User:QuickEducation

= Judi gaiashkibos = Judi M. gaiashkibos is currently the executive director of Nebraska Commission On Indian Affairs and has been in that role since 1995.

Early life and Education
Ms. gaiashkibos is an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Human Relations and a Masters of Art in Management with emphasis in leadership from Doane University.

Career and Legislative Work
As executive director of the Nebraskan Commission on Indian Affairs, gaiashkibos has worked along side lawmakers in the Nebraska State Unicameral to create law that impacts the Native American population of Nebraska, as well as honoring the legacies of Nebraskan Native American leaders like Standing Bear and Dr. Susan La Fleschete Picotte. That work led to the creation of a public statue of Chief Standing Bear in the U.S. Capitol Visitor center in Washington, D.C., and statues of both on Lincoln Nebraska's Centennial Mall.

She has also developed educational opportunities for native youth including the ongoing Sovereign Native Youth Leadership Camp and the Chief Standing Bear Scholarships.

gaiashkibos has also worked to create better legislation, and understanding of the issue of the prevalence of missing Native American women and children in Nebraska. Working with the Nebraska Legislature, she has played a key role in the 2019 passage of LB 154 tasking an in-depth study of the crisis of missing Native women and children in Nebraska which has led to a greater understanding of the scope and causes of this National problem.

In 2022, gaiashikbos, along with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, Nebraskan Archeologists, and other researchers worked to locate the lost cemetery at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Genoa Nebraska. More than 80 bodies of Native American Children were buried on the campus of the school.

In 2017, gaiashkibos was appointed to serve on the Nebraska State Legislature’s Whiteclay task force to help study and develop a positive path forward for the community.

gaiashkibos has on several occasions worked along side Tom Brewer, the first Native American State Senator in Nebraska, to advance the well being and representation of Native American in the state.

Board Service and Advisory Service
gaiashkibos has worked as an advisor on many organizations boards, as of April 2022 she is currently active with, The Joslyn Art Museum, the National Rails to Trails Advisory Board, the MONA Bison Society, the CEDARS Home for Kids, the University of Nebraska President's Advisory Council, and the Northern Cheyenne Healing Trail Advisory. In the past she has been an advisor of United Way, Doane University Board of Trustees, Lewis Clark Commission Board, Nebraska 150 Commission, President of the Governors' Interstate Indian Council, and UNMC Chancellor's Community Advisory Board.

Awards
gaiashkibos has been awarded; the Chancellor’s Fulfilling the Dream Award from the University of Nebraska, in 2022

She was also named the Nebraskan of the Year in 2022 and was the first Native American to receive this award.

In 2022 she received the Fulfilling the Dream award from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

In 2012 she was awarded the Sower Award.

In 2017 she was awarded the Nebraska Land Foundation's, Distinguished Nebraskan Award.