support. He spent over 7 years as a Business Planner and Project Manager for the large-scale computer manufacturer, Amdahl Corporation, which involved international production planning and contract negotiations in support of manufacturing operations in Ireland and Japan. Other representative technologies include Lasers, Telecommunications and Medical Instrumentation.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer
• Member of the Citizen Band Potawatami

Tina, a member of the Citizen Band Potawatami, has a long history of working with medical facilities. She is a certified medical assistant and nursing assistant. She has had advanced training for high risk-patients with diabetes / hypertension, evaluation training for children at high-risk for alcohol / drug use, intervention and HIV counselor training. Tina has been a board member for a Head Start Program through California Rural Indian Health and has worked with the Indian Health Agency as well as a geriatric / rehabilitative housing facility with a high population of Native Americans. Tina has been raised with the philosophy and knowledge of a Native American family and traditions. She has experienced both reservation and rural life in a Native American population. Tina is a mother and an educator by nature. She represents what many are living today, attempting to maintain a precious heritage while living in a multi-cultural world. Tina is committed to preserving that philosophy and those traditions, helping the next generation develop self-confidence and pride while living in main stream society.