Climate and Environmental Design Program Manager
Andrew Berger
Andrew Berger, Director of Agriculture and Climate Adaptation Programs. Andrew Berger has been working on watershed management, biodiversity planning, and mapping and site development with the Blackfeet team for over four years. He has a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies from Macalester College, and a Masters of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. Andrew Berger is currently the project director of PLHI’s regenerative grazing and climate adaptation programs, focused on developing demonstration and pilot sites, collecting soils data, GIS analysis, community outreach, cross-agency coordination, and planning with local organizations and institutions of higher ed. Andrew’s background in landscape design and planning with Native communities will lend itself towards the planning and building of a thriving physical home campus for PLHI and its beneficiaries.
Dr. Laura Caplins
Laura Caplins, Director of Operations and Conservation Programming. Laura has had the privilege of working with the Blackfeet community since 2013. These projects have spanned such diverse topics as health, economics, conservation and community well-being. Laura's background includes international work with communities in the Himalayas and Andes among other locations. She has dedicated her life to the promotion of social justice. She has a PhD in Forestry and Conservation Sciences, MS in Recreation Administration and a BA in Geography. Laura helps to keep our programs functioning in a timely and productive way and leads our conservation efforts.
Sarah DesRosier
Sarah Desrosier, Bookkeeper. Piikani Lodge Health Institute, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration-Montana State University-Northern, Minor: Accounting, Notary (Coming Soon) Sarah was born and raised on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. She earned an associate’s degree from the Blackfeet Community College and then earned a Bachelors in Business with a minor in Accounting at Montana State University-Northern. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her three sons hiking in Glacier National Park, golfing at the East Glacier Lodge, and maintaining her yard. Sarah is passionate about voting and has spent time volunteering for partisan and non-partisan events, organizing rally’s, forums, and parade floats. Sarah has volunteered her time throughout the Blackfeet and Cree tribes going door-to door to educate potential voters gain knowledge of why voting is important. Sarah found her career path in non-profits where she finds a sense of accomplishment in their missions when directed toward the betterment of the world and its inhabitants.
Research Manager
Christen Falcon
Christen Falcon (Steals a Horse Across the River), Research Assistant and Community Engagement Specialist. Christen is a returning member of the Amskapi Piikani Nation and currently serves as Research Assistant / Community Engagement Specialist on PLHI’s Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research award with a focus on traditional food research and youth. Christen has worked across PLHI programs by assisting food and agriculture producers with funding opportunities, advocating Blackfeet ways of knowing and being by incorporating these values in Culture Camps, Youth NASA Camps, Opioid Response educational materials, Elder/Knowledge Holder Story Revitalization Project, and has also assisted with Covid-19 pandemic food box distribution program, Incident Command Emergency Response Mapping, along with dedicating herself to learning Amskapi Culture and Ceremony, she mentees after her mentor Kim Paul learning the ways of the Beaver Bundle. Her dedication to PLHI’s mission is aligned with her interest in creating healing, identity, leaders and to provide overall action within her community.
Kim Paul
Kim Paul, Executive Director. A long-standing member of Blackfeet traditional societies and ceremony, Kim has dedicated her life to mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and substance abuse reduction through building relationships, encouraging community, providing a home to over 21 community members whom were not her own (over a period of 28 years) and by walking in a good way to reflect to her community the joy and satisfaction that can be achieved by making healthy choices. She is a grandmother of 12, a mother of four, and her tireless efforts within the community have had a strong health and mental health focus, to include her research. Her undergraduate degrees are in psychology, human services, and pre-medicine, with graduate and doctoral degrees in environmental chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical science and public and community health, respectively.
Anne Racine
Anne Racine, Human Resources Director and Tribal Schools Outreach Director: Anne Racine is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre Tribe of Fort Belknap Montana. Her Indian name is Hiding Woman; this name was her mother’s name, Theresa Cuts the Rope Werk. Anne serves as the General and Human Resources Manager for Piikani Lodge and has held this position for two years. Advocacy has been a big part of her professional career as she loves to see people excel in all aspects of their lives. Anne worked in higher education and developed many programs that enhanced the community. She has her Bachelors in Community Service and a Master of Science in Education as these two types of degrees have suited her well in development, mentoring, advocating, and building a career of helping people. PLHI is a fast-paced organization and Anne loves being part of a team that will take it to the next level of success.
LOREN RACINE
Loren Racine was raised around Blackfoot culture and grew up listening to the stories. Loren is a lover of plants so when the opportunity came up to work for Glacier National Park, he worked for the Vegetation Unit as a Forestry Technician. Through this position, he gained a greater appreciation for the outdoors. With his cultural background love for the outdoors, he started looking more into the Blackfeet history in the area and is now applying that knowledge in his role as Piikani Lodge’s On the Land Guide and Coordinator.
DR. Micaela Young
My family owns and operates a farm in the Snake River Basin in Southern Idaho, a way of life which has influenced my work ethic and enduring interest in agriculture communities. The paternal side of my family raised their children and grandchildren on the Nez Perce Nation of Idaho, so I started my life with a deep reverence for Native life. I earned a Master of Arts in English-Writing at Montana State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies also at Montana State University, focusing my studies on micropolitical (community-level) strategies for reclaiming Native lands and resources. My professional life consists of 17+ years working in grants and contracts administration at institutions of higher education and leading research and development activities for Native-led non-profits for the sake of bringing capital and capacity to food and agricultural initiatives. After decades of witnessing the vital importance of the agricultural industry to rural and Tribal communities in terms of social and economic wellness, I have dedicated my life to the cause of increasing local food resilience and sovereignty, supporting communities as they pursue climate planning strategies, rebuilding economies, and restoring lands and cultures to their fully flourished potential. My personal time is devoted to my son Gus, backcountry horsemanship and exploration of horse cultures around the globe, comparative religion and philosophy, creative writing and poetry, and endurance running in the mountains.
