Our Staff

Interim Executive Director

Patrick Weaselhead

Patrick received his B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting from University of Montana;

M.E. in Guidance and Counseling from University of Montana;

Ph.D. in Ed. Policy and Management from the University of Oregon.

Patrick is semi-retired and works part-time with the University of Montana.

Patrick served on the Missoula Indian Center Board in the 1970’s and is on several Advisory Boards; LETTERS - U of M; STEM U of Hi; Quality Education for Minorities – QWEM- Washington, D.C.

 

 

Executive Administrative Assistant
/ RPMS Data Coordinator

 

 Position Open

CD Data Coordinator

Sharon Fortner

 

 

 

Sharon is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck tribe.  . She has been employed with the Missoula Indian Center since 1995 during her on- the- job  training.

She was hired in 1997 - 1999.  She returned in 2002 and has been here ever since. Her job duties include Patient Registration on clients, data management for the State and I.H.S. and billing.

Sharon enjoys fly fishing and spending time with her family and friends.


Social Services Coordinator
Elrae Potts, MSW

 

Elrae Potts, MSW is an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation of North Dakota. She holds a Bachelors degree in Human Services and a Master of Social Work from the University of Montana. She is the wife Steve (Piikani) and the mother of Michael, McKayla, and Mashelle.

Elrae has earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Great Falls and her Master of Social Work from the University of Montana. Her direct work and experience reflects Elrae’s passion for serving in Indian Country. She has been a speaker & trainer since 2001. Her message is grounded in educating and raising awareness about the issues that plague Native American people. She especially enjoys working with middle and high school aged students and her specialty is team building and team work fundamentals.

Elrae loves Missoula and the urban Indian environment within, and stays as active as possible in the community.

 

Interim Health Coordinator

 

Cherith Smith - RPh, PharmD

 

 Cherith Smith, born on the Rosebud Reservation of South Dakota, is Sicangu Sioux.  She is, also, an enrolled member of the Piikani Nation (Brocket, Alberta).  Cherith graduated from U of M’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2007. 

She began working with MIC at the end of October, 2009, through a Native American Center of Excellence grant out of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. 

Cherith is on site once weekly in the health office  and with the diabetes program providing education and counseling services on a walk-in basis, with in depth medication consultation by appointment. 

She is working towards starting a more comprehensive medication management program for MIC clients. 

Please call the health office to find out when Cherith is available to meet with you.

 

Clinical Supervisor
Kasey Nicholson

 

 

         Kasey Nicholson, M.S., CDS II, LAC. He is an enrolled Gros-Ventre from Fort Belknap Indian Community and also a Blackfeet from Browning, MT. He also has bloodlines that can be traced through his paternal and maternal grandparents which have known to be Crow, Arapaho, Blood and Inuit.

Kasey is serving as the Chemical Dependency Clinical Director for the Missoula Indian Center. He will be applying for grants, managing and supervising the CD clinical staff, conducting evaluations and soon to be doing Mental Health Counseling with the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor to attain his LCPC within this year. Kasey has worked previously with MIC as an LAC Intern/Outpatient Counselor for a year. He has worked in various different settings that aid him in his professional career development and to successfully conduct the job expected of him.

 

Kasey has worked with all age levels and aims to provide education, understanding, hope, guidance, optimism, professionalism and laughter to many that he works with. Kasey works with an open mind and is always striving to better the programs and methods he is involved with.

Kasey enjoys running, lifting weights, hiking, spending time with his family, music, reading, painting, beading, pow-wows, dancing, singing with various drum groups, playing the American Indian flute, attending and participating in his tribal traditions, beliefs and ceremonies. Kasey enjoys doing comedy, presenting, conducting motivational presentations and being a role model to young and old.

Kasey’s recent favorite quote has been, “You define the moment or the moment defines you.” Tin Cup movie    

ASAP/Tobacco

Dana Kingfisher

 Dana is the ASAP/Tobacco coordinator for the center. She has been employed at the center since  February of 2006.  She is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre tribe, although she was born and raised on the Blackfeet reservation. Dana is very helpful with the clients she serves at the center. 

Intensive Outpatient Counselor

Michelle Moles, BSW, LAC

 

 Michelle currently facilitates the intensive Outpatient groups. She has worked at the center since February of 2007.  Her future plans include going back to school to pursue her license in Clinical Social Work.  Her hobbies include, listening to music [the Dave Matthews Band], dancing, laughing, hiking, walking, camping, gardening, and general outdoor and summer activities.

 

"Wellbriety" Outpatient Counselor
Kathleen LittleLeaf, LAC

 

 Kathleen is a chemical dependency counselor for the Outpatient program and “Wellbriety” counselor.  She has been working at the Missoula Indian Center since March of 2006.  Prior to her hire here at the center she was an LAC Intern and student at the University of Montana.  She is an enrolled member of the Blackfoot Nation from the Pikuni tribe in Alberta, Canada. 

Transportation

Ernie Cut Finger

 

Ernie was born and raised in Browning.

He has worked on and off for the Indian Center since he worked as a counselor in 1973.

He has been our transportation van driver since 2007

 
Trilanda No Runner
On-Call Recieptions