Staff

Asia Tail

Executive Director

Asia Tail is an artist and community organizer based in Tukwila, Washington. She attended the Cooper Union School of Art in New York and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2014. In 2018, she co-founded yəhaẃ Indigenous Creatives Collective, engaging with hundreds of interdisciplinary artists across the Pacific Northwest. Asia now works as an advocate and arts consultant with several local organizations to channel resources into Indigenous communities. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, born and raised on Coast Salish territories.

Mikaela Shafer

Storytelling Lead

Mikaela Shafer (Hopi) is a mother, artist, and community builder residing in Olympia, Washington. With a passion for storytelling and marketing, she has amassed over 15 years of experience helping businesses tell their stories and build community through a strategy of authentic content that inspires, educates, and uplifts. Her marketing business, Maqa Collective, collaborates with organizations and individuals who are making positive impacts in their worlds. Within her community, Mikaela serves as the Co-Chair of the Olympia Cultural Access Advisory Board, a committee that supports public programs in arts, culture, heritage, and science. Her artwork has been featured in galleries across the US and in London, and she was recently honored with the LIFT Award for Indigenous artists through the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. Through her artistic endeavors, community engagement, and storytelling, Mikaela strives to make a meaningful impact on the cultural landscape, advocating for inclusivity and empowerment in her community and beyond.

Mel Carter

Development Lead

Mel Carter is a mixed Yonsei Japanese artist and photographer from the Bay Area, now based in Seattle. A graduate of the University of Washington’s Photomedia program, Mel has worked on various projects, including art exhibitions, residencies, rehousing collections, and curating and exhibiting at festivals such as TUF, Corridor Music Festival, and Bumbershoot. A longtime supporter of yəhaw̓, Mel originally photographed the 2019 King Street Station exhibition and its 280+ works of art, and has also contributed to grant writing and development work.

Shameka Gagnier

Land Programming Lead

Shameka Gagnier carries bloodlines from Central (Pure’pecha), Africa (Northern and Western), and Europe (Ireland, England, Spain). They are committed to working within those intersections to create and support spaces that center art, food, and nourishment for Black and Indigenous communities. Gagnier is a multimedia artist, working as a wood carver, metalsmith, printmaker, performance artist, music maker, and gardener. Currently they are working with a collective called Black Well Red Thread Collective. Working as an artist mentor is deeply enriching work, the young people bring new perspectives, curiosity, skill, adaptability, and courage. As an educator these engagements continue to shape and enrich Gagnier’s approach to teaching, creating, and connecting.

Board of Directors

Paige Pettibon

Paige Pettibon is a Tacoma-based artist who incorporates her Indigenous and Black culture in her work. She has identified as a painter from an early age, but has added sewing, creative writing, digital art, and jewelry making into her repertoire. Pettibon’s studio practice centers around building community within culture and identity in various art forms. She believes we can create social change through creative expression by sharing our narratives. As a Lushootseed speaker, she practices the virtues carried out through the speaking community, which are to be kind, helpful, and sharing. The work she creates is formed with these good intentions, knowing it is important to be careful with the content you create in the world. See her work on Instagram @plain_to_sea, in our online gallery, or on her website www.paigepettibon.com.

Lindsay Goes Behind

Lindsay Goes Behind is Chief Seattle Club’s Chief Program Officer and has been at the Club since 2022. In this role, Lindsay has the honor to support the continuing growth and development of CSC’s Day and Enhanced Overnight Shelter, Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing, and Community Services programs. Lindsay also builds partnerships with local Native non-profits, Tribal Nations, and non-Native government and non-profit entities that ensure continued advocacy and resourcing for the work to heal and house our urban Native relatives. Immediately prior to joining CSC, Lindsay served as Managing Director of Na’ah Illahee Fund. Lindsay currently serves on the Equitable Development Initiative Advisory Board, the Board of Directors for yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective, Seattle-King County’s Coalition on Homelessness Senior Leadership Committee and the King County Communities of Opportunity Governance Group. Lindsay is a member of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and currently resides in West Seattle with her partner, daughter, extended family and many pets.

Thank you to our past team members!

Our collective was founded in 2017 by Asia Tail, Satpreet Kahlon, and Tracy Rector. Kimberly Corinne Deriana was a frequent collaborator from the start, officially joining our board in 2021. While these team members have since moved out of active administrative roles for yəhaẃ, we remain incredibly grateful for their many years of service to our organization and Indigenous communities.