- Tribal sovereignty respects Tribes as autonomous, self-governing Nations.
- Tribal consultation honors Tribal sovereignty through government-to-government collaborations between state and Tribal leaders as equal and ongoing contributors.
- Tribal consultation is the law under both state and federal requirements.
- Each Tribe is unique and must be approached independently from others; one Tribe cannot speak for another.
- Tribes as traditional, ecological knowledge bearers steward their ancestral lands for the benefit of everyone, Native and non-Native residents alike.
The Heart & Spirit of Tribal Consultation
Client
Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Legislative Commission on Indian Services
My Roles
Script writing, storyboarding, videography
Context
In 2001, Oregon was among the first states to require state agencies to consult with the nine federally recognized Tribal Nations in Oregon as equal partners in planning. Many agency leaders have since sought guidance on engaging in meaningful consultation.
To support this, Region 16 collaborated with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Oregon's Legislative Commission on Indian Services (LCIS) to create a series of videos explaining Tribal consultation and its connection to Indigenous sovereignty from each Tribe’s perspective.
This project culminated with the development of an introductory video featuring Oregon state leaders, such as Governor Tina Kotek, underscoring the five main themes that Oregon Tribes discussed concerning the importance of Tribal consultation. This series is now mandatory viewing for all new ODE employees, and state agencies partnering with Tribes can now view individual videos from each respective Tribe.
Deliverables
I crafted a script for Governor Kotek, LCIS Director Patrick Flannigan, State Representative Tawna Sanchez, and Tribal Affairs Director of the Oregon Health Authority Julie Johnson, introducing the video series and outlining its main themes. I also filmed each state leader speaking their parts around Oregon's capital in Salem.
I began by analyzing each interview from the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, identifying five emerging themes:
From these themes, I created a script for the four state government leaders that underscores the importance of these themes. I also pulled quotes from each Tribe's individual video to further illustrate each theme from various Tribes' perspectives.
I handled all videography for the four state leaders, managing the lighting, sound, and filming for each of their segments. I also filmed some of the b-roll from around the capitol.
*Note: Interviews with Tribal leaders and video editing performed by Kauffman and Associates, Inc.
Oregon Governor's office Tribal Consultation Guidance
Translating legal requirements and tribal insight into meaningful consultation guidance for state agencies.
Context
Oregon was among the first states to require agencies to consult with federally recognized tribes as equal governmental partners, but state employees had long expressed a need for clear guidance on how to engage tribes meaningfully and effectively.
Drawing from interviews with leaders from Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes, I analyzed recurring themes, translated complex policy requirements into accessible language, and scripted and produced a guiding video featuring senior state officials.
Strategy
- Synthesize interviews from nine Tribal Nations to identify recurring themes, concerns, and consultation best practices.
- Translate legal, systemic, and cultural complexity into clear guidance for internal agencies.
- Center tribal perspectives to ground leaders' words in tribes' lived experiences.
- Balance legal authority with practical guidance for implementation.
- Position senior state officials to increase credibility and encourage adoption across agencies.
Tactics
- Distill interview findings into five core themes: sovereignty, meaningful consultation, legal requirements, distinct Tribal identities, and stewardship.
- Shape tone and language to remain actionable, culturally responsive, and accessible.
- Develop storyboard and scripts for Governor Tina Kotek and senior state leaders.
- Direct and film executive segments in Salem, managing lighting, framing, and audio capture.
- Build a clear resource pathway to Tribe-specific videos and consultation materials.
outcome
The finished video became required onboarding content for new Oregon Department of Education employees and an enduring resource for Oregon agencies seeking to engage Tribes meaningfully.
The project reflects fluency in synthesizing qualitative insight, writing for executive audiences, and translating complex policy obligations into practical guidance teams can apply.
