Board of Directors & Staff
Amber Gwin (Hishua)
"Hishua kutaatAxaá'A. Miráse Hishua éhero'sh. Cagic Nu’shia’wa , Miigirasháàcic. Maarú cagíhaa sheewáàdhaarug migúàra. Madaraagi maxoxadic. Mii me’chirooga naagac. Mahuush nashi xubaari ciri’sh heec. Maaduush nashi madaxii heec. Madashi Hishua heec." Amber was raised by a true Maxoxadi matriach and a major bundle keeper and her family is where she draws her foundation of traditional knowledge. Amber brings significant professional experience working alongside culture and language keepers. She holds a bachelors degree in Native American Studies from Nueta, Hidatsa Sahnish College, although she places an equally high value on Indigenous traditions and teachings.
Rylee Dahlen
Rylee Dahlen is Nueta, Hiraaca, Sahnish, Anishinaabe, and Lakota. A graduate of New Town High School, Rylee went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship and a master’s degree in Indigenous Public Health from the University of North Dakota. She currently serves as a Tribal Health Liaison for MHA and Turtle Mountain with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Rylee is honored to be a part of Hiráaca Maa Aru Cáawi Board of Directors and excited to bring her experience, perspective, and dedication to the work ahead.
Carolyn Wolf
Carolyn Wolf is an enrolled member of the MHA Nation, a member of the Water Buster Clan and child of the Knife Clan. She grew up in New Town/Shell Creek, ND and graduated from New Town High School. She earned her Associate of Arts degree for General Studies in 2016 and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Native American Studies in 2019 at the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College. She currently resides in Parshall/Lucky Mound, ND and works for the MHA Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office. She has a background in traditional knowledge through her family, her education and professional career. Wolf is thrilled to join the Hiraaca Maa Aru Caawi Board of Directors and to collaborate on the journey going forward.
Lisa Casarez (Hihci Nagabagiish)
Lisa (Pink Blossom) is Ciicga Naagi (Prairie Chicken clan) and a high school graduate of and former Hidatsa Language k12 teacher at Mandaree Public School. Lisa is a graduate of United Tribes Technical College (Media Arts, AAS), University of North Dakota (Communications, B.A), and University of Arizona (MA) with a focus in Native American Linguistics. A lifelong learner of Hiráaca language, her focus is fostering accessibility and building infrastructure for the Hiráaca language to thrive in commnunity spaces.