Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation

Leslie “Josie” Cliff is an enrolled member of the Nakoda (Assiniboine) tribe from the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana. As a community leader, non-profit executive, entrepreneur, business owner, Ms. Cliff has served her community creatively for decades, helping to develop resilience within the deeply impoverished Fort Belknap Indian Community. Her passion for making the Fort Belknap community a better place to live for future generations inspires her in her role as the Executive Director of the Fort Belknap Community Economic Development Corporation. She has deep community knowledge and exceptional history in program development. With an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Aaniiih Nakoda College and a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration from Montana State University. Josie brings a deep understanding to her community and its needs, a keen understanding of the broader determinants of health, and a practical knowledge and successful experience of how to build and grow programs.

Wɔɔheih!  níítɔ́ínɔh,(Hello my friends). My name is Aaniiikenewooya, (Carries the Voice,) English name is Jeremy Richey. I am a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Nation. I was born in Fort Lewis, WA, and have lived all over the U.S. For the past 13 years I currently live on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.  I am the Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Cooperation’s (NAEDC) Youth Leadership Coordinator. I advocate for the ongoing movement to create systemic change within the communities of Fort Belknap. I am certified Traditional Indigenous Native Games trainer. My hobbies are cooking, and eating new cuisines, attends sweats, ceremonies, powwows, stick games, and collaborating with other organizations to implement positive change within the Communities of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. One of my favorite motivational quotes is, “it is not joy that makes us grateful: it is gratitude that makes us joyful” “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.”

I am a Nakoda Language Apprentice/Mentor in the Language Revitalization 

I like to learn how language works, and I dream about the day when our people will be fluent in the language that shapes their world view and the future of our people. My hobbies include singing, writing, and computers. 

Hą́ dagúyebi, Įté Sába cažé mitáwa. (Hello relatives, my name is black forehead) my english name is Gabriel Werk. Iʾve lived here on the Fort Belknap indian reservation for all of my life. I belong to the Aaniiih and Nakoda Nations. I am currently working on transcribing nakoda stories into the Fort Belknap nakoda orthography, so that they may be used to further the language acquisition of future learners. I am a certified native games trainer and enjoy crafting.

Brad is our Aaniiih Language Apprentice, under our Language Revitalization program.
Wɔɔheih!  níítɔ́ínɔh, naníísh’íit’ɔ nɔɔkyɔtiyeihiih kyiibyɔɔ’ɔhouhk’i ɔnɔɔhɔhiih. (Hello! relatives, my name is flying eagle boy.) My Caucasian name is Brad Cichosz, I am a citizen of the Aaniiih and Nakoda Nations. I was born and raised on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. My parents are Ray Cichosz and Felicia Messerly. I am currently working towards a class 7 and taking language courses at the Aaniiih/Nakoda college. I am an advocate for Aaniiih and Nakoda Language & Curriculum, and the ongoing movement to create systemic change within the communities of Fort Belknap. I am also a certified Traditional Indigenous Native Games trainer. My passion is traveling across Indian country dancing and singing within the pow wow circuit.
 

A member of the Aaniiih tribe, was born in Great Falls, Montana to George P. Horse Capture Sr. who was a prominent member of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.  

Peter was raised in Cody, Wyoming and graduated from Hays/Lodgepole High School in Hays, Montana. After serving in the U.S. Navy for 3 years and living in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for 24 years, he moved back to Fort Belknap and is working for Aaniiih Nakoda Tours since October 2022.
 

George is the Tourism Director for Aaniiih Nakoda Tours. He has extensive experience in the tourism industry and is a former Vice-President of the Fort Belknap Tribal Council. He has knowledge in the Aaaniiih and Nakoda cultures and history on the Fort Belknap Reservation. George has been immersed in cultural education since his youth. His father, George Horse Capture, Sr., was a curator of the Plains Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming and he was also instrumental in getting the new American Indian Museum in Washington, D.C. George Jr. has knowledge of horsemanship and practices traditional Nakoda & Aaniiih arts and crafts.