Office of Tribal Self-Governance Staff

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tel. 301-443-7821
Fax 301-443-1050

OTSG STAFF

As Director of the Office of Tribal Self-Governance (OTSG), Ms. Ortiz has primary responsibility for the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (Public Law 93-638) as it pertains to health related activities affecting the Tribal Self-Governance Program. This includes advocacy on behalf of American Indians and Alaska Natives on the development and implementation of federal self-governance policy. The OTSG staff is responsible for advancing the positions and interests of self-governance tribes and providing policy analysis and development support to tribal governments and the Indian Health Service (IHS) Director in the evolving area of self-governance and tribal/federal government relationships.

Before joining the IHS in July 2006, Ms. Ortiz was a practicing attorney for twelve years, practicing in state, Federal, and Tribal courts. She worked for two private Indian law firms in Oklahoma and the Native American Rights Fund in Washington, D.C., representing Tribes and individual Indian clients. Ms. Ortiz was also an attorney with the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in the Public Health Division in Rockville, MD and in Region IX in San Francisco, advising IHS Headquarters and Area offices and representing the Agency before numerous boards and commissions.

Ms. Ortiz has a great deal of experience in the area of tribal self-governance under the ISDEAA. As an OGC attorney, she drafted, reviewed, and negotiated self-governance compacts and funding agreements as part of various Federal negotiation teams under Title III and Title V for the IHS Oklahoma, Nashville, Bemidji, California, and Phoenix Areas. She was instrumental in the Title V negotiated rulemaking process, authorizing portions of the implementing regulations. She was also the OGC representative and core member of the Agency Lead Negotiator (ALN) Curriculum Team, a group that developed a curriculum to be used in training future ALNs and educating the IHS management and staff on self-governance issues.

Ms. Ortiz was a founding member, treasurer, and president-elect of the Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C., and a founding board member of the California Indian Legal Association. She served for two years on the Maryland Commission of Indian Affairs, including one year as the vice-chairman. She was a co-chair of the inaugural Washington, D.C., Indian Law Conference.

Ms. Ortiz is a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and is also Caddo and Comanche. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. In addition, her recent accomplishments include three National Director's Awards for her outstanding performance, dedication and commitment to the mission of the IHS.

P. Benjamin Smith
Deputy Director

Mr. Smith assists the Office of Tribal Self-Governance (OTSG) Director and serves as the Acting Director, OTSG, in the Director's absence. He oversees all aspects of the administration of the Tribal Self-Governance Program authorized by Title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act including providing information, technical assistance and policy coordination in support of IHS Tribal Self-Governance activities.

Ben Smith has served as a Policy Analyst within the OTSG since 2006. Prior to his federal service, he worked as a Washington, DC Self-Governance Specialist liaison for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma performing research, advisory services, and consultation on health programs with national, state and local health departments. Mr. Smith has received IHS National Directors Awards for his Agency contributions to efforts such as the IHS Strategic Plan Update and for the development of the Agency Lead Negotiators Curriculum and Standards. He has also received numerous IHS Superior Support Service Awards for his involvement on IHS/Tribal Workgroups and special projects.

Mr. Smith holds a M.A. degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from the American University and a B.A. from Brigham Young University. He also holds post-graduate certificates in Senior Executive Leadership and Business from Georgetown University and a graduate certificate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has extensive international development fieldwork experience in Western Africa and Europe. In 2003, the American University conferred Mr. Smith a Lou Torres Fellow to promote American Indian and Alaska Native involvement in international affairs. At the same time, he assisted in building, promoting, and honoring self-sustaining American Indian and Alaska Native communities through education and leadership as an American Indian Graduate Fellow.

Mr. Smith is an enrolled member of the Navajo (Diné) Nation and named among the Navajo Nation's prestigious Chief Manuelito Scholars. Outside of work, Mr. Smith actively engages in community service and enjoys developing his classical piano and cello skills, studying foreign languages and international travel. He is a proud Eagle Scout and loves hiking and camping.

M. L. (Susie) Guardipee
Financial Analyst

Ms. Guardipee is responsible for financial information including payments/reconciliations of Funding Agreements for the following Areas: Billings, Oklahoma, Albuquerque, Aberdeen, and Phoenix Area Tribes. She manages the OTSG budget, and the shortfall, planning & negotiation funds. Ms. Guardipee serves on the Technical Workgroup of the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee as the OTSG Representative. Ms. Guardipee is an enrolled member of Blackfeet and Chippewa Cree.

Kevin C. Quinn
Financial Analyst

Mr. Quinn is responsible for financial information including payments/reconciliations of Funding Agreements for the following Areas: Alaska, Bemidji, California, Nashville and Portland Area Tribes. He reviews audits of Tribes that wish to enter into Self-Governance with the IHS, and also serves on the HQ Audit Resolution Team. Mr. Quinn also is responsible for the OTSG Database online. Serves as the OTSG representative on various workgroups. Mr. Quinn is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Tena L. Larney
Program Analyst

Ms. Larney is responsible for the review of new and renewed Compact and Funding Agreement language for compliance to Title V legislation, and analyzes new or proposed legislation or regulations to determine impact on the self-governance operations management. Provides assistance and guidance to Tribes, Area and Division Directors and Program Managers in all matters relating to the Tribal Self-Governance Program. Serves as the OTSG representative during negotiations with the following Areas: Alaska, Billings, Nashville, and five Oklahoma Tribes. Ms. Larney is a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

Carol L. Nuttle
Program Analyst

Ms. Nuttle is responsible for the review of new and renewed Compact and Funding Agreement language for compliance to Title V legislation, and analyzes new or proposed legislation or regulations to determine impact on the self-governance operations management. Provides assistance and guidance to Tribes, Area and Division Directors and Program Managers in all matters relating to the Tribal Self-Governance Program. Serves as the OTSG representative during negotiations with the following Areas: Albuquerque, Portland and eight Oklahoma Tribes. Ms. Nuttle is an enrolled member of the Pawnee.

Christopher Manydeeds
Program Analyst

Mr. Manydeeds joined the OTSG from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Fort Berthold Agency, New Town, North Dakota, where Mr. Manydeeds was the Deputy Superintendent of Trust. He is responsible for the review of new and renewed Compact and Funding Agreement language for compliance to Title V legislation, and analyzes new or proposed legislation or regulations to determine impact on the self-governance operations management. He provides assistance and guidance to Tribes, Area and Division Directors and Program Managers in all matters relating to the Tribal Self-Governance Program. Mr. Manydeeds serves as the OTSG representative during negotiations with the following Areas: Bemidji, California, and Phoenix. Mr. Manydeeds is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Mr. Manydeeds received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1996. Mr. Manydeeds has a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology in 1988.

Dawn Houle
Policy Analys

Dawn Houle is responsible for conducting policy and program analysis and preparing recommendations related to Self-Governance. She coordinates with OTSG staff to address questions from Tribes as well as from other IHS Offices and Government Agencies on issues related to the implementation and management of the Self Governance program. In addition, she facilitates the development of OTSG policy documents and coordinates the review of Agency policies, circulars, regulations and notices for the OTSG.

Prior to joining the IHS in August, 2009, Ms. Houle was a founding board member and Executive Director for the Tulalip Foundation in Tulalip, WA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that conducts policy development, budget oversight, fundraising, event planning, and public relations to better meet the existing and emerging challenges facing the Tulalip community. She has extensive work experience with the Department of Interior Self-Governance Activities in the capacity of a Tribal Forester Manager and Consultant for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, the Quinault Indian Nation, and the Tulalip Tribes.

Ms. Houle has served as a board member with the non-profits, Potlatch Fund and Intertribal Timber Council. Additionally, Dawn served as a board member with the Seattle Art Museum, Native Arts Council.

Dawn is a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe from Montana. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Forestry from the University of Montana and a Masters of Business Administration from the Saint Martin's University in Washington State.

Vacant
Policy Analyst

OTSG currently has a vacant Policy Analyst position. The OTSG Policy Analyst is responsible for conducting policy and program analysis and prepares recommendations related to Self-Governance. The Policy Analyst will design implementation actions to respond to Self-Governance issues, and provides technical assistance and advice. The Policy Analyst will also prepare responses to Congressional, Tribal, IHS, General Public, or Governmental agency inquiries and track/monitor Self-Governance Activities nation wide.

Anna Old Elk
Program Analyst

Ms. Old Elk joined the OTSG staff under the IHS Career Opportunity Training Agreement program as a Program Analyst. She receives on the job training assignments that provide practical study and understanding of the organization and its programs, policies, and objectives. She assists the OTSG Director, Analysts and other offices within the IHS on all issues relating to the Tribal Self-Governance program. She attends various national conferences and meetings including negotiations with Tribes to observe, participate, and become familiar with programs to support Tribes, and encourage government-to-government information sharing. Ms. Old Elk is responsible for conducting Tribal Delegation Meetings for Tribes with Self-Governance Compacts under Title V of the ISDEAA and is currently assisting in coordinating activities pertaining to the Planning and Negotiation Cooperative Agreements.

Ms. Old Elk is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe of Montana and is also Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux. Prior to joining the OTSG staff, she worked with the Public Affairs Staff, IHS for eight years. She received her Associates of Applied Science in Television Production and a certificate in Broadcast Journalism from Montgomery College in Rockville, MD.

Mary Beardsley
Secretary

Mary Beardsley is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and is also Laguna Pueblo. As the secretary of the Office of Tribal Self Governance, Ms. Beardsley's' primary function is to provide support to the Director as well as other staff as needed. Prior to joining the OTSG staff in October 2008, Ms. Beardsley worked for the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE), Office of the Director as the secretary for more than seven years. This included administrative responsibilities in the OEHE, its divisions, and two offices in Dallas and Seattle. She is also enrolled at Montgomery College working towards an Associates Degree in Business. She is experienced in the necessary functions, programs and general policy to support the OTSG.

Katie Fixico
Staff Assistant

As Staff Assistant for the Office of Tribal Self-Governance, Ms. Fixico provides general support for all staff members and their various projects. She is responsible for the daily activities such as incoming mail, answering phones, plus, various administrative duties such as travel, timekeeping, filing, organization, maintaining office supplies and overall customer service.

Ms. Fixico is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho as well as a descendent of the Cheyenne (Cheyenne-Arapaho) and Seminole tribes of Oklahoma. Prior to joining OTSG, Ms. Fixico spent five years as the Office Automation Assistant for the Division of Administrative Services where she was responsible for providing guidance and assistance to IHS headquarters personnel with maintenance requests, conference room reservations, any incoming and outgoing mail projects, and personal identification verification credentialing. Additionally, Ms. Fixico also spent a few years working for the Division of Human Resources here at IHS, where she got her start by utilizing the Student Temporary Employment Program during high school.

Jessica Smith-Kaprosy
Intern

From August - December, 2009 the Office of Tribal Self-Governance is hosting an intern from the American University Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) Program. While interning with the OTSG staff, Jessica is primarily responsible for assisting with the formulation and composition of the Self Governance and Self Determination Training Program, which is a series of internal programs that are being developed to educate staff at various levels about Self Governance and Self Determination.

Currently, Jessica is a law student at the University of Chicago Law School. She has completed her coursework, but is finishing up projects and will be graduating in December of 2009. She will be taking the bar in February 2010. While in law school, Jessica interned with three federal agencies: the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, the Securities and Exchange Commission Enforcement Division, and the National Indian Gaming Commission. She also worked with the University of Chicago Law School Mandel Legal Aid Clinic Mental Health Project.

Jessica is a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community in upper Michigan and grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied classical humanities and religious studies, concentrating on comparative religions in late antiquity.