Joel is a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe and the Director of Environmental and Special Projects at Native Americans in Philanthropy, where he leads funding efforts to support Tribal communities across the United States. This includes extensive experience advancing equity through 501(c)(4) activities. Joel was the youngest person ever to be elected to the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, on which he served for eight years. During that time, he acted as Vice Chair and Treasurer, as well as Chair of its Finance Investment Committee, which manages hundreds of millions in assets. 

He attended the University of Michigan, formerly served as the Chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and is a traditional fisherman on the Columbia River. Joel calls the Nez Perce Tribe’s traditional territory, which includes Southeast Washington, home, and has lived on the Suquamish reservation for the last 10 years where he is raising his two children.