Board of Directors

Joy Persall, Board Chair

Métis

Nonprofit Consultant and Leadership Coach

About Joy Persall

Joy Persall is a leadership coach, facilitator, and transition organizational consultant. Joy has a depth and breadth of experience leading organizations locally and nationally, guiding transitions and developing leadership skills. As a woman of Ojibwe Metis’ descent, mother, grandmother, gardener, seed keeper, Joy is committed to a life supported by community and family, working for equity and justice, and caring for our Mother Earth. Primarily, Joy is a gardener of people, teams, and organizations, developing their ability to grow, learn and create new solutions in a grounded atmosphere of human dignity and deep respect.

Following a 20 year career in philanthropy, Joy received a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship in 2011 completing an M.A. in Organization Development and Management and CEBC Coaching Certification, mentored by Indigenous women leaders. Joy prioritizes work with Native American leadership, engages multicultural, multi-generational leaders in coaching and facilitation of transformational leadership experiences in non-profit, philanthropic, and community organizations. Joy previously served in executive leadership roles at Dream of Wild Health, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, and Native Americans in Philanthropy and continues to advocate and organize for greater equity and inclusion at community and national scales. Persall provides strategic leadership and organization development to nonprofits and community leaders focusing on community engagement, healthy systems, and advancement of equity and positive change. Joy is a World Institute for Action Learning Senior Coach, is certified in The Leadership Circle and Organizational Culture Profile, and the Intercultural Development Inventory.

Carly Bad Heart Bull, Vice-Chair

Flandreau Santee Dakota

Executive Director at Native Ways Federation

About Carly Bad Heart Bull

Carly Bad Heart Bull (Bdewakantunwan Dakota/Muskogee Creek and a citizen of the Flandreau Santee Tribe) is the Executive Director of the Native Ways Federation (NWF). NWF’s mission is to activate and expand informed giving to nonprofits in Indian country through donor education and advocacy. She came to NWF from the Bush Foundation, where she served as the Native Nations Activities Manager since 2014.

Carly has a background in law and was previously an Assistant County Attorney for Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (Minnesota) in its child protection division. She has taught the Dakota language to early childhood students in South Minneapolis. She currently serves as vice chairwoman of the board of local nonprofit and Indigenous farm, Dream of Wild Health, and is also on the board of Native Americans in Philanthropy, a national organization with a mission to promote equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities.

In 2020, Carly was named a Minnesota Attorney of the Year, for her instrumental work on reclaiming the Dakota name of Minneapolis’ largest lake (formerly Lake Calhoun) to Bde Maka Ska. In 2019, she was selected by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a Community Leadership Network Fellow, a program for leaders across the country working to create transformational change toward a more equitable society for all. Carly holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, and an Associate of Arts degree from Minneapolis Community and Technical College.Carly lives in Bdeota Otunwe (Minneapolis, or City of Many Lakes) with her young son Quill.

Nation Wright, Treasurer

Leech Lake Anishinaabe

Finance Manager at American Indian Family Center

About Nation Wright

Sean Sherman

Ogala Lakota

CEO and Founder of The Sioux Chef and Co-founder of Owamni Restaurant and NĀTIFS (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems)

About Sean Sherman

A member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, Chef Sean Sherman was born and raised in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and is the Founder/CEO of The Sioux Chef and Co-founder of NĀTIFS (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems). Cooking in kitchens across the United States and Mexico for over 30 years, Chef Sean is renowned nationally and internationally in the culinary movement of Indigenous foods. His primary focus is the revitalization and evolution of Indigenous foods systems throughout North America. His extensive studies on the foundations of Indigenous food systems have led to his deep understanding of what is needed to showcase Native American cuisine in today's world.

Pam Gokey

Ojibwe of Lac Courte Oreilles

Youth Services Manager at American Indian Family Center

About Pam Gokey

Pam is Anishinaabekwe from Lac Courte Orielles, WI. She moved to Saint Paul, in 2013 and has been working in the Twin Cities Native community since. Pam is the Youth Services Manager at American Indian Family Center and previously worked at Nicolet Area Tech College in Rhinelander, WI for 15-years. At Nicolet, Pam and a few coworkers created a community garden for staff and students on campus. Each staff and student involved with this project volunteered their time to maintain and care for the garden. Two of the greatest gifts Pam has received from Our Creator was eight children and the love for our land.

Dave Bice

White Earth Nation

CEO of Bald Eagles Erectors, Inc.

Board Member of Building Strong Communities

About Dave Bice

Dave (White Earth Nation) is CEO of Bald Eagle Erectors, Inc. He started his career as an apprentice with the Ironworkers Local 512 in 1980, after graduating high school and being in the US Marine Corps. In 1994 Bald Eagle Erectors was created and is still going strong 28 years later. Through his career he has supported the communities he works and lives in, minorities, and veterans. Dave is a board member of Building Strong Communities, past committee member for the American Indian Center Capital Campaign and Local 512 apprenticeship committee; past Board Member of Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Minority Contractors (Midwest) Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce, The Circle (Native American Newspaper), Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), American Indian Community Development Corporation, The Tiwahe Foundation, and former commissioner on the City of St Paul Department of Civil Rights HR/EEO.

Felicia Galvan

White Earth Nation

American Indian Cultural Liason for Mound View Public School District

About Felicia Galvan

Felicia Galvan (she/her) is an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation and of Mexican descent. As a Dream of Wild Health youth alumni and former seasonal farmer, Felicia is most excited to support the organization by sharing her knowledge and passion in youth development and community engagement. Felicia is now an American Indian cultural liaison for the Mound View Public School District; her previous professional experience includes youth program coordination at the American Indian Family Center. Felicia earned her undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and Spanish at the University of Minnesota Morris in the Spring of 2021. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her nieces, and cat.

Faith Gronda

Wyandot of Anderdon Nation

Indigenous Evaluation Specialist at American Indian Cancer Foundation

About Faith Gronda

Faith (Wyandot of Anderdon Nation) works at the American Indian Cancer Foundation as an Indigenous Evaluation Specialist. She has a BA from the College of Saint Benedict in Biology and Peace Studies with a concentration in Indigenous Health Equity. For over six years, Faith worked with Dream of Wild Health as a garden warrior, youth leader, seed intern, and seasonal farmer. She was a founding member of her college’s Indigenous Student Association and the student director of their new Initiative for Native Nation Relations. Most recently, Faith served as an AmeriCorps fellow working to advance Indigenous health equity at a large healthcare system in the Twin Cities. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, bouldering, beading, and time outdoors.