Easton Branam
Board Candidate for Re-election
My name is Easton. I am a full-time resident of the Twisp River flats on shared land, with my partner Caitlin and our two cats. I am an Army Veteran committed to building a future that honors our connection to the natural world. I was raised working class in rural Montana and know how unusual and valuable it is to have an organization like MVCC working hard to keep this valley alive and well-tended. I currently work as a strategic planner and I hope my skills in communications, facilitation, project management, and scenario planning will be an asset to the whole MVCC team.
Catherine Hennings
Board Candidate
Catherine’s passion for the natural world began while growing up in West Virginia, where she spent her childhood exploring the woods around her home with her brothers. After moving west, and raising a family in Seattle, she discovered the Methow Valley and is now living her dream of again being surrounded by wild, natural places. Catherine has a master’s degree in botany, with a specialty in lichens, and loves continuing to build her knowledge of the flora and fauna of their property on Wolf Creek and throughout the Valley.
Catherine served on the Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors for 6 years, where she was very involved in advocacy work. That experience in the value of advocacy led her to the Methow Valley Citizens Council, where she understands the importance of its advocacy work and served on the legislative committee of the MVCC Action Fund for the past two years. She is committed to continuing her service on the Board to support the critical work that MVCC does to protect our valley and its natural environment.
Mira Hirsch
Junior Board Candidate for Re-election
Mira is sixteen and a Junior at Liberty Bell High School. Born and raised in the Methow Valley, Mira appreciates growing up surrounded by wildlife and natural beauty. She loves swimming in the clean lakes and rivers of the Methow and being able to explore and be surprised by natural life. She also experiences the increasing fire season and drought firsthand. She sees the important role MVCC plays in spreading awareness on how to protect the Methow Valley and the significance of educating Methow Valley youth. She is committed to educating her peers about environmental issues and is eager to assist in any way she can. In the past, Mira collaborated with the Methow Beaver Project to create beaver dam analogs. She hopes she can continue to help ensure the safety of our beautiful valley and gain new experiences along the way.
Tom Jones
Board Candidate for Re-election
Tom first came to the Methow Valley in the mid-’80s to ski and hike. Tom and his wife, Leslie Tregillus, retired from their professions in Seattle and moved to the valley as full-time residents.
Before retirement, Tom worked as an attorney for 35 years in Cozen O’Connor’s Seattle office. Cozen O’Connor is a national law firm with 30 offices across the country.
While at Cozen O’Connor, Tom served as Vice-Chair of the firm’s Global Insurance Department, Co-Chair of the Climate Change Practice Group, Managing Partner of the Seattle office, and also served on the firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Tom and Leslie enjoy gardening, biking, hiking, skiing, canoeing, and birding in the valley.
Marit Nelson
Junior Board Candidate Re-election
Marit is seventeen and just wrapped up her Junior year at Liberty Bell High School. She has been granted the great privilege of growing up in the Methow Valley and experiencing the natural wonders of her home. Throughout her early and teenage years, Marit has especially found a love for running, skiing, swimming, and exploring the surrounding mountains. More recently, Marit has been increasingly alerted of the effects of environmental change on the surrounding Valley and its ability to flourish naturally. She notices the incredibly apparent threat climate change is implementing and is motivated to help create positive environmental strides. Marit hopes to help connect the bridge between youth and board members to better fight the climate crisis. She has enjoyed taking on leadership roles within Liberty Bell, while also completing civic action projects to create a better future for the community. In the near future, Marit is excited to become a part of an inspired group of individuals working to prioritize a sustainable environment.
Kiana Sam
Board Candidate
way ̓ x̌ast sx̌lx̌ʕalt iskʷíst wípatkʷ (Good day, my name is wípatkʷ), my English name is Kiana Sam. I am an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, descending from the Wenatchi, Lakes, San Poil, Okanogan, Moses Columbia, and Entiat bands. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling to new places, enjoying all things outdoors, and playing stickgame. I currently work as the nsəlxcin Traditional Territories Coordinator for the Colville Confederated Tribes. In my position, I cover all nsəlxcin speaking territories, which are the lands of the Methow/mətxʷu, Okanogan/sʔukʷnaʔqín, Lakes/sńʕaýckstx, Colville/sx̌ʷýʔłpx, San Poil/sńpʕawílx, and Nespelem/nspiləm Tribes. I have my Bachelor’s in Tribal Governance and Business Management and will be earning my Master’s of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Eastern Washington University this Summer of 2025. I am very blessed and thankful for the path and opportunities my education has given me, along with the cultural values and traditional ways of life I was raised with. I have always had aspirations to become a tribal leader, and as a young adult serving in my position today, I recognize the importance of having young voices at the tables for the generations to come. Within my position, I am culturally aware and very conscious of the environmental impacts to our first foods, lands, and waters of our Traditional Territories in all capacities. limlmt (Thank you) for the consideration and opportunity to share a little about myself.
John Sirois
Board Candidate Re-election
say’ ay’ is a father of two beautiful girls, husband and committed citizen of the Colville Reservation. An enrolled citizen of the Okanagan, Methow and Wenatchi Tribes of those Confederated Tribes, he was born and raised on the Colville Indian Reservation in Omak, WA. Mr. Sirois carries cultural education from his grandmother and extended family that ties him to the lands and waters. He completed degrees at Dartmouth College (AB History, Minor Native American Studies) and Master of Public Administration at the University of Washington. Working over 20 years in the Colville Tribes’ government, he was able to work on tribal lands, cultural preservation and revitalization, economic development, renewable energy project development, policy development, governance. Mr. Sirois promotes the rights of sovereign Indigenous Peoples and Nations to ensure that those rights are fully respected and upheld. Mr. Sirois currently serves as the Committee Coordinator for the Upper Columbia United Tribes to assist the collaboration of those Tribes’ work on reintroduction of salmon, wildlife habitat, water, forestry and addressing climate change impacts. Mr. Sirois seeks to build a better future for all for generations to come. You can find say’ay’ camping, hunting, hiking, reading and salmon fishing with his family