Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians appoints new chief operating officer
BROOKS, Calif. - The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians recently announced that Della C. Warrior has been appointed the chief operating officer for the tribe. In this capacity, she will provide management oversight over the daily operations of the tribe and will assist the tribal chairman, Marshall McKay, and the tribal council in carrying out the vision and mission of the Rumsey Band.
According to McKay, Warrior was selected for the unique experience she brings to this newly established position. ''As the tribe continues to progress and expand its services, the tribal council recognized that it was imperative that we hire a highly skilled individual to assist the tribe in carrying out its numerous activities,'' McKay said. ''Ms. Warrior has over 35 years of experience in management, tribal government, education, planning and evaluation, resource development, facility planning and economic development. Her skills and experience will be an asset to the attainment of the Rumsey's Vision and Strategic Plan.''
Warrior is the former president of the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is credited with the leadership of moving the campus out of World War II barracks, building a new campus, restoring federal funding, getting the college off of academic probation, establishing new degree programs and attaining 10-year accreditation. Warrior was also the first female chairman of her tribe, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe in north-central Oklahoma. Some of her other positions include general manager, Ponca Tribal Gaming Enterprise; grants and compliance officer, Pawnee Nation; director of development, IAIA; director of education, Albuquerque Public Schools; and resource specialist for the Tulsa Urban Indian Health Resource Center.
Most recently, her consulting experience has included assisting the Ford Foundation in the establishment of the national Native Arts and Cultural Foundation, resource development for the Moenkopi Development Corp., resource development for the Santa Fe Indian School, board training and planning for Yocha-De-He Preparatory School, and strategic planning for the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians.
Read More
Warrior recently completed a six-year term as a trustee for the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. In addition, she has served on the board of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the American Indian College Fund. Warrior was nominated by President Bush to the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities. She also is the current chair of the Earth Circle Foundation, which sponsors ''Wings of America,'' a Native youth running program.
Warrior received an undergraduate degree in sociology with minors in business administration and psychology from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. She obtained a master's degree in education from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Warrior has also completed more than 40 hours toward a doctoral degree.
Awards that she has received include Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, 2007; Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 2005; ''Women on the Move'' Award, YWCA, Albuquerque, N.M., 2000; ''Star of the Southwest,'' Economic Development Administration, U.S. Dept of Commerce, Southwest Region, 2001; and the New Mexico Women's Foundation Paula, May 2008.
The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians owns and operates Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks. The tribe also operates a number of other enterprises in the Capay Valley, including the Yocha-De-He Preparatory School and the Rumsey Rancheria Fire Department. The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians is a recognized sovereign nation and is led by an elected tribal council. The tribe is an active part of the Capay Valley community and is a generous contributor to local, state, national and international causes. For more information on the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, visit www.rumsey
rancheria.org.
