Board of Directors

Board Chair

tai simpson is nimiipuu, a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe and a storyteller, organizer, and advocate. She takes a passionate human-centered approach to her work. tai believes that progress toward community-focused goals is more important than always being exactly on track. Her leadership style is characterized by her lively and enthusiastic personality, speaking with assurance and conviction to have a stimulating influence on others. Her drive is purposeful, and directed at getting things done quickly. tai responds positively to challenges and pressure, leveraging her problem-solving ability. She maintains an unabashed willingness to learn and grow and believes deeply in community care and supporting collective purpose. tai has a warrior spirit destined for work in social justice, politics, and community organizing.

Since 2019, tai has been the collective stewardship co-director with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, and since 2010, she’s been a social justice and anti-racism education contractor and a founder and director/community organizer with the Indigenous Idaho Alliance. In 2019, tai was a TEDxBoise speaker on “Indigenous Storytelling as Political Lens.” She has served on the boards of Planned Parenthood and the Potlatch Fund. tai is committed to the humanness of the work and uplifting our cultural ways of knowing while stewarding NIWRC’s mission into the future. Culture is prevention and our avenue to healing. Board and staff-centering Indigenous ways of knowing and experiences are essential to NIWRC’s work.

“I am humbled to offer my experience as a Black and Indigenous woman who must navigate torrential sociopolitical spaces to successfully advocate for survivors and families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and persons. I have strong coalitions built with local, state, and federal partners working collaboratively to end violence in Indian country”—tai simpson