Ask the Expert: Do Native Americans in Nevada Have Sovereignty?

Kellie Harry (Northern Paiute/Washoe/Maidu) is an enrolled member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Nixon, Nevada. As an educator, Kellie collaboratively co-designs products to meet student learner social and academic needs. Kellie implements evidence-based academic and culturally responsive practices to address academic disparities among the student populations. Additionally, Kellie honors students' cultural and linguistic assets as they vary across geographical areas and student populations by creating equitable learning opportunities that meet the unique student learning styles, transmit Native traditional and cultural knowledge, develop positive student self-identity, and provide direct and explicit instruction to increase student achievement outcomes. Kellie's background includes experience in Native language preservation and revitalization, classroom teaching, tribal legal advocacy, and educational consultancy.

• M.J., Indian Law, University of Tulsa, College of Law, Tulsa, OK (May 2020)

• M.A., Teaching, Elementary Education, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV (May 2012)

• B.A., Humanities, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV (May 2009)

• Current State of Nevada Teaching License (K-8), Great Basin Language Teaching Endorsement (K-12)

Stacey Montooth, a citizen of the Walker River Paiute Nation, is the Executive Director of the Nevada Indian Commission (NIC), appointed by Governor Steve Sisolak on Sept. 1, 2019. Under recently elected Governor Joe Lombardo, Montooth continues as the liaison between our 28 federally recognized Tribal Nations, Bands, Colonies, and 62,000+ Urban Indians who choose to make Nevada their second home. She is a member of Governor Lombardo’s cabinet.

The NIC was created by statute in 1965 to “study matters affecting the social and economic welfare and well-being of American Indians residing in Nevada” and serves as the liaison between Tribal communities, Tribal citizens, and the State.

A direct descendent of a survivor of the Stewart Indian School, Montooth is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She has spent over a decade in service to Nevada Tribes. From 2012-2019, Montooth worked at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony as that Tribe’s first public relations/ community information officer. During her six-year tenure, she organized community events and implemented communications plans and campaigns on behalf of tribes and thousands of Native Americans. Montooth also served as a crucial liaison for press inquiries as well as legislation involving key tribal issues, including health care and taxation.

Upon returning to Northern Nevada in 2007, Montooth was the Indian Education liaison for her alma mater, Churchill County High in Fallon, Nev. Prior to returning home to the Great Basin, Montooth spent nearly 12 years working in community relations, primarily in higher education and college athletics.