Jacqueline L. (Johnson) Pata, Fairfax, VA

"It is so important now for corporations and tribes to create a synergy of business partnerships by working together and enhancing what the other is doing so that we can reinvest in our communities."

Jacqueline L. (Johnson) Pata is the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). She attended Utah State University, Snow College in Utah and the University of Alaska Southeast. She has been a member of the Sealaska Board of Directors since 1999 and serves as the vice-chair of the Compensation Committee, the Audit Committee and the Finance Committee. She also serves as a director of Managed Business Solutions (MBS), Sealaska Environmental Services, LLC, and on the Elders' Settlement Trust Board of Trustees.

Jackie has chaired the National American Indian Housing Council and is the former deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Native American Programs for Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She has also served as a director of the Chilkoot Native Youth Culture Camp in Haines and as past executive director of the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority.

One of her priorities is strengthening Alaska Native economies. "The exodus of families leaving their village communities because of poor economies has a huge impact on those remaining." In response to what she has seen, Jackie has been encouraging Village Corporations, tribes and regional nonprofits to strategize and work together.

Jackie is Tlingit of the Raven Tribe, and is Lukaax.ádi from the Sockeye house in Haines, AK. Her Tlingit name is Ku seen.