Nebraska: Omaha Reservation

NEBRASKA: OMAHA RESERVATION

The Omaha originally lived in the Ohio River Valley along with ancestors of the Kansa, Osage, Ponca and Quapaw Indians. Eventually, these tribes separated with most of the people moving further west. The Omaha, aka “those going against the wind or current” and aka “upstream people” arrived in Nebraska in the early 1700s. They lived in earth lodges and relied on crops and buffalo for food.

History of the Reservation: In 1780, the Omaha tribal population was estimated at 2,800 members. However, this sharply declined to a mere 300 people after exposure to White settlers and traders. In 1855, the Omaha was forced to relinquish extensive hunting grounds in exchange for a reservation. However, in 1865, the government sold half of the Omaha Reservation to the Winnebago Tribe, and the Omaha now live on the remaining half of their original reservation, a 307-square-mile area. The Omaha originally had their settlements along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska.

Life on the Reservation: Today, around 4,700 people live on the Omaha Reservation, and about 5,000 members are enrolled in the tribe. Farming, tribal and federal governments, a casino and a resort provide some jobs to Omaha residents, who have a median annual income of $56,000. The tribe’s efforts to establish economic activity have helped, yet 1 in 5 residents remain below the poverty line and 13% of the working population is unemployed.

Omaha on the map: Northeastern Nebraska

Sources:

Income, Poverty, Land Size, Population https://censusreporter.org/profiles/25000US2550-omaha-reservation/

Enrollment, History https://www.thenicc.edu/about/history/omaha-tribe-of-ne-and-ia.php

Joblessness https://www.minneapolisfed.org/indiancountry/resources/reservation-profiles/omaha-reservation

Alternative Joblessness Reference (69%) https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP06/20160318/104633/HHRG-114-AP06-Wstate-MillerV-20160318.pdf

More History https://www.aaanativearts.com/omaha-tribe-of-nebraska-index

More History https://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-omaha/

A mission-focused and values-driven senior executive with 30+ years’ experience in leading and training executive teams and managing operations in corporate, academic and nonprofit organizations, Misty currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of PWNA. Formerly, she served as PWNA’s VP of Administration & Human Resources. Her primary focus is design of operational strategies, communication of policies and best practices to employees, and collaborating with Human Resources to build core teams committed to manifesting PWNA’s mission and vision. This is backed by skill in leading organizational change, building collaborative partnerships and raising funds for capital expense improvements. Misty serves as liaison between the CEO and department heads, overseeing companywide operations for administrative and operational functions, including reporting structures/roles and responsibilities, programs and data/business operations, branding, budgeting, financial performance and risk management. Prior to PWNA, Misty served as Executive Director of Operations for University of Oklahoma Outreach overseeing a $61M budget and 500 personnel. She also served in various leadership roles with Hertz, from operations to customer relations and billing. She holds a Master’s in Management and a Bachelor’s in Public Affairs and Administration & Management, as well as certifications in Professional Fundraising, National Native American Human Resources, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt disciplines. Misty brings to PWNA the energy and reliable business acumen to reinforce organizational strategy, operational excellence and continuous improvement aligned to PWNA’s strategic goals and objectives.

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Corey joined the PWNA Board in 2019, served as Treasurer for several years, and recently renewed his commitment to PWNA to serve as Board Chairperson. An enrolled citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas, Corey has served 10 years as a Board Member for the tribe’s business enterprises, assisted with long-term strategic planning for business development, completed two major expansion projects, assisted with new business startups, and advanced long-term goals and acquisitions for other enterprises that impact Tribal programs and well-being on Native lands in Kansas. He also worked for (then) Harrah’s Entertainment (now Caesars), holding front-line, supervisory, and management roles. In his early career, Corey was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Air Force where he attended flight school and then amassed 18 years of military aviation experience. Corey also worked in the civil aviation sector for about 2 years. Today, Corey provides flight expertise, consulting services, flight tests, aircraft delivery, and flight/simulator training in multiple aircraft to domestic and international customers while also juggling part-time service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves at Randolph AFB, Texas. Corey holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the Washburn University School of Business in Topeka, Kansas, and a master’s from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Passionate about making a continuing impact on Tribal nations, he brings to PWNA skills in business operations, Tribal government programs, strategic planning, finance and economic development, organizational restructuring, and international business.

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Jackie is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) Tribe and a descendant of the Assiniboine (Nakoda) Tribe of Montana’s Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Her Aaniiih name is ‘Itha Gibi That’ (translated to English means’ Walking Woman’). Jackie graduated from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management with a bachelor’s in business. Jackie works as the Indigenous Communities Officer for Newman’s Own Foundation. Before her current role, she worked for her community’s tribally owned business, Island Mountain Development Group (IMDG), and she spent 18+ years with Nike managing their N7 Fund, building capacity for sport and physical activity, and providing grants to maintain or expand programming in tribal communities. Jackie enjoys traveling, attending Tribal ceremonies, and helping her husband manage their food truck. As part of her give-back to the community, she serves as a Board member for the Native Wellness Institute and the Aaniiih Nakoda Community Foundation, and she is a trustee of Harlem Public School District. Jackie brings to PWNA her knowledge of Tribal communities and experience in partnership building, grants, program management, and strategic planning.

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Joshua joined PWNA as president & CEO in January 2020, our 30th year of serving Indian country. A citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, he has more than 20 years’ experience in education management, social work, and business development. Most recently, he served as Chief Information Officer of Haskell Indian Nations University, advancing their IT infrastructure and services to better meet their mission. Other public sector experience includes Tribal law and governance; after-school, youth, foster care, and housing programs for low-income families; and diversity and inclusion. Josh has also volunteered for the Kansas court-based Citizen Review Board for child welfare and Lawrence+Memorial Hospital for health equity, diversity, and inclusion. Joshua earned his bachelor’s in social work from the University of Kansas and then a J.D. specializing in Tribal law, applied Indigenous leadership, federal Indian law, and Indian gaming law. Sincere and forward-looking, Josh actively supports the advancement of Native communities.

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