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Council Members

Tribal Council
COUNCIL MEMBERS

The Tribal Council is a governing body made up of democratically elected Cowlitz Indian Tribe members. It governs matters related to economic development, land management, service delivery, judicial matters and the Tribe's cultural integrity, weighing future needs against current ones and making balanced decisions about issues that impact the Tribe’s members and the broader community. The Tribal Council also exercises legislative powers regarding Tribal membership and enrollment, and negotiates with federal, state and local governments, and with the councils or governments of other tribes.

Voting in the Tribal elections is open to all enrolled Cowlitz Indian Tribe members 18 and older.

 Name

Position

Term End

Email

 Patty Kinswa-Gaiser

General Council Chair

2024

Pkinswa-gaiser@tc.cowlitz.org

 Greg Hitchcock

General Council Vice-Chair

2026

ghitchcock@tc.cowlitz.org

 Gayle Singleton

General Council Treasurer

2026

gsingleton@tc.cowlitz.org

 William (Bill) Erickson

General Council Secretary

2024

werickson@tc.cowlitz.org

 Steve Barnett

Tribal Council Chair

2024

sbarnett@tc.cowlitz.org

 Kimberly Appelt

Tribal Council Vice-Chair

2026

kappelt@tc.cowlitz.org

 Vanessa Robertson

Tribal Council Secretary

2025

vrobertson@tc.cowlitz.org

 Robin Torner

Tribal Council at-Large

2026

rtorner@tc.cowlitz.org

 Cheryl Bell

Tribal Council at-Large

2025

cbell@tc.cowlitz.org

 Rod Van Mechelen

Tribal Council Member

2026

rvanmechelen@tc.cowlitz.org

 Mike Iyall

Tribal Council Member

2026

miyall@tc.cowlitz.org

 Nathan Hooton

Tribal Council Member

2026

nhooton@tc.cowlitz.org

 Kris Dillehay

Tribal Council Member

2026

kdillehay@tc.cowlitz.org

 Suzanne Donaldson

Tribal Council Member

2024

sdonaldson@tc.cowlitz.org

 Rachael Streitberger

Tribal Council Member

2024

rstreitberger@tc.cowlitz.org

 Timi Marie Russin

Tribal Council Member

2024

trussin@tc.cowlitz.org

 Justice Rhodes

Tribal Council Member

2024

jrhodes@tc.cowlitz.org

 Maverick Ryan

Tribal Council Member

2025

mryan@tc.cowlitz.org

 Travis Grady

Tribal Council Member

2025

tgrady@tc.cowlitz.org

 Kris Kitz

Tribal Council Member

2025

kkitz@tc.cowlitz.org

 Michelle Lawrence

Tribal Council Member

2024

mlawrence@tc.cowlitz.org

 Larry Kestner

Tribal Council Member

2025

lkestner@tc.cowlitz.org

 

 

 

 

About

The legacy of an ancient people in southwest Washington is rich with descendants who manage a growing portfolio of health, education, scientific research, housing, transportation, development, elder care, conservation and legal issues. The Cowlitz Tribe is a growing force in community building in what are now Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and parts of Pierce, Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties, a vast territory occupied by numerous Cowlitz villages prior to non-Cowlitz exploration and seizure. Today, an elected Tribal Council is composed of professionals adept at managing multiple programs and projects.