Article 5

National, State, and Regional Indian Head Start Directors' Associations

In the early 1970's, the National Indian Head Start Directors' Association was formed to respond to the unique needs of American Indian Head Start programs. NIHSDA's mission is to represent all Head Start programs funded to serve American Indian and Alaska Native grantees. The association also deals with the unique sovereign relationship all American Indian tribes and Native Alaskan corporations have with the U.S. Government, as represented through its special branch of the Head Start Bureau. (board members and regional representatives of the NIHSDA are listed on page9).

Because Indian Head Start programs are spread irregularly across the United States, many States with large American Indian and Alaskan populations have formed their own informal State or regional directors' associations. These associations facilitate training and technical assistance activities and address local, State, and regional early childhood issues. While these State and regional associations have no direct link to the NIHSDA, all director's associations support one another and work for the welfare of American Indian and Alaskan children and families.

The following is a list of these informal State and regional associations:

STATE ASSOCIATIONS: REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Alaska Association. Contact:
Sarage Kuenzli, Tanana Chief's
Conference, Inc., 122 First St.,
Fairbanks, AK 99701. Northwest Indian Head Start Coalition.
Contact: Caroline YellowRobe, Fort Belknap
Head Start, PO Box 579, Harlem, MT 59526.

Arizona Association. Contact:
Imongene Osife, Gila River Indian
Community, PO Box A, Sacaton,
AZ 85247. Southwest Consortium of Indian Head
Start Programs. Contact: Phyllis Antone,
Tohono O'Odham Nation, PO Box 837,
Sells, AZ 85350

New Mexico/Southern Colorado
Indian Head Start Directors'
Association. Contact: Jennifer
Tollesfon y Chavez, Isleta Head Start,
PO Box 579, Isleta, NM 87002. Tri-States Indian Head Start Directors'
Association. Contact: Pamela Ninham,
Oneida Head Start, PO Box 365, Oneida,
WI 54155.

Oklahoma Indian Head Start Director's
Association. Contact: Verna Thompson,
Cherokee Nation, PO Box 948, Tahlquah,
OK 74465.

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STATE ASSOCIATIONS:	REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Alaska Association. Contact: Sarage Kuenzli, Tanana Chief's Conference, Inc., 122 First St., Fairbanks, AK 99701.	Northwest Indian Head Start Coalition. Contact: Caroline YellowRobe, Fort Belknap Head Start, PO Box 579, Harlem, MT 59526.
Arizona Association. Contact: Imongene Osife, Gila River Indian Community, PO Box A, Sacaton, AZ 85247.	Southwest Consortium of Indian Head Start Programs. Contact: Phyllis Antone, Tohono O'Odham Nation, PO Box 837, Sells, AZ 85350
New Mexico/Southern Colorado Indian Head Start Directors' Association. Contact: Jennifer Tollesfon y Chavez, Isleta Head Start, PO Box 579, Isleta, NM 87002.	Tri-States Indian Head Start Directors' Association. Contact: Pamela Ninham, Oneida Head Start, PO Box 365, Oneida, WI 54155.
Oklahoma Indian Head Start Director's Association. Contact: Verna Thompson, Cherokee Nation, PO Box 948, Tahlquah, OK 74465.