John Matt has served as the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program Manager since 2006. His employment with the program began in 2001, when he was hired as an Archeological Technician, later becoming the crew supervisor. He oversees multiple budgets for the office, including on-reservation projects and off-reservation contract jobs. John serves on the American Indian Cultural Council for the Museum of Arts and Culture, representing the Spokane Tribe’s delegation. He believes that preserving cultural resources is important for future generations of the Spokane people. It shows where his people came from, and tells the story of the Spokane ancestral way of life along the river banks, from preparing for the long winters gathering fish, to where the winter camps were located. In John’s words, “We were river people. We had to walk away from the river due to various dams being installed along the Columbia River, and we have lost a whole way of life since we cannot fish for salmon anymore. The benefits of saving our cultural resources is in years past we used to pass things down from generation to generation through oral histories. Now we have the benefit of using modern technologies to record these oral traditions for future generations to enjoy.

Nancy Williams is the Principal Investigator for the Spokane Tribe of Indians Preservation Program. She joined the program in 2021 as the Project Archaeologist. Nancy is a lithic technology specialist, and has worked as a field and lab archaeologist since 2008. She earned her Master of Philosophy in Archaeology in 2015 from the University of Exeter in Southwest England. Prior to being employed with STOI, she was a Paleolithic Archaeologist and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, and Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She is honored to be a part of the STIPP team and helping to preserve and protect the culture and vibrant traditions of the Spokane Tribe of Indians.  In her spare time, reading, sketching, being outdoors, biking, hiking, camping, traveling everywhere with her husband and Pugs, and living in Eastern Washington.

Tom Williams is the Project Archaeologist for the Spokane Tribe of Indians Preservation Program. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Archaeology from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom with a specialization in lithic technology and the Upper Paleolithic of the Americas. Prior to joining the STIPP team he has worked on archaeological sites and collections in the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Denmark. He has extensive experience in both CRM and research archaeology as well as outreach and education where he has developed several interpretive programs. Tom believes passionately in the importance of cultural preservation and its important role in our communities. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring geology, camping, playing guitar, reading, and spending time with his family.

Leona Stanger works as the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program’s Administrative Assistant. She was hired as an Archaeological Technician in 1995 and has held the positions of Crew Supervisor, Ethnographic Assistant, Collections Technician, and GIS support over her 20 year tenure. Leona believes the Preservation Program is a major resource for young and old alike. In her words, “What we gather now, such as artifacts, oral histories, and pictures are only pieces of what was left for us to hold onto. That history is what teaches and reminds us who we are and where we come from.” She urges community members to use the Preservation Program and its archives to learn about their land, language, family and tribal histories. In her spare time, Leona likes to bead, sew, travel to powwows, and play stick game.

Charles Flett is a Spokane tribal member, who was lived his whole life on the reservation. He has worked for the Preservation Program since the spring of 2002. Beginning as the boat operator, he is currently an Archaeological Technician, who believes in preserving and protecting the Tribe’s archaeological resources. Charles feels that documenting and preserving these resources is the first step to passing on Spokane tribal cultural traditions to future generations. He enjoys hunting, fishing, community events, and spending time with his family.

Bob Flett is a Spokane Tribal member who was raised on the Spokane Reservation and has lived there his whole life. He is an Archaeological Technician/Boat Operator and has been working for the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program since September 2015. Since working with the Preservation Program, he has gained valuable experience and knowledge about the Spokane culture and history through archaeological sites. On his off time, he enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, concerts/shows, spending time with loved ones, and, most of all, relaxing at home.

Patricia “Patty” Hill is an archaeology technician/boat operator for the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program and has been working with the preservation program since the spring of 2021. She is a Spokane Tribal member and has grown up in the Spokane area. Patty is currently studying Medical Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Washington and will be graduating in the spring of 2022. After graduating with her B.S. in Anthropology, Patty plans on continuing her work with the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program and continuing her education to earn a master’s degree. In her free time, Patty likes to watch movies, read books, spend time with loved ones, and sleep.

Rachel Vang joined the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program as the Archives and Collections Manager in 2022. She holds a M.S. in Applied Anthropology and Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies with an emphasis on Indigenous collections in museums. Rachel has previously worked with collections as a Collections Manager at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, a Fossil Preparator at the Carthage Institute of Paleontology, and a volunteer intern at the University of Stevens Point Archaeology lab and Oshkosh Public Museum. She is excited to learn about the culture, traditions, and history of the Spokane Tribe, and is honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of the collection that helps tell the story of the Spokane people. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys exploring new places with her husband, hiking, photography, and watching movies.

Bobbi Rose is the Collections Assistant for the Spokane Tribe Preservation Program, where she has worked since 2011. Prior to taking this position, she has worked as a part of the archaeology field crew as an Archaeological Technician. She conducted surveys on and off the Spokane Reservation and throughout Northeast Washington as well as assisted with controlled test excavations and patrolling for ARPA violations by land and water. As the Collections Assistant, Bobbi is responsible for assisting with care and preservation of the Spokane Tribe’s collection in accordance with museum standards. Bobbi is a Spokane Tribal Member and descendant of the Coeur D ‘Alene and Colville Tribes. She is a certified Wild Land Fire Fighter and EMT.

Joshua Flett is a Cultural Specialist for the Spokane Tribe of Indian’s Preservation Program. He received a BAE from EWU in Early Childhood Education. Josh grew up admiring the work of qenes (his grandmother) and all she had done for our tribe. He was blessed with the opportunity to start learning the language in 2015 and it quickly turned into a passion of his. He is now able to teach his five children and spouse the language, understand our elders that speak it, in addition to developing a better understanding on how we view the world we live in.