Tacey M. Atsitty
Director
Tacey M. Atsitty, Diné (Navajo), is Tsénahabiłnii (Sleep Rock People) and born for Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle People) from Cove, AZ. She is a graduate of Navajo Preparatory School, and she holds bachelor’s degrees from Brigham Young University and the Institute of American Indian Arts, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Cornell University. She is a recipient of several writing awards and prizes. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in POETRY Magazine, Kenyon Review Online, Prairie Schooner, Crazyhorse, Literary Hub, New Poets of Native Nations, and other publications. Her first book is Rain Scald (University of New Mexico Press, 2018). She enjoys spending time in the mountains, being with friends and family, sewing, and traveling. She is a PhD student in Creative Writing at Florida State University and lives in Peru with her husband.
Chizz Bah
Master of Ceremonies
Chizz Bah is originally from Cove, Arizona located on the Dine’-Navajo Reservation. She is born of the Yucca Fruit and Edge Water clan. “Chizz Bah” is an original expression of past and present. The “chizz” refers to the roughness of skin, which is what one is raised to be on the Dine’ reservation, “rough”. “Bah” is reference to the wisdom that comes with life. As a 42 year old Native American comedienne, she has roughed through a journey to bring humor to lives entangled with trans-generational trauma and basic, everyday, trials of being Native American living in an urban westernized society. Her unique style of mixing the Navajo language and culture with Westernized upbringing creates laughter to all engaged in this epic world. Chizz Bah is a single parent of 3 beautiful children. She presently resides in Farmington, New Mexico.
Natasha Kaye Hale
Board Member
Natasha K. Hale is Navajo and Saudi Arabian and was raised in Twin Lakes, New Mexico. Natasha is a Native American activist and actor who currently works as the Native America Program Director at the Grand Canyon Trust. In 2015, Natasha was appointed by the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition to help support their efforts to protect 1.9 million acres of public lands in southeastern Utah. Natasha is committed to strengthening tribal communities through land protection initiatives, launching community-based, culturally-compatible economic projects, and bringing philanthropic dollars to on-the-ground projects in tribal communities. She launched the Native American Business Incubator Network in 2011 to support social entrepreneurs who are focused on building local economies that respect and uplift traditional values. Natasha was a politically appointed legislative staffer for the Speaker of the Navajo Nation and worked closely with the Navajo Nation Council, where she advised policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Prior to that, she was a reporter focused on local tribal issues, politics, and human-interest stories and she is known for her lead role in the film Turquoise Rose (2007). She received her B.S. from the University of Arizona.
Peter Deswood III
Board Member
Peter Deswood III is Táchiinii, born for Kinłichii’nii, his maternal grandfather is Áshįįhí and his paternal grandfather is To’aheedliinii. He is originally from Lukachukai, AZ. Peter is currently a high school principal in Farmington, New Mexico. He has taught for over 14 years at both the high school and college levels. Since 2004, Peter has owned his business-consulting firm, Deswood Consulting. He is also the founder of a podcast called 21st Century Native Leaders. Additionally, Peter has managed various businesses, was a staff accountant and taught at BIA schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Tohatchi, New Mexico. Currently, Peter is working on a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He has a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership with a Principal Certification from Pennsylvania State University. He received a BS in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a BA in Accounting from Fort Lewis College. Peter is married to Kari Deswood, and they have three beautiful daughters.
Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle Sanchez
Board Member
Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle Sanchez is Naasht’eezhí Tábąąhí and born for the Totonac People in Mexico. He was raised in Mesa, AZ, where he spent 25 years of his life working with youth and families through the ANASAZI Foundation’s wilderness therapy, a non-profit that his father co-founded. Sanchez spends much of his time and energy creating art to raise awareness for movements such as NODAPL at Standing Rock in South Dakota, the Indigenous Horse Nation Protector Alliance, MMIW, Apache Strong Hold’s Save Oak Flat, World Peace and Prayer Day, and many others. Sanchez was the co-creator of ZOHI Gallery in Santa Fe, NM and is the owner of Thunder Voice Hat Co. Sanchez participated in “Stand Up” by Taboo, which won a MTV Video Music Award and is studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Sociology from ASU. About his art, Sanchez says art is a form of expression, a way to work out inner thoughts and emotions. You can find his artwork on his website.
Lorraine Manavi
Board Member & Navajo Language Consultant
Lorraine Begay Manavi, Diné (Navajo), is Mą’iideeshgiizhnii (Coyote Pass Jemez) and born for Tł’ááshchí’í (Red Below Cheek) from Tósidoh, NM. Lorraine is an Assistant Professor of Navajo Language at San Juan College, and one of the primary editors for the Rosetta Stone Navajo software development project. She is a member of the Navajo Language Renaissance. Navajo Language Renaissance is a non-profit organization working to revitalize the Navajo language using Rosetta Stone language software. Lorraine has also translated for Salina Bookshelf, a multicultural independent publisher of textbooks, children’s picture books, reference books, and electronic media in Navajo and English. She also teaches and weaves quality tapestry Toadlena/Two Grey Hills Navajo rugs.
Michael Lewis
Board Member & Website Coordinator
Originally from Northern Virginia, Michael Lewis studied economics and political science as an undergrad, before moving to Bolivia to volunteer with a humanitarian organization. He returned to the U.S. to attend law school, and eventually found his way to Los Angeles where he started working for an immigration law firm to defend the rights of undocumented immigrants. In his spare time he plays Pathfinder with friends, attends Libertarian Party meetings, and participates in community theater. He has appeared in several plays including Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as well as Fools by Neil Simon. He is fluent in both Japanese and Spanish, and actively studying Navajo.