About Us
Indian Children: Culturally Connected, Rights Protected
Our Team
Deborah Dancer, MPA
Executive Director
Deborah Dancer, MPA, has been named executive director of the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition. An enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation (also known as the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe), Dancer comes to the coalition with a range of skills including facilitation, mediation, strategic planning, grant writing, public administration, and advocacy
Samantha Magpie, MSW
Administrative Assistant
Samantha is Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, she grew up in New York and moved to Iowa at 15 years old. Samantha graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Samantha recently graduated from the University of Iowa with her Master’s in Social Work. She currently works for the State of Iowa as the ICWA Tribal Liaison
Kitty Washburn, LMSW, LSW
Tribal Liaison
Kitty Washburn has been with NICWC since November of 2021. Previously, she worked for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s Child and Family Services Program for 11 years. In her current role as a Tribal Liaison, she is working to develop supports and access to services for tribal youth who are aging out of the child welfare system. Kitty has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Briar Cliff University and is currently enrolled in the University of Iowa’s MSW program.
Who We Are
There is
65%
Tribal Enrollment on our board.
There are
11
Tribal Nations represented on our board.
Our Executive Officers
Liz Lovejoy Brown, MSW
Chair/President
Executive Director/ Division Head of SW/HS, Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center/ Nebraska Indian Community College
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
Chiara Cournoyer, BSW
Vice President
Tax Director, Yankton Sioux Tribe
Yankton Sioux Tribe
Greg Donovan, MPA
Treasurer
Executive Director, Santee Sioux Nation Society of Care
MPA
Renae Wolf
Secretary
ICWA Specialist, Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska
Santee Sioux of Nebraska
Our Board Members
Dr. Barbara Buttes
Anthropologist and Lead Investigator, Wicanpi Research and Consulting
Yankton Sioux, Mdewankatowan Dakota
Grace Johnson, LIMHP
LIMHP/ Owner of Red Nation Healing, NE Attorney General MMIP Liaison
Oglala Lakota
Lisa Spellman
Communication – Media Specialist and Tribal Community Liaison, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Sicangu Lakota, Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Angi Heller, MA
Engagement Zone Coordinator, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Martha Jane “MJ” Matthews
School Counselor, Omaha Public Schools
Robert McEwen, JD
Legal Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Misty Flowers, MA
Diligent Recruitment Advisor, National Center for Diligent Recruitment
Santee Sioux Nation
Courney Chavez, MPA
CEO Tribal Affairs, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Colette Yellow Robe, PHD
Assistant Professor, Bishop’s University
Northern Cheyenne