Our Board of Directors are the stewards of our organization, guiding Seattle Indian Health Board as we grow in ways that will serve our relatives for seven generations and beyond. Behind each board member’s passion for Indigenous health justice is a unique story, one we’re excited to share with you through our series, Guiding Lights: Meet our Board of Directors.

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Like many of our Urban Native relatives, Chris Stearns (Navajo) considers his tribal nation home but has lived in cities for much of his life. “As someone who grew up as a Navajo kid in Los Angeles and New Jersey, I know what it’s like to struggle,” he said, “I know what it means to fight for people.”

After spending his earliest years in the Los Angeles County foster care system, Chris charted his path through Williams College and law school at Cornell University.

During his 30 years as an attorney, his commitment to social justice led him to serve as the first ever Director of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy, Chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, and Democratic Counsel for the Committee on Natural Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2019, Chris became the first Native Councilmember for the City of Auburn.

Chris first heard about Seattle Indian Health board while representing tribal nations as an attorney in Washington, D.C. When he moved here, our clinic was one of his first stops.

“I’ve worked in healthcare, so making sure that healthcare is available to as many people as possible—especially Native Americans—that was really important to me.”

As a member of our Board of Directors, Chris helps ensure that all members of our community can access the high-quality, culturally attuned healthcare he wants for his own family.

“My wife and I, we have two amazing Tlingit daughters, and we have an amazing Tlingit grandson,” he shared, “and I want them to have the best healthcare. Good healthcare is what we do here at the health board.”