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Restoring Ancestral Winds
Restoring Ancestral Winds
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MISSION

PRAYERS, POWER, PEACE & PROTECTION TO ALL OUR RELATIONS

Restoring Ancestral Winds mission is to support healing in our Indigenous communities. We will: advocate for healthy relationships; educate our communities on issues surrounding stalking, domestic, sexual, dating and family violence; collaborate with Great Basin community members and stakeholders; honor and strengthen traditional values of all our relations.  We are always striving to make a difference, and invite you to learn more and lend your support.

Our Financials

Restoring Ancestral Winds, Inc. is an Section 501(c)(3) organization

Federal Identification Number: 46-3676632

RAW 2021 Tax Return 990 (pdf)

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OUR TEAM

YOLANDA FRANCISCO-NEZ

YOLANDA FRANCISCO-NEZ

YOLANDA FRANCISCO-NEZ

Executive Director | Diné

yolanda@restoringawcoalition.org

​

Yolanda Francisco-Nez is from the Navajo/Dine’ tribe. Her clan is Edgewater (Tabaaha) born for the Basque People. She was born and raised in Tsehootsoi (Fort Defiance), Arizona. Yolanda is the granddaughter of a Navajo Code Talker Vincent Yazza. Ms. Francisco-Nez is the Executive D

Executive Director | Diné

yolanda@restoringawcoalition.org

​

Yolanda Francisco-Nez is from the Navajo/Dine’ tribe. Her clan is Edgewater (Tabaaha) born for the Basque People. She was born and raised in Tsehootsoi (Fort Defiance), Arizona. Yolanda is the granddaughter of a Navajo Code Talker Vincent Yazza. Ms. Francisco-Nez is the Executive Director of Restoring Ancestral Winds, Inc. Yolanda is a strong advocate of the Native people especially women and children. She uses her expertise to help inform policy. She served four years as board chair of the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA). In 2017, under the leadership of Navajo Nation Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, she helped establish a Navajo Nation Council Sexual Assault Prevention Work Group to address child abduction, sexual violence and human trafficking. In this role she facilitated a policy brief on child abduction and sexual assault, a chapter resolution to install the Amber Alert on the Navajo Nation, and hosts community dialogues on sexual assault throughout the Navajo Nation. In 2018, she received special recognition for her achievements from the Navajo Nation Council.

​

She has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She is trained in Anti-discrimination Response Training from the University of British Columbia and received advocacy training from UCASA and Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC).


For 17 years, Francisco-Nez served three mayors at the executive level of Salt Lake City government. Among the highlights of her career is the opportunity to address the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland about her award-winning program the Human Rights Education Project. She has co-authored reports on discrimination, women’s rights and excessive use of force. Among other achievements, “The Status of Women in Salt Lake City” was published and used to help guide a resolution to establish a Commission to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and Law Enforcement Excessive Use of Force.


Ms. Francisco-Nez played a significant role in being the first city in Utah to pass legislation to protect the LGBTQI2S from employment discrimination which led to a statewide law. Prior to working city government, she was the president of the Native American Celebration in the Park and vice president and founding partner at Cal Nez Design advertising agency. In 2017, Francisco-Nez was named top 30 Women to Watch in Utah by the Utah Business Magazine.

Leeta Baker

YOLANDA FRANCISCO-NEZ

YOLANDA FRANCISCO-NEZ

Office Assistant l Diné

leeta@restoringawcoalition.org


Leeta Baker is from Navajo/Diné tribe in Arizona. Her Clans are Cliff Dweller Clan (Tsé njikini) born for the Rock Gap (Tsé deeshgiizhnii). She was raised in Leupp, Arizona. 

Leeta has years of experience in non-profit customer service. She also has experience in data entry, and bookkeeping skills in accouts payable. 

Desiree Green

YOLANDA FRANCISCO-NEZ

GRISELDA ROGERS

Board President


Desiree Green was born and raised in Utah she is Half Jicarilla Apache from her mothers’ side and half white from her fathers’ side.  She is extremely passionate about helping the native community in any way she can, particularly with MMIW because she is a domestic violence survivor herself.  Desiree is currently a Substanc

Board President


Desiree Green was born and raised in Utah she is Half Jicarilla Apache from her mothers’ side and half white from her fathers’ side.  She is extremely passionate about helping the native community in any way she can, particularly with MMIW because she is a domestic violence survivor herself.  Desiree is currently a Substance Abuse Caseworker II for Adult Probation and Parole with the Department of Corrections for the State of Utah.  Desiree got into this line of work because she saw so much addiction growing up she knew she wanted to help.  Desiree Has a bachelor's Degree from Utah Valley University in Psychology with a minor in American Indian Studies, completed the LSAC program through Utah Valley University as well and is currently in her masters of psychology program through the University of Arizona. 

GRISELDA ROGERS

GRISELDA ROGERS

GRISELDA ROGERS

Board Member | Ute Mountain Ute/Seneca/Cayuga

1st term: May 8, 2018-May 2020

Board President, appointed Nov 29, 2019


Griselda is from Towaoc, Colorado and is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe. She is also Seneca/Cayuga from Quapaw, Oklahoma.  Griselda is the Education Director for Ute Mountain Tribe in White Mesa, Utah. She received a B

Board Member | Ute Mountain Ute/Seneca/Cayuga

1st term: May 8, 2018-May 2020

Board President, appointed Nov 29, 2019


Griselda is from Towaoc, Colorado and is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe. She is also Seneca/Cayuga from Quapaw, Oklahoma.  Griselda is the Education Director for Ute Mountain Tribe in White Mesa, Utah. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University-Global Campus. Griselda is part of several boards and participates in various organizations to help bring services to the community.

Dena Ned

GRISELDA ROGERS

Karra Porter

Board Member | Secretary


Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma; citizenship descendant to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma


J. Dena Ned is an Associate Professor/Lecturer at the University of Utah College of Social Work.  Her research has focused on the Indian Child Welfare Act, Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, urban Am

Board Member | Secretary


Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma; citizenship descendant to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma


J. Dena Ned is an Associate Professor/Lecturer at the University of Utah College of Social Work.  Her research has focused on the Indian Child Welfare Act, Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, urban American-Indian health policies and delivery of care systems, as well as social determinants of health in native communities.  After earning her Masters of Social Welfare (MSW) from the University of California, Berkeley, she worked with California’s Division of Children and Family Services before going on to direct a Title V-funded urban Indian health center in Salt Lake City.  Her direct practice experience motivated her to explore issues of social justice, health, and policy from the perspective of urban Indians. 

Karra Porter

GRISELDA ROGERS

Karra Porter

Board Member


Karra Porter has been President or Managing Director of Christensen & Jensen for 19 years. She is co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Crisis Management practice groups, and is one of the most experienced and successful commercial and appellate lawyers in Utah. She has consistently been recognized by Super Lawyers/

Board Member


Karra Porter has been President or Managing Director of Christensen & Jensen for 19 years. She is co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Crisis Management practice groups, and is one of the most experienced and successful commercial and appellate lawyers in Utah. She has consistently been recognized by Super Lawyers/Thomsen Reuters as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the intermountain west (Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming), and as one of the nation’s best attorneys for corporate and commercial matters. Karra has also been consistently named one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” by Utah Business Magazine.

After working as a journalist in her home state of Kansas, Karra went to law school at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating near the top of her class in 1987. Karra’s specialty is complex federal litigation. She has recently handled large cases involving the Federal Trade Commission Act, Lanham Act, Internal Revenue Code, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, False Claims Act, Small Business Act, National Labor Relations Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and other federal and state statutes.

Karra is regularly hired by other lawyers and law firms to handle complex matters and appeals, and regularly advises or represents clients in media relations and crisis management matters.

Treasurer

MORONI BENALLY

Treasurer

Vacant

Pana Boxx

MORONI BENALLY

Treasurer

Klinger & Associates

Accountant

2018-Current


Utah Income Tax Planning Services Since 1976

In 1976, Larry Klingler opened a successful bookkeeping and tax firm with the idea of helping small and medium-size businesses prepare their financial statements and tax returns. His goal was to give them a proficient service as if they had a full-time a

Klinger & Associates

Accountant

2018-Current


Utah Income Tax Planning Services Since 1976

In 1976, Larry Klingler opened a successful bookkeeping and tax firm with the idea of helping small and medium-size businesses prepare their financial statements and tax returns. His goal was to give them a proficient service as if they had a full-time accountant on their staff. And he planned to do it for only a fraction of the cost of hiring an accountant.


“Over 30 years later we pride ourselves on keeping abreast of the constant changes in tax laws and regulations with a continued commitment to personalized service.”


Our firm specializes in small business and corporate tax, working with business owners to compile and understand how to use their company’s financial and accounting data to maximize profits and minimize tax burden. We also prepare hundreds of personal tax returns each year, ranging from the very simple to the complex. In addition, we offer a complete payroll preparation package to simplify your employment burden and keep you compliant. All for a fee comparatively lower than the rates charged at other Utah CPA Firms.


Meet the Team!

MORONI BENALLY

MORONI BENALLY

MORONI BENALLY

Public Policy | Diné

Consultant

moroni@restoringawcoalition.org

​

Moroni Benally is the Coordinator for Public Policy and Advocacy at Restoring Ancestral Winds, Inc. He also serves as a Board member of Western Resource Advocates, a conservation organization that seeks to protect the West's land, air, and water to ensure that vibrant communiti

Public Policy | Diné

Consultant

moroni@restoringawcoalition.org

​

Moroni Benally is the Coordinator for Public Policy and Advocacy at Restoring Ancestral Winds, Inc. He also serves as a Board member of Western Resource Advocates, a conservation organization that seeks to protect the West's land, air, and water to ensure that vibrant communities exist in balance with nature.


He co-founded the Utah League of Native American Voters where he assisted and advocated on behalf of tribes on public lands, water, voting rights, and violence prevention.


He also served as Director of the Navajo Nation’s Division of Natural Resources where he helped facilitate the Navajo Nation’s involvement in the Bears Ears National Monument and worked extensively on natural resource policy at the tribal, state, and federal levels.


Additionally, he served at Vice-President of Diné College. Prior to this he taught at Evergreen State College in the Masters of Public Administration program.

He is currently finishing a PhD in Public Policy at the University of Washington, focusing on collaborative governance around natural resources. He is Diné and currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Alana Kindness

Alana Kindness

MORONI BENALLY

Consultant

2018-Current

Alana Kindness, MSPH, has 20 years’ experience in sexual violence prevention and response, including 10 years as Executive Director and Policy and Prevention Technical Assistance Specialist at the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault facilitating statewide capacity development and coordination of sexual violence pre

Consultant

2018-Current

Alana Kindness, MSPH, has 20 years’ experience in sexual violence prevention and response, including 10 years as Executive Director and Policy and Prevention Technical Assistance Specialist at the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault facilitating statewide capacity development and coordination of sexual violence prevention planning. Ms. Kindness was an active participant in the Prevention committee of the Utah Sexual Violence Council, providing leadership, consultation and technical support for statewide

sexual violence prevention planning, training events and conferences. She has provided training for community coalitions and UDOH Rape Prevention Education Grantees on addressing shared risk and protective factors to prevention sexual violence, developed and facilitated a webinar for state sexual violence coalition prevention specialists on the relationship between social determinants of health and risk factors for sexual violence, and since 2014 has been teaching Violence and Public Health at Westminster College. She has worked extensively with Tribal, federal, state, and local stakeholders to increase

resources and capacity for preventing sexual violence in rural and urban Native communities.

Copyright © 2020 Restoring Ancestral Winds - All Rights Reserved.

RAW is a nonprofit ORGANIZATION 501C3 funded by the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice in support of Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions.