Executive Director

Derrick Belgarde is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, and also Chippewa-Cree from Rocky Boy Montana. He serves on the board of Community Roots Housing, Downtown Emergency Service Center, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, and the Housing Development Consortium. He completed his undergraduate in Public Affairs Magna Cum Laude, and went on to complete his Master’s in Public Administration, both at Seattle University. He is a proud father of three and is married to the wonderful Lua Belgarde.

derrick@chiefseattleclub.org

(206) 965-1290

Chief Program Director

Chief Traditional Officer

Ootsimiohkyiyoakii (Brown Bear Woman) Nawiishtunmi Nightgun is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. She is a descendant of the Blackfeet Nation. Nawiishtunmi currently runs the traditional wellness department as the Chief Traditional Officer. Her role leads a team of traditional mental wellness staff that will work individually and in group settings utilizing trauma informed mental health, cultural tools and practices to support the healing and wellness modalities that are centered in ancestral knowledge. Nawiishtunmi is a mother of three who gathers and harvests traditional foods/medicines with her family and participates in ceremony. 

Nawiishtunmi previously has served as Co-Chair of the CEA Public Policy Committee, and as an Indian Policy Advisory Committee Delegate for Washington State as a tribal leader. A vocal advocate for ending homelessness and racial equity, she has presented on decolonizing colonialism, decolonizing data, and addressing the needs of our community during the pandemic in collaboration with the regional public health agency.

Chief Finance Officer

Marc Taylor is a member of the Lummi Nation. As Chief Financial Officer, Marc oversees the accounting, budgeting, and financing activities at Chief Settle Club.  Marc is proud to have volunteered as President of Seattle's Native American Police Advisory Commission, Board Member with Downtown Emergency Services Center and as umpire for South Seattle's Non-Profit Softball League. 

Chief Administrative Officer

Pam is a member of the Navajo Nation and the Cowichan First Nations of British Columbia. As CAO of CSC, Pam has driven the organization’s growth and size of the organization from 2016 to now in administrative areas such as Human Resources, IT, and Facilities.

Her leadership has led a unique approach to Human Resources that is inclusive to the urban Indigenous Community that includes policies that reflect culture and identity among staff. As well as one of kind training opportunities such as de-escalation and boundary techniques that apply to emergency service providers but also adhere to harm-reduction practices.

She currently serves on Highline School District’s Native Families Advisory Council, her son’s school PTA, on the board of directors of Associated Recreational Council and active alumni of Native Action Network.

Chief Community Development Officer

James Lovell is Chief Seattle Club’s Chief Community Development Officer and has been at the Club since 2021. In this role, James oversees the development of resources for the Club including fundraising, grant writing, and policy & advocacy work. James also leads the Club’s public-facing work including communications and the ʔálʔal? Café. James has previously served as Development Director for Neighborhood House, a partner of Chief Seattle Club. James’ background is in youth development and system-building for statewide education systems, including work at School’s Out Washington, ReWA, and VFA (now Kandelia). James has served on many boards, commissions, and committees and currently sits on the board of RVC, a nonprofit capacity-building organization,as well as the Highline Native Families Advisory Committee. James is a county-appointed member of the King County Children & Youth Advisory Board (which advises the County Executive on the Best Starts for Kids Investments) and is the co-chair of the Puget Sound Taxpayers Accountability Account (PSTAA). James is enrolled in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians from Belcourt, ND and was born and raised in Seattle. James currently lives in SeaTac, WA with his wife, kids, and extended family.