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Board of Directors

(The Board of Directors are responsible for the hiring and overseeing the Executive Director.) 

The current members of the board are:

            The board meets the last Thursday of each month at the center. 

 

Individual Biographies

Linda Eagle Heart Thomas, Ph.D.

Linda has a Ph.D in Experimental and Developmental Psychology. She is an Associate Professor  of Applied Arts and Sciences, Director of Psychology Discipline, member of the University of Montana Presidential Research Committee, Chair of the Faculty Development committee and involved in the development of 2+2 Programs, Faculty Advisor Licensed Addiction Counselor Program and Pre-Professional Social Work Program.

Linda has experience on various boards including, Executive board member of MASPAL- Mothers Against Sexual Predators at Large (since 2002). Guardian Angels Cancer foundation Board member, and Bridge Court Homeowners Association Executive Board member and Financial Officer.

Linda has experience working with budgets, employee issues, grant preparation and submission and possess credentials which qualify her for program evaluation. She also has a background in finance and program management.

Linda has been a Mentor to Native American Students through the Bridges to the Baccalaureate and the EP Score Programs at the University of Montana for the last 14 years. Additionally, She been a member of the AISDC [American Indian Student Development Committee] at the UM, and received the Presidential Diversity Award from the University of Montana, and was active in starting the UM Native American Graduate Student Association in 1996. She is  Eastern Band Cherokee, descendent, and was raised with her father's family in the Oregon area, living in the Oregon area where her father's relatives were, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla.

She was extensively involved at Portland State University in AISES [American Indian Science and Engineering Society], UNITY [United Indian Tribal Youth Advisor], NACA [Native American Community Advisory] and UISHE [United Indian Students in Higher Education]. During her undergraduate years, she interned for Patrick Weasel Head in Portland Oregon, and  on his recommendation, arrived in Montana. She was also an assistant director of the INPSYCH program at the UM for 2 years.

Dr. Rowan McQuarrie

My name is Dr. Rowan P. McQuarrie. My wife and I have lived in Missoula for five years moving here from northwest Colorado. I have practiced Dentistry for 35 years and was awarded a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry several years ago. I am also a Type 2 member of the Society of American Indian Dentists and when given the opportunity mentor Native American Indian students in pursuing careers in dentistry. I have been fortunate to have been an appointed Missoula Indian Center Interim Board of Directors member since April of 2010 and am running as a candidate for one of the Board of Directors open seats in the upcoming October 1⁵¹ Board of Directors members' election. I encourage all of our Community Members to come to the Center and review the all of the nominees' application forms and bio information and to participate in this election held at the Center from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. I am submitting these three position statements as a means to introduce myself to those members of our Community that I have not yet met.

As a Missoula Indian Center Board of Director's member I would want to work towards improving upon the ways we document health care services that we provide for our Community Members. Without this documentation we can not appropriately bill the subsidizing agencies we work with. We are then unable to maximize the funds received from those provided services and are therefore less financially able to improve upon the services we currently offer and/or expand services offered. We also need to investigate all; currently under utilized, available forms of income; such as grants and direct third party billing, and then take advantage of those sources of revenue in a manner reflecting our commitment to our Community's needs.

I would like to see the Missoula Indian Center mature into an Urban Indian Health Center directly providing health care services with its own salaried health care providers in its own facility rather than outsourcing those services to off site providers. The Center would benefit from increased third party payments and our community members would be in a clinic setting designed to offer health care services in a more conveniently located facility and in a more comfortable environment. I would envision something like the new CSKT Tribal Health Clinic
in Polson as an example of what we may work towards offering our Community here in Missoula.

I also believe that in order for the Missoula Indian Center to fully meet the needs of the Community it serves, the Center must continue to support and promote traditional cultural experiences, especially for the youth of our Community. Such practices may provide stepping stones enabling them to walk their path to maturity in a good way; substance abuse, suicide prevention, obesity and diabetes can all be impacted in a positive manner by learning more about and by participating in traditional practices. Our Community's adults would similarly benefit.
Such practices would also be of benefit to our Elders by involving them more into the Center's
activities to help teach such customs and practices. In this way the Elders are respected and honored for their knowledge which has been learned from a lifetime of experiences.

Dana Wilson

 

Dana Wilson (Shikaak Baachilaash) is an enrolled member of the Apsaalooke nation, member of the Big Lodge clan and child of the Bad War Deeds clan.  In addition to serving on the MIC Board of Directors, he was just recently re elected to his third (3^rd) four (4) year term in the Crow Tribe Legislative Branch of Government.  He also currently chairs the Missoula County Public Schools Title VII Parent Advisory Committee. 

A former shop steward at the Apsaalooke coal mine, Mr. Wilson has experience in workplace policy, problem solving, negotiation, budgeting, and possses general “common sense”.  He is married to his wife of 17 years and currently resides with their three (3) children all of whom are enrolled members of the Apsaalooke nation.   

Mr. Wilson loves his culture, and in his free time, he breaks and trains horses, plays handgame, participates in sweatlodge ceremonies and enjoys watching his children participate in both cultural and non cultural activities.

Tracy Labin Rhodes

Tracy currently serves as Judge Pro Tempore for the Tribal Court of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, represents children involved in neglect and abuse proceedings and parenting disputes in the District Court of Montana, is an Acting Director for the Indian Law Clinic and was a Visiting Associate Professor at the University  of Montana (2004-2005) where she has supervised students in clinical practice of Indian and family law in Tribal Court, Montana District court, Montana Supreme Court and Eight Circuit Court of Appeals, taught classroom component of clinical programs and course in Tribal Courts and Tribal Law, organized Montana component of national native voting rights project.

Tracy has also been involved in the Native Rights Fund, Senior Staff Attorney in Washington, D.C.(1994-2004), Recipients of the Skadden Fellowship (1994-1996).

Tracy attended Stanford Law School, Juris Doctorate, Executive Editor, Stanford Journal of International Law, recipient of Lyons Award for Service for Developing “Native American Common Law and Legal Institutions” and member of the Native American Law Students Association.

Tracy also received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and French.

Tracy has experience as Co-Chair, Federal Bar Assoc. 27^th and 28^th Annual Indian Law Conference (2001-2003), Vice-President, Colorado Indian Bar Assoc.(1995-2005), Board Member, Indian Law Clinic Advisory Board, University of Colorado at Boulder Law School (1998-2002), Board member, Colorado Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (2000-2002) and member Colorado Pledge to Diversity Group.

Tracy has many Publications, Selected Presentations and Bar Memberships.

Tracy is of Seneca and Mohawk Descent.

 

 

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