LEADERSHIP & sTAFF

JOHN C. AHMIE

John C. Ahmie is a proud member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Pueblo of Acoma Utility Authority, where he oversees critical infrastructure and utility services for the community.

He is also the YAKANAL Bee Team Coordinator, leading beekeeping initiatives that promote environmental stewardship, cultural connection, and community wellness. He is dedicated to collaborative leadership and advancing initiatives that create lasting benefits for future generations.

SHELLY RILEY

Shelly Riley is a member of the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico, and lives with her family in Laguna Pueblo.

As Mother Moon Program Coordinator, she facilitates Keres language classes, organizes Pueblo arts workshops, and supports hoop house cultivation of food and medicinal plants in alignment with lunar cycles. Her work supports YAKANAL’s mission of revitalizing ancestral knowledge through Indigenous cultural exchange and food sovereignty.

KYLE S. SWIMMER

Kyle Swimmer is an environmental engineer with a B.S. degree from New Mexico Tech and an Indigenous advocate focused on the legacy of uranium mining on Indigenous lands. He has collaborated with the University of New Mexico’s METALS Superfund Research Center, studying contamination related to the former Jackpile Mine at Laguna Pueblo, once the largest open-pit uranium mine in the world. He also serves as lead coordinator of the agriculture team for YAKANAL.

Kyle advocates for Indigenous environmental health, clean water access, and land restoration. His commitment to community service has a long legacy: he was recognized as New Mexico’s top high school youth volunteer in the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and founded the Kitzit Laguna Youth Dance Group.

SALENA RILEY

Salena Riley is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, and lives with her family in the Pueblo. She is an assistant coordinator, facilitating team activities and local communication. Her work helps the team focus on revitalizing ancestral knowledge through Indigenous cultural exchange and food sovereignty.

MIRIAM HILBORN

Miriam Hilborn is a proud member of Laguna Pueblo and is also of Acoma descent. She joined the YAKANAL program in 2023, inspired by the vital role of pollinators and the connection between environmental stewardship and Indigenous knowledge.

Since then, Miriam has become an experienced beekeeper and is certified by the New Mexico Beekeepers Association. She currently serves as the Assistant Coordinator of the beekeeping program, helping lead educational initiatives and foster community engagement in sustainable beekeeping practices.

INGE SULLIVAN

Though born and raised in Texas, Inge has spent the past 10 years calling Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. Over the past six years, she has held multiple roles in the nonprofit community, ranging from the arts and fabrication to community foundations, before landing at YAKANAL.

She is thrilled to be part of the team and to bring her expertise in operational management.

FLAVIA TRECCO

Flavia Trecco is Argentine, born in Córdoba and raised with Andean roots, where the principle of Sumak Kawsay—healthful living—defines her commitment to community well-being.

She utilizes her expertise in digital production and social media to build spaces for intercultural communication, serving as a bridge between digital technology and ancestral wisdom to amplify Indigenous voices.

ISABEL HAWKINS

Isabel Hawkins, Ph.D., is an astrophysicist, bilingual science educator, and Emeritus at the Exploratorium. She has served for more than 20 years as a volunteer for YAKANAL, supporting Indigenous food sovereignty and cultural exchange.

Her work focuses on Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural astronomy, and broadening participation in STEM through culturally grounded education.

JOHN C. AHMIE

John C. Ahmie is a proud member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Pueblo of Acoma Utility Authority, where he oversees critical infrastructure and utility services for the community.

He is also the YAKANAL Bee Team Coordinator, leading beekeeping initiatives that promote environmental stewardship, cultural connection, and community wellness. He is dedicated to collaborative leadership and advancing initiatives that create lasting benefits for future generations.

THELMA ANTONIO

Thelma is a member of Laguna Pueblo, with clans of Big Parrot and Little Sun. She participates in the YAKANAL program, where she helps revitalize cultural and agricultural lifeways as a beekeeper and gardener. She graduated from the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning with a B.A. and M.A. in Community and Environmental Planning, as well as a certificate in Historic Preservation.

She also works as a Research Associate and Evaluator with Native Pathways. She supports evaluation and research activities related to Indigenous STEM education, the impacts of climate change on Tribal communities, philanthropy, and Keres language revitalization.

Thelma is a hunter-gatherer, studies medicinal plants, and is working on a digital storytelling project about the history of Laguna railroad colonies from Gallup, New Mexico, to Richmond, California.

SHELLY VALDEZ

Shelly Valdez, Ph.D., is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, and is also of Hispanic descent. Raised within the Pueblo, she developed a strong commitment to Indigenous education and cultural knowledge.

She holds degrees from the College of Santa Fe and the University of New Mexico and has more than 35 years of experience integrating Indigenous worldviews into science education. YAKANAL is her passion project, and she volunteers her time and experience to serve her community through culturally grounded leadership.

ANN RAY

Ann Ray Saracino is a member of Laguna Pueblo and a highly respected elder with deep knowledge of her community, culture, and the Pueblo landscape. She works closely with Shelly Riley and other YAKANAL coordinators and leadership.

She has worked with YAKANAL for more than 20 years, generously sharing her knowledge and mentoring the next generation. She gathers yucca plants and transforms them into beautiful baskets.

Ann lives in the main village of Laguna and participates in Laguna Pueblo feast days, opening her home to visitors to share Native foods prepared from recipes passed down through generations. She is an active member of the Mother Moon program and cultivates her own hoop house, inspiring the community through her stamina and determination.

GEANNA CAPITAN

Geanna Capitan, Laguna and Diné Adzáán, lives on the homelands of the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui peoples. She is a member of the research and evaluation teams for Native Pathways, an Indigenous-led evaluation and research organization.

She conducts facilitation and strategic planning for Indigenous communities, Tribal and nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions in a holistic and collaborative way.

She earned a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She is passionate about Indigenous knowledge systems and challenging the ways data are examined and interpreted. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, exploring new restaurants, and relaxing during cozy nights at home.

KYLE S. SWIMMER

Kyle Swimmer is an environmental engineer with a B.S. degree from New Mexico Tech and an Indigenous advocate focused on the legacy of uranium mining on Indigenous lands. He has collaborated with the University of New Mexico’s METALS Superfund Research Center, studying contamination related to the former Jackpile Mine at Laguna Pueblo, once the largest open-pit uranium mine in the world.

Kyle advocates for Indigenous environmental health, clean water access, and land restoration. His commitment to community service has a long legacy: he was recognized as New Mexico’s top high school youth volunteer in the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and founded the Kitzit Laguna Youth Dance Group.

BRYAN CARPIO

Bryan Carpio, Laguna Pueblo and Isleta Pueblo, serves as the Grants and Contracts Manager for the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, where he oversees grant administration, funding compliance, and strategic partnerships that support Tribal programs and community priorities.

His work focuses on strengthening organizational capacity and ensuring resources are managed effectively to advance the Pueblo’s long-term goals. Bryan earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College in 2018 so that he could give back to his community.

He also participates in traditional and social activities in his village, including dances, ditch cleaning, and planting. Bryan is also an avid big-game hunter.