News Release
Yurok Tribe
The Yurok Tribe recently hired its first Chief Operations Officer (COO) to serve as an advisor and liaison to the Yurok Tribal Council, which is currently overseeing the most prolific growth period in the tribal government’s history.
Yurok citizen Taralyn Ipiña, a descendant from the villages of Morek and Pek-tah, was selected to serve in this leadership role. The Chief Operations Officer position was established to oversee all tribal government functions on behalf of the Yurok Tribal Council. Taralyn will assist the Tribal Council in maintaining government-to-government relations at the tribal, international, federal and state levels. The former Tribal Council Operations Director will provide guidance on major actions, ranging from the development of the general budget to business expansion and acquisitions. The new Chief Operations Officer will also be responsible for ensuring all tribal endeavors are consistent with tribal law and policy. Lastly, Taralyn will lead the tribe’s Executive Branch, which is comprised of the following: Executive Director, Yurok Office of Self-Governance Director, Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer and General Counsel.
“Taralyn brings to the Chief Operations Officer position a wealth of institutional knowledge regarding the tribe and its partners. She has established invaluable connections within the greater tribal community as well as the state and federal legislatures,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “She is also an extremely motivated administrator, who knows how to get things done. She has already hit the ground running in this new position.”
“As Chief Operations Officer, I will be able to devote my full skill set toward the growth and strengthening of the Yurok Tribe and tribal communities,” added Taralyn. “The tribe is currently involved in so many groundbreaking projects and initiatives. It is an exciting time to be Yurok. I am honored and humbled to continue to serve my tribe and community in this new capacity.”
As the Tribal Council Operations Director, Taralyn has served as an advisor and liaison to the Yurok Tribal Council for nearly two decades. She advised multiple Tribal Chairpersons and numerous Tribal Council Members as they developed the tribe’s most high-profile projects, such as the creation of new corporations and large land purchases. She facilitated hundreds of meetings in Washington DC and Sacramento, where the Tribal Council met with legislators to advocate for the tribe. Taralyn also created the Council Operations Department and the new Grants and Compliance Department. As Chief Operations Officer, she will continue oversee both components of the tribal government.
“Taralyn is extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of tribal governance. For years, she has provided excellent feedback to the Tribal Council on a variety of initiatives,” Chairman James said.
A graduate Humboldt State University, Taralyn earned a bachelor’s degree in Leadership Studies and completed Harvard Business School’s “Investing and Building Sustainable Communities for Tribal Nations” Executive Education Program. She has contributed much to the extraordinary progress the tribe has achieved in the past five years. During this time period, the Yurok Tribe has formed history-making agreements with other tribes, two states and the federal government to effect equally advantageous outcomes for all residents of the North Coast region. This strong expression of tribal sovereignty has resulted in the implementation of countless projects and has been used as a model throughout Indian Country. The tribe has improved broadband coverage, increased access to affordable housing and created several dozen new jobs. The tribe has also restored miles of river habitat, acquired thousands of acres of forest land and developed new tribal infrastructure, such as the Yurok Emergency Operations Center. The tribe’s subsidiaries have formed and/or purchased several businesses, such as the Yurok Redwood Canoe Tours, Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation and Shoreline Market. The Yurok-owned entities have formed lucrative arrangements with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and other recognizable organizations. More large-scale projects and business agreements will be completed in the coming months.
Taralyn’s last day as Tribal Council Operations Director was March 22, the same day she started as Chief Operations Officer.
