Natural Resources Policy Coordinator, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
Bio
Joel is the Natural Resources Policy Coordinator with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), where he advises Tribal leaders and staff on environmental policy development for the protection and management of natural resources and land. He has 15 years of experience developing natural resource protection and management policies with Tribes in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States. Joel’s role involves working collaboratively with Tribal leadership and staff to conduct government-to-government discussions for 50+ Tribal governments, and planning and facilitating regional summits for Tribal leaders, natural resource stakeholders, and policy makers on key natural resource issues facing Tribes.
Joel is a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe, and served on the Tribe’s executive committee as Vice Chairman and Treasurer. From his extensive experience in Tribal government as an elected official and in Tribal relations as staff at inter-tribal organizations, Joel has gained deep knowledge of tribal sovereignty and treaty rights.