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GSC Staff and Board Members

The Grinding Stone Collective is a 100% Indigenous-led organization. The Board members consist of several elders and professionals from across Turtle Island and the Indigenous Caribbean. We follow a community-responsive model, with the teachers and communities we serve as the center stones of the collective.

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Brooke Rodriguez

Brooke Rodriguez

Borikua Taino

Founder, Executive Director and Board Vice Chairwoman

Brooke is a 2022 Indigenous Communities Fellow at Solve MIT. She is dedicated to community outreach and building allyship between indigenous communities across the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Sid Whiting Jr.

Sid Whiting Jr.

Sicangu Lakota

Board Chairman

Sid presently works with the University of Denver on the Native American Advisory Council and cultural academics presenter working on indigenous student programming. He's also served as a northern traditional dancer and Arena Director powwows.

Renee San Souci

Renee San Souci

Omaha

Board Member

Renee is a Poet and Educator. She is dedicated to Native youth suicide prevention, language revitalization, community healing and to restoring spiritual connection to the Sky and the Earth through Native teachings.

Irka Mateo

Irka Mateo

Kiskeya Taino

Board Member

Irka is a ceremonialist and traditional healer who conducts earth-honoring ceremonies and traditional Amazonian healing.

Alexandria Cruz

Alexandria Cruz

Borikua Taino

Communications Manager

Alexandria is a 2022 Indigenous Communities Fellow at Solve MIT, Writer & Taino Borikua Sovereignty Advocate. She is dedicated to uplifting native communities and supporting sustainable solutions to our nation's food crisis...

Mary Opwam

Mary Opwam

Cree

Board Secretary & First Foods Podcast Co-Host

Mary is a Nehiyaw Iskwew from Sweetgrass First Nation community member and currently works as an FSW to house the houseless Indigenous population in Edmonton Alberta.

Emma-Lee Joe

Emma-Lee Joe

Nłeʔkepmx

Board Member

Emma-Lee has a Certificate in Indigenous Language instruction, a BA, and a BEd (Elementary). She is currently working on an MEd in Early Childhood Education.

Christinia Eala

Christinia Eala

Sicangu Lakota

First Foods Podcast Co-host

Director at Tiyospaye Winyan Maka - Homestead Project

Victoria Barbarito

Victoria Barbarito

Mexican-American

Videographer and Editor

Victoria Barbarito is a queer Mexican-American documentary filmmaker whose work centers around familial relationships, transformations in nature, and systems of care. She is also a DTI certified postpartum doula dedicated to bodily autonomy...

Marina Bartelli

Marina Bartelli

Cherokee

Board Treasurer

Marina is a Community Mobility Coordinator overseeing a grant-funded healthcare transportation program. She is also a volunteer advocate for victims/survivors of domestic violence and SA.

Luis Kacian Calderon

Luis Kacian Calderon

Borikua Taino

Board Member

Luis Kacian is a professional Borikua Taino Ceramicist of traditional and contemporary Taino clay arts, teacher and owner of Alfareria Kanari.

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