Meet SWIWC

Who We Are

History (Herstory)

SWIWC’s Two-Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Advisory Council (2SLGBTQ+) was created in 2015 to guide and provide leadership in developing effective and culturally sensitive responses for survivors of domestic and sexual violence from the Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ community. Our advisory council adds lived experience and subject matter expertise to the work provided by SWIWC in helping tribes to increase their capacity to address and respond to this community.

SWIWC Founders
SWIWC Staff

Vision and Mission and Service Area

SWIWC’s vision: To have safe indigenous communities.

SWIWC’s mission: To increase the capacity of indigenous communities to address and respond to violence through education, training, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and culturally sensitive and supportive services.

SWIWC’s service area: All 22 tribes in Arizona are welcome to receive services from SWIWC. However, SWIWC’s sister tribal coalition, the Hopi-Tewa Women’s Coalition to End Abuse serves the Hopi Nation and some tribes such as the Navajo Nation, Kaibab-Paiute, and Zuni participate in other tribal coalitions that are geographically closer to them.

Meet Our Governing Board

SWIWC’s Governing Board is comprised of Native women who are committed to the work of ending violence against indigenous women in Arizona. The Governing Board include the following:

Mary Howe

Mary Howe

President

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe
Fort Mojave, Az

Carrie Imus

Carrie Imus

Vice-President

Hualapai Tribe
Peach Springs, AZ

Geraldine Laughter

Geraldine Laughter

Secretary

Diné
Kayenta, AZ

Lorena Halwood

Lorena Halwood

Treasurer

Diné
Chinle, AZ

Meet Our Staff

Our expert staff is devoted to their service to this community and are an integral part of who we are.

Leanne Guy, Executive Director

Leanne Guy, Executive Director

Diné

Memory Dawn Long Chase, Domestic Violence Response Director

Memory Dawn Long Chase, Domestic Violence Response Director

Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Tania Harvey, Director of Tribal Engagement

Tania Harvey, Director of Tribal Engagement

Diné

Gail Henry, Finance Assistant

Gail Henry, Finance Assistant

Diné

Veronica Hunter, Director of Finance

Veronica Hunter, Director of Finance

Diné

Kristy Granger, Program Assistant

Kristy Granger, Program Assistant

Diné

Meet Our 2S/LGBTQ Advisory Council

SWIWC’s 2S/LGBTQ Advisory Council was created in 2015 to guide and provide leadership in developing effective and culturally sensitive responses for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in tribal communities. Our advisory council adds lived experience and subject matter expertise to the work provided by SWIWC in helping tribes to increase their capacity to address and respond to this community.

Advisors
Advisors
Lenny L. Hayes III

Lenny L. Hayes III

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Corbett Seneca

Corbett Seneca

Seneca Nations of Indians

Tavi Hawn

Tavi Hawn

Cherokee

Josie Raphaelito

Josie Raphaelito

Diné

Miranda George

Miranda George

Shoshone

Timothy S. Ruise

Timothy S. Ruise

Cahuilla Band of Indians

Elton Naswood

Elton Naswood

Diné

Pete Hill

Pete Hill

Cayuga

Mattee Jim

Mattee Jim

Diné

Silas Hoffer

Silas Hoffer

Grande Ronde/Yakima

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