Kara Briggs is one of the country’s longtime Native American women leaders and trainers (also NWPC-certified) who hails from the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe (whose name was the basis for the City of Seattle). Her roots began as a 17-year journalist award winner for both the Oregonian and then the Spokeman’s Review (Spokane, WA). One of the first to unite journalists of color throughout the country, she served as President of Unity: Journalists of Color and International President of Native American Journalist Association.
In recent years, she’s been the Tribal Liaison for WA State’s Department of Revenue for policy and outreach to 35 tribes, playing a guiding role in ushering in a new era of tribal-state agreements. Previously she worked as Co-Director of the American Indian Policy and Media Initiative on projects including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian through this innovative think tank based in the State Universities of New York. Currently, she has returned to the Sauk-SuiattleTribe as its Government Relations Director.