About
We are a female, Indigenous-led non-profit organization located on the Yakama Indian Reservation.
Our mission is to provide life changing opportunities for Indigenous people.
While we aim to serve the tribal community, we serve all people regardless of age, ethnicity, color, enrollment or immigration status.
"We’re very appreciative of our relatives who came from as far as Yakama. At times like this it’s required of us, to be at service to our people. Thankful for our the youth to be here today, our young warriors here to see our communities coming together in unity.”
- Dan Nanampkin Young Warriors Society, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Our Vision
Our vision is to ensure that our families are healthy, happy, independent & connected to their cultural traditions. We also assist other tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest.
Meet The Team
Diane Pebeahsy: Executive Director
Diane is a Yakama and Comanche woman who has spent most her life on the beautiful Yakama Reservation where she has been blessed to raise her four children and carry on Yakama traditions. Diane is a pow wow dancer, crafter, and lover of all things relating to her tribe, family, and community. She has extensive experience working in Tribal, Federal, and State programs and is using these skills and this knowledge to elevate Peacekeepers to higher levels of service. Before Peacekeepers, Diane spent 6 years working with Yakama Nation Youth Activities as Program manager while simultaneously simultaneously working as an Appointed On-call Associate Judge for Yakama Nation Justice Office. Before this Diane spent 6 years working as Yakama Nation Suicide Prevention Coordinator a cause now close to her heart after losing her eldest son to suicide. Diane’s work with Peacekeepers before assuming this role began during our first distribution as a volunteer. Later Diane was trained as a Grief Specialist and implemented free 10 week Grief Recovery Courses for those living on the reservation and experiencing grief. Diane lives a drug and alcohol free life which has influenced her work both as a social worker and a Tobacco Prevention Program Manager for the state of Washington. Diane’s extensive experience in different aspects of the community has made her a multi-faceted, thorough, and strong advocate for her community and a fearless leader for Peacekeepers. She had this to say about her new role. “I follow my sense of purpose, intuition and innovation to propel towards personal, family, and program development and growth, to reach every corner of the Yakama Nation Reservation from the river to the plateau. I will always serve my Indigenous people, community and tribal nations.”
Contact: Diane@Peacekeepersociety.com
Barak Goodman: Director of Communications and Development
Barak is a Jewish Egyptian American mutual aid organizer. Barak is the Communications and Development Director for the Peacekeeper Society, the Native led, reservation based non-profit. As an Arab American living on stolen Indigenous land, he has made a commitment to serve the communities whose land he occupies as long as he lives in the "United States". Barak holds a BA in International Development from Portland State University and currently sits as a community voting member on PSU's Cultural Resource Advisory Council. He is also a longtime Don't Shoot Portland volunteer and is a member of their Social Outreach Committee. Barak's background involves many jobs such as wildland firefighter, publicist for artists, farm hand, and more but throughout the years mutual aid and serving his community has been his top priority.
Contact:
Barak@Peacekeepersociety.com
Raeschelle Craig: Administrative Assistant
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Raeschelle is an enrolled member of Yakama Nation who also holds Nez Perce ancestry. Prior to working for Peacekeepers Raeschelle worked as payroll technician for Yakama Nation housing authority and refined her skills in bookkeeping and payroll management. She has always been passionate about addiction recovery and supporting those battling addiction. Before working with YNHA Raeschelle worked at Triumph Treatment Services working as medical room attendant and later as peer support and outreach. She has been described as a lighter and fan of fires who inspires others to do good. She began her accounting journey with Yakama Nation working as a bookkeeper and general manager. Her deep knowledge of the Yakama Tribe and their systems and inner workings has made her an invaluable employee with deep connections in the community she serves. Family is the most important thing to Raeschelle. She is a foster parent for youth living on Yakama Reservation and loves to spend time with her family cooking, eating, and spending time together.
Robyn Pebeahsy: Grants and Data Manager
Robyn is a Yakama and Comanche woman and the Grant and Data Manager for the Peacekeeper Society as well as for the Boys and Girls Club of the Yakama Nation (https://www.bgcyn.com). She is also the Co-host, editor and producer of the War Cry Podcast (https://www.warcrypodcast.com) and a Co-host for the Decolonized Buffalo Podcast. She volunteers on the Washington State Attorney General's MMIWP Data Committee. She is an avid traditional beader and weaver. She was recently featured in the "Its All About Land" book written by Indigenous philosopher/author Taiaiake Alfred. Robyn grew up on the Yakama Reservation and attended Toppenish HS, and holds a BA from University of Washington. She is a huge proponent of data sovereignty and believes research is sacred.
Mersaedy Atkins: Program Manager
Bringing modern and traditional arts, values and life lessons together to create collective space to practice and preserve Indigenous culture around the Pacific Northwest has always been a passion of Mersaedy Atkins ‘Tyusmakt. Mersaedy is from Nespelem, Washington and currently resides on the Yakama Nation Reservation. She is an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes - Wenatchi band and also has ancestral roots to the Yakama Nation. She is an artist, designer, food gatherer and a mother. Mersaedy is passionate about protecting & preserving Indigenous languages to help revitalize and perpetuate the Sacred Voices of the First Peoples of this land. She has been an Educator for over 15 years teaching numerous Language, Culture and Traditional food preservation classes all throughout the PNW. She is an advocate who enjoys educating people about Indigenous history, culture, and art while providing pathways for Indigenous people to become leaders & teachers within their community. In her free time she enjoys harvesting traditional plants & foods, fishing, sewing and camping with her family.
