Norine Hill is a social entrepreneur based in Seattle. She is the CEO/Founder of Mother Nation, a grassroots nonprofit established in 2012, offering cultural healing support to Native women facing homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, addictions, and trauma including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives family support. Services span across Indian Country with the Spirit Journey Healing Village Capital project and direct service based in Washington State extending to several regions in the northwest. Mother Nation provides direct services in mobile advocacy, case management, with a cultural response team supported by traditional healing practices by Elders, Traditional Healers, and 30 Native American staff carrying teachings from their Tribes/Nations.

Norine’s decades of knowledge in creating cultural healing programs and non-profits, grant management at all levels managed up to 15 million in Tribal/First Nation services over the last 28 years. Norine serves on the National Indigenous Safe Housing Work Group, prior leadership with the Education Board and Elected Council of her Nation. Norine is a survivor of multi-abuse trauma, homelessness and in recovery from drugs and alcohol for 19 years. Her strong leadership and compassion for Native women and families has created one of the leading native women’s cultural healing organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

Norine Hill founded Native Women in Need in 2012 which later transitioned to Mother Nation. Today, the non-profit has 30 employees and operates on a budget exceeding $7.5 million funded by grants, tribal support, and private donations.

The Board of Director members continue to guide the mission and carry the legacy of our Founding Board of Elders.

Lummi Nation – Mother Nation Board Chair/Facilitator

Henry Cagey is a strong leader known across Indian Country for his dedication towards changing policy and accessing funds to strengthen health and wellness for Indian people. He has served as Board Member and Chair for several non-profits.

His 28-year commitment to the Lummi Nation includes twelve years as Tribal Chairman; Director of Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO); Vocational Rehabilitation, and Economic Development Director; and nineteen years on the Lummi Indian Business Council. He has shaped many federal policies including health, housing, natural resources, transportation, and education.

Funding accomplishments include $25 million in support to Lummi Nation priorities from the federal Department of Transportation, Labor, the Interior, Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Veterans Administration, Department of Agriculture, Education, and Commerce.

Tepehuan – Board of Director/Facilitator

Elder Alma Goddard has served for more than 35 years in the movement to end violence against women. Her work at the Seattle Indian Health Board has created many collaborations and domestic violence programs on and off-reserve. Her outreach work with the Women Spirit Coalition, workshop facilitation and DV and sexual assault training is highly respected among Pacific Northwest Tribes. Alma’s work in Indian Country includes presentations and workshops on internalized oppression, historical and intergenerational trauma, and healing. Alma’s experience as a cancer survivor, foster child, and survivor of domestic violence, and her work to end violence against women are an asset to the organization. She volunteers her time providing domestic violence advocacy training to Mother Nation mentees and staff.

Yaqui and Apache - Mother Nation Board of Director

Director of Policy & Advocacy

She’s a well-respected mother, leader, and citizen of the Tulalip Tribes. She is also of Yaqui and Apache descent on her mother’s side. She joined NABS as the Director of Policy and Advocacy in May of 2021. Prior to her role as Director, she helped coordinate and host our 2019 2nd Annual Conference: Honoring Native Survivance in Tulalip, WA. Motivated to help tribal elders during the pandemic, Deborah, along with several volunteers, organized the “We Love You” Elders Care packages for U.S. boarding school survivors with the goal of delivering 1,000 packages on behalf of NABS. Her lifelong goal has been to honor and uplift her Indigenous way of life. She comes with over 25 years of national and international legislative, policy and advocacy experience. Deborah’s previous roles include: the TWN Executive Director of Residential School Healing in British Columbia, Canada; Government Affairs Policy Analyst for the Tulalip Tribes; Senior Policy Advisor at Pipestem Law, and Director of Equity, Diversity & Indigenous education in the Marysville school district. Deborah was also instrumental in passing state and federal legislation including the Violence Against Women Act passed in 2013. She was a Board Member for the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center for 8 years and a frequent keynote speaker on the restoration of tribal law and sovereignty, education, safety for Indigenous Nations and environmental protections. Her work has been recognized and acknowledged across the globe notably in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Yakama Nation- Mother Nation Board of Director

Suzie joined the Mother Nation's sisterhood in 2017, embarking on a healing journey as a survivor of complex trauma. We are honored to walk alongside her and now welcome her to the Mother Nation Board of Directors.

Suzie brings valuable experience from her work with the Yakama Nation Housing Authority and her 8 years of recovery. She is a devoted mother, daughter, sister, and aunt, drawing strength from her family and culture.

A proud advocate of her heritage, Suzie celebrates her culture through the art of beading and enjoys sharing this traditional craft with others. She is the mother of an adult son and is currently pursuing a BAS degree at Central Washington University. Suzie hopes to one day become a business owner, committed to giving back and uplifting her community.

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Yeha:wi Healing Circle Facilitator

Elder Arlene Red Elk is Lead Facilitator and master designer of the Circle of Life workshop series. She specializes in multi-abuse trauma of violence against women and is well known across Indian Country as designer of services such as the original Ina Maka program at United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. With more than forty years’ experience, 33 years in recovery, and a Masters Degree, she has mastered the skills of combining culture to clinical practice. Her work as a survivor of multi-abuse trauma gives her great compassion and has allowed her to impact the lives of hundreds of Native women.

Western Shoshonee – Operations Manager

Marlena was born and raised on her people’s traditional Newe’ (Shoshone) territories in northeastern Nevada. She loves meeting and supporting Indigenous people who work to decolonize language. Prior to joining Mother Nation, Marlena worked in the Finance & Administrative Department in the Seattle Housing Authority, and as a Project Administrator for Exxel Pacific, General Contractor.

Jamestown S’klallam Tribe -Yeha:wi Healing Journey Support

Bridgette joined Mother Nation in 2023 to assist Elder Arlene Red Elk with the Yeha:wi Healing Journey. She is a member of the Jamestown S’klallam Tribe and a holistic nutritionist currently studying plant medicine and indigenous food pathways. Bridgette worked for her Tribe for several years, helping her Elders as a case worker. Prior to moving to the PNW, she worked on the reservation for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation while living in North Carolina and learned more about the disproportionate health outcomes for Native Americans. This became the focus in her career and she continues to work on her research using trauma-informed care to identify culturally tailored public health approaches to reduce health disparities and improve health equity for Native communities.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes-Cultural Support and Administration

Corinna has been with Mother Nation since 2014, first working in cultural support and homeless prevention and now cultural and administration support and helps facilitate women's support groups. Corinna supports her teams with resources, files, and other administrative tasks.

Dine' (Navajo Nation) - Accounts Payable

Arlene Zahne’s journey with Mother Nation began in 2017, Arlene found refuge at Mother Nation's Spirit Journey House, a place where Native women reconnect with their cultural heritage to reclaim their spirits.

Arlene generously imparts her teachings and traditions to the Mother Nation community, enriching it with her wisdom and resilience. Despite facing the challenges of homelessness and surviving multiple abuses, Arlene's spirit remains unbroken. goes

Diné ( Navajo Nation) - Yeha:wi Lead DV/Service Advocate

Terri brings a deep connection to her indigenous roots and a profound commitment to supporting her community.

Terri's role at Mother Nation is instrumental in addressing critical issues such as domestic violence and providing essential services to those in need. Her passion for advocacy and her unwavering dedication to the well-being of her people make her an invaluable asset to the community.

Makah Nation – Waatunwan Case Manager

Jessica comes from the Claplanhoo, Parker and Tulee families, is a Mother of two beautiful humans, a Sister in Wellbriety, a DV and SA Survivor and Thriver, a UW Alumni majoring in Psychology with a Minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, a certified Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor and a Diversion Case Manager at Mother Nation. She aims to use the trauma she experienced as a tool to help Indigenous Women heal and thrive. She believes in decolonizing the mind and turning back to our ancestral traditions and teachings, and combines those teachings with her psych degree and yoga certification to help those heal emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally.