Tnisha Chandler

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

​​Tnisha is an enrolled citizen of The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and was born and raised on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard, the ancestral homeland to the Aquinnah Wampanoag. Tnisha has worked in the health care field in one capacity or another for the past 15 years, and from 2015-2020 served on the advisory board of the Wampanoag Women’s Center.

In 2014, Tnisha began working as the Wampanoag Health Service’s Community Health Representative. At this time, she was a resource and advocate for the health care needs of tribal citizens and their families. Concurrently, her work in domestic violence began. After participating in a 40-hour Domestic Violence Advocacy training and a workshop with Mending the Sacred Hoop, Tnisha realized just how close to home this work is. This sparked her dedication to helping others not only survive but heal from the trauma of domestic and sexual violence. 

Elizabeth Kaeka

BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT

Elizabeth is an enrolled member of The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and was born and raised on the Island of Martha's Vineyard. She is married with two children who were also born and raised on the island.

A SAFESTAR and a tribal legal advocate, Elizabeth has taken a 40-hour sexual assault course as well as Enough Abuse Training. She is a former tribal council member and has served on numerous committees for her tribe for years, as well as working for the tribe in many other capacities.  

Recognizing that our community has come a long way, Elizabeth sees a need to continue to grow, work, and assist all tribal members in the many programs being put in place through The Northeast Network of Kinship and Healing. With the belief that only our people can further ourselves by listening and learning from one another while we continue our traditions handed down generation after generation, Elizabeth hopes that all tribal members will reach out for help and services from the Network. 

Katrina Araujo

BOARD TREASURER

Katrina was born and raised on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, is the spouse of an Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member, and has raised three adult Wampanoag sons.  

Over the years, Katrina ran a home child care service which provided care to many tribal children. She has been involved with building services for the Wampanoag community since the very beginning of our journey, and her perspective and insight help to ensure that the Network thinks of and is inclusive of everyone in our community.

Nefititi Jette

BOARD CLERK

Nefititi is a proud enrolled member of the federally recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah. Nefititi grew up between Boston and the Island of Martha’s Vineyard, her ancestral homelands in Massachusetts. 

Since returning to her tribal homeland permanently 18 years ago, Nefititi has been instrumental in many positions in her tribal community, serving on various cultural and administrative committees, including the Constitution Election committee which she chairs. Nefititi has also worked in the Finance department and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office. She has volunteered at Safe Harbor, her tribe’s Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program, since its inception, and has also worked for it as a contractor. 

Nefititi is certified in Positive Indian Parenting, ICWA, Domestic Violence Advocate, Sexual Assault Advocate, Sex Trafficking, and is a SAFESTAR. She is extremely excited and humbled at the opportunity to serve her community with The Northeast Native Network of Kinship and Healing.

Hallie Bongar White

BOARD MEMBER

Hallie (Yael Tzivia bas Edel) is the mother of five Citizen Potawatomi Nation children and grandmother of four. 

A Jew and a non-Indian, Hallie is the founder and dean of the National Tribal Trial College at the University of Wisconsin Law School and the co-founder of the Indigenous sexual assault forensic program, SAFESTAR. She is also the author of numerous publications, including the National Tribal Law Enforcement Protocol on Sexual Assault, the National Tribal Prosecutor’s Protocol on Sexual Assault, and Creative Civil Remedies Against Non-Indian Offenders in Indian Country. 

In 2019, Haillie received the United States Department of Justice Ronald Wilson Reagan Award in Public Policy for her work combatting violent crime victimization in Indian country and Alaska.

Bettina Washington

BOARD MEMBER AND CULTURAL EXPERT

Bettina was born and raised on the island of Noepe (Martha’s Vineyard) and is an enrolled member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

Raised in a family of longstanding cultural tradition and leadership, for the past fifteen years she has had the honor of working for the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe’s Tribal Historic Preservation and Cultural departments, beginning as a part-time tribal cultural resource monitor and now serving as the department’s director. She believes that preserving and protecting our archeological and cultural heritage is vital to our tribal identity and survival.