Board and Staff
Beginning in 2020, ISN’s three co-leads Bill Tripp (Karuk Tribe), Don Hankins (Miwok) and Mary Adelzadeh (Diné), worked alongside an interim governing board to develop the organization with community input. Through a comprehensive planning effort the co-leads and interim governing board gathered more input to inform organization structure, direction, and goals to develop our business plan, which was completed in late 2022. Guided by key staffing needs identified in the business plan, Tasha James (Hupa) joined ISN as our Network Director in January 2024.
ISN Board
Bill Trip
Speaker, Karuk Tribe
Cultural fire practitioner, director of Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, Northern California
Don Hankins
Recorder, Miwok
Traditional cultural practitioner, professor California State University Chico, Central California
Elizabeth Azzuz
YUROK
Director of the Family / Traditional burning program for Cultural Fire Managment Council (CFMC), Treasurer to the Board of CFMC, Northern California
VAL LOPEZ
AMAH MUTSUN
Chairman Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Board President Amah Mutsun Land Trust, Central California
Teresa Romero
COASTAL BAND OF CHUMASH NATION
Traditional cultural practitioner, Executive Director/President, Native Coast Action Network, Southern California
Staff
Tasha Norton-James
Hupa, Yurok, Karuk
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Tasha Norton-James as our new Network Director. Tasha brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of community dynamics to this vital role. She is Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk and an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, which enriches her perspective and commitment to serving our diverse communities. Her leadership promises to inspire collaboration and innovation, and we are excited to see the positive impact she will have in her new position. Please join us in welcoming Tasha to our team as we look forward to a bright future under her guidance.
THANK YOU TO PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTORS
RICHARD BUGBEE (IN MEMORY)
ACJACHEMEN
Traditional Practitioner Southern California
Dore Bietz
Northern Miwuk
Traditional Practitioner California
William Pink
Agua Caliente Tribe of Cupeno Indians
Traditional Practitioner Southern California
Mary Adelzadeh
Diné
Traditional Practitioner California
Margo Robbins
Yurok
Traditional Practitioner Northern California
“The way that our ancestors took care of mother earth is a way that we must return to if we're going to survive climate change. This work must be indigenous lead. And that's a message that we have to pound home every day...with that comes responsibility and opportunity.”
Val Lopez