Foundation Leadership 

​Lynne Holman, President Emerita and Founder 
A Colorado Native from Rifle Colorado, her Grandparents migrated from Arkansas to Colorado in the late 1800’s and built many of buildings on Main Street in Rifle. Her paternal connections, are all members of the Cherokee Nation, who came across the Trail of Tears to allotted land in Adair, Oklahoma.  Mrs Holman is also a  registered member of the Western Band Cherokees. Mrs. Holman is a retired nurse with 42 years of experience with advanced professional certificates. She is one of the Founding Members of the Colorado Cherokee Circle which was established about 25 years ago for the purpose of preserving our language and culture. It was this venture which lead her support, plan, and implement The Denver American Indian Festival. Mrs. Holman has been honored by the Cherokee Nation as Colorado Elder of the Year, and was cited as a 7 Everyday Hero for her continuing work for Native American cultural, educational, and cross cultural opportunities for understanding.  She is currently overseeing the First Nations Foundation which will exponentially expand cultural, advocacy, and philanthropic endeavors in the Adams County Community.   When not working Mrs. Holman enjoys spending time with her husband, grandchildren and adult children whom all live in Colorado.

​Carrie Howell , Chief Operations Officer 
Ms. Howell is Pawnee/Flandreau-Santee Sioux from Oklahoma. Her parents are Dawnena Howell and  the late Vergil Fox Howell.  She has two daughters and four grandchildren. She graduated from Metro State College in Denver in the field of Human Services, with emphasis in addiction treatment. She has 20 years’ experience working as a substance abuse counselor with youth and adults, and 10 years as an interpreter for the deaf. She has managed a family dance troupe, Seven Falls Indian Dancers, for 30 years, which performs  American Indian social and exhibition dances for various events. She was the program manager of the Nurturing Parenting Program at Denver Indian Family Resource Center. During this time, she began developing a culturally specific nurturing parenting program for Native Americans. She has been a Nurturing Parenting facilitator for 12 years, and  national trainer/ consultant for 10 years. She is the current president of the Native American Women’s Association, and chairman of the Garden of Gods Rockledge Ranch Powwow. She has worked with the Native American community for 30 years and is excited to provide her leadership and expertise to the First Nations Foundation.