Wayne Ducheneaux

Wayne Ducheneaux II is a member of the board of directors of the Northwest Area Foundation. He is the chief advancement officer for the Intertribal Agricultural Council, which advocates for the use of agricultural resources to support the needs of Native American people. He guides the council’s work, building relationships across sectors, and envisioning transformative futures for Native communities. Before this role, he was the first executive director of the Native Governance Center, a Native-led nonprofit dedicated to assisting Native nations in strengthening their governance systems and capacity to exercise sovereignty.

Ducheneaux, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, grew up on his parent’s cattle ranch on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He brings a deep and real-life understanding of Native nations’ needs, opportunities, and challenges to his work, thanks to his previous experience serving in a variety of roles for his tribe, including as the administrative officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s government, a Tribal Council Representative, and his nation’s vice chairman.

Ducheneaux is a graduate of the Native Nation Rebuilders program, which brings together Native leaders to learn about innovative tribal governance practices, strengthen their leadership skills, and connect with others who are passionate about building a brighter future for their nation.