Work in progress — and proud of it

Enrolled member from the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, as well as of Mexican and Irish decent.

Dustin was born in May of 1985 in Yakima, WA where he lived until he was 9yrs old until his family moved to Las Vegas. He lived in Las Vegas through the rest of his childhood, until he relocated to Oregon, turning 20yrs old shortly after. Throughout his teenage years, into adulthood, Dustin struggled with addiction and homelessness. He ended up in prison at the age of 21 and was released 4.5 years later. That is when he met his partner, Lydell Suppah, from the Warm Spring Reservation in Oregon. They shared similar struggles with active addiction and homelessness until he was 30years old. That is when, together, they were able to develop a connection to Creator, Culture and Community. For the last 9.5 years Dustin has dedicated his personal and professional life to giving back to the Community that saved his life, sharing his experience and even opening his home to those who need support. Doing this work is what keeps him going and is why he is proud and humbled to sit on the Board and further this work through House Spirit.

Is Modoc and is an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes. She currently serves as the Treasurer for House Spirit.

Normajean has over 20 years of bookkeeping experience. Her grandmother took her under her wing at a young age, teaching her how to do the bookkeeping for her father's roofing company. Since then, Normajean has worked for fortune 500 companies, small businesses, Tribes, non-profits, and has served on other non-profit boards and ad-hoc committees.

Normajean started Red Boot Bookkeeping in 2020 and is currently the Executive Director of Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission, a non-profit that she has been serving for over a decade.

Normajean is involved in environmental projects as well as serving her communities as called upon.

Modoc and Pitt River descend. A true solution specialist, Dallas has been serving communities stretched over 6 states for over 10 years now. He started a construction company to better serve his communities and annually would use about 75% of his profits towards the people. After identifying how to better serve his communities him and his team developed House Spirit named after his mentor that impacted his life at a young age. "We've earned better in this life as indigenous peoples it's time to get us there; Without community I would have never made it this far. Our people deserve better" are some of the brief quotes that are true expression of his drives and passions.  

Is Indigenous to the Pacific Islands with Swedish and Danish heritage. She currently serves as the Secretary for House Spirit and on the board. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, she is deeply committed to supporting and advocating for Indigenous communities.
Chanda spent much of her life learning and residing near the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Reservation, where she developed a strong multicultural foundation and a deep appreciation for cultural awareness, equity, and inclusion. Her lived experiences in both rural and urban environments enhance her ability to build connections across diverse communities and recognize the unique strengths each setting offers. Chanda draws on her cross-cultural background to foster inclusive spaces and support meaningful engagement among the individuals and communities she serves.

Tammy Stuart-Oates is a strategic operations leader and nonprofit executive with over a decade of experience in organizational development, governance, and large-scale program implementation. As Director of Operations for House Spirit, she plays a central role in building the organization’s infrastructure, guiding financial and administrative strategy, and advancing initiatives that support community resilience, cultural preservation, and long-term sustainability. Her work is rooted in translating vision into executable systems—ensuring that mission-driven ideas are backed by strong operational foundations.

Tammy holds an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Data Analytics and brings a background that spans corporate strategy, healthcare systems, and tribal governance support. She has led efforts in policy development, grant strategy, and cross-sector partnerships, with a focus on creating scalable models that can grow alongside community needs. Through her consulting work, she continues to support organizations in strengthening leadership, securing funding, and building structures that drive measurable impact.