Native-led Bison Restoration & Economy

David Levine
President
American Sustainable Business Network

David is the co-founder and president of the American Sustainable Business Network. He has worked as a social entrepreneur for over 30 years focusing on the development of whole systems solutions for a more sustainable society through building strategic partnerships and broad stakeholder initiatives. Previously, he was the founding director of Continuing Education & Public Programs at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. From 1984-1997, David was the founder and executive director of the Learning Alliance, an independent popular education organization. David is also a principal partner at Miracle Springs Farm, a family farm in the Hudson Valley.

Heather Dawn Thompson
Director of the Office of Tribal Relations
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Heather Dawn Thompson is a distinguished Lakota attorney from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, currently serving as the Director of the Office of Tribal Relations at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Joe Biden administration. Her appointment, announced on January 25, 2021, marked a significant step towards enhancing the government-to-government relationship between the USDA and Tribal Nations. Thompson reports directly to the Secretary of Agriculture, emphasizing the office’s crucial role in maintaining nation-to-nation relationships and ensuring meaningful tribal consultation across the department.

Thompson’s extensive background in American Indian law, federal Indian policy and advocacy, tribal sovereignty, and tribal economic development-including areas such as e-commerce, international trade, energy, finance, telecom, community economic development, and nation-building-has prepared her well for this role. She is recognized for her work in both the public and private sectors, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous positions. These include serving as a member of the American Indian Law Practice Group at Greenberg Traurig, a Presidential Management Fellow at the Department of Justice, a law clerk with the Attorney General’s Office for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Counsel and Policy Advisor to the U.S. Senate’s Democratic Policy Committee, and an Assistant U.S. Attorney for South Dakota’s Indian Country Section, where she focused on cases involving violence against women and children.

In the private sector, Thompson was a partner at Dentons, where she stood out as one of the few Native American partners at an “AmLaw 100″ law firm. She has also led as the Director of Government Affairs for the National Congress of American Indians, and served as President of both the South Dakota Indian Country Bar Association and the National Native American Bar Association.

Her education includes a Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Carnegie Mellon University.

Thompson resides between the Black Hills in South Dakota and Washington, D.C., embodying her commitment to both her tribal heritage and her national responsibilities. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Lakota, reflecting her broad communication skills and cultural depth. Her leadership at the USDA is aimed at empowering tribal nations and improving systemic economic conditions in Indian Country, fostering a future where tribal communities can thrive and maintain sovereignty.

Wizipan Garriott
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs
U.S. Department of the Interior

Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior. He serves as the first assistant and principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs in the development and interpretation of policies affecting Indian Affairs bureaus, offices, and programs. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Garriott served as chief executive officer from 2012 to 2021 of the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation, an ecosystem of Tribal organizations serving the Rosebud Indian Reservation. In this capacity, Mr. Garriott led and started businesses and community-based programs, including a Native language immersion school and 1,500-head buffalo herd. Mr. Garriott’s previous federal service included serving under the leadership of Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk from 2009 to 2011. Mr. Garriott was born and raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation where he attended St. Francis Indian School, a Bureau of Indian Affairs (now Bureau of Indian Education) facility. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Yale University. Mr. Garriott received his Juris Doctor degree in 2008 from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College.

Martha Kauffman
Vice President Northern Great Plains Ecoregion
World Wildlife Fund

As vice president for World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Northern Great Plains ecoregion, Martha Kauffman oversees WWF-US’s largest domestic field program, which covers 5 US states and 2 Canadian provinces and seeks to conserve one of the last temperate grasslands on the planet. In this role she oversees the program’s strategic vision and supports an outstanding team that partners with Native Nations and ranching communities, develops leading science, drives for needed policy changes, and influences through strategic communications. She’s a leading member of a continent-wide grassland conservation initiative coalescing around a common vision, strategic priorities, and measurable outcomes. Martha is also a tireless champion for global grassland conservation, helping to establish and support WWF’s Global Grasslands and Savannahs Initiative. She also serves on the boards of the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture and Working Dogs for Conservation. Martha received a B.S. in applied earth sciences from Stanford University and a master’s degree in earth sciences from Montana State University.

Troy Heinert
Executive Director
InterTribal Buffalo Council

Troy Heinert, Sicangu Lakota, currently serves as Executive Director of ITBC. Prior to his selection as ED, Mr. Heinert assisted ITBC with the surplus buffalo shipments since 2015. His extensive experience in transporting buffalo has helped Tribes safely restore buffalo back to their lands.

You may also recognize him as Senator Troy Heinert as he has served in the South Dakota State Legislature since 2013, and as the Senate Minority Leader since 2018. Troy is also a decorated Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) and Indian National Finals Rodeo Association (INFR) Pickup man in his spare time.

Mr. Heinert lives on his family ranch west of Mission, SD with his wife Gena and youngest son Harold. Their son, TJ, lives on a ranch in the Southwest corner of the Reservation and their daughter, Jordan, lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Joel Moffett
Director of Environmental & Special Projects
Native Americans in Philanthropy

Joel Moffett serves as the Director of Environmental and Special Projects at Native Americans in Philanthropy.

As a former Tribal leader, Joel has served as Vice Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe Executive Committee. In 2013, he was also elected to lead the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) as its chairman. Most recently, Joel was the Natural Resources Policy Coordinator for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI).

Joel currently lives in Suquamish, WA with his two children.