Dawn Knickerbocker (she/her/Kwe) is Anishinaabe and walks the path of service to Tribal Nations with a commitment to equity, sovereignty, and shared responsibility. An enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe from the Ottertail Pillager Band of Indians and a citizen of the White Earth Nation, Dawn centers her work on the enduring strength of her People and the belief that every community holds the power to shape its future.

As Vice President for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Foundation, Dawn works to create transformative systems that move funding in ways that lower barriers to entry while ensuring transparency and sustainability. From designing a grant program for public arts and culture that served over a million people to building a stable funding source for Native populations and grassroots movements, her grantmaking strategies are designed to meet communities where they are and support their self-determined goals.

Dawn’s work reflects her dedication to justice and solidarity. She embraces the tradition of freedom dreaming in service to racial justice and collective liberation. A Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award recipient, Dawn is also a published nonfiction writer, poet, columnist, and national speaker on earth and people related justice. Her words and actions bridge communities, fostering solidarity across movements to ensure no voice is left unheard.

Her career spans over two decades of experience leading national philanthropic campaigns, guiding nonprofits, and mentoring emerging leaders. Whether advocating for sovereignty in international spaces, collaborating with grassroots collectives, or addressing systemic inequities, Dawn works to ensure Tribal Nations can carry forward the teachings of their ancestors while building toward futures of resilience and opportunity.

She is currently focused on:

1) Expanding the NCAI Foundation’s role in bridging philanthropy with Tribal Nations through initiatives that prioritize trust and reciprocity.
2) Designing funding mechanisms, such as the NCAI Communities Fund, that support education, economic empowerment, and cultural protection.
3) Developing programs to illuminate leadership journeys and strengthen Tribal governance for generations to come.

Dawn’s leadership is both a responsibility and a privilege. In her role at NCAI, Board President at Urban Native Collective, and a C3 board member of Friends of the Earth. In every effort, she invites partners to join her in advancing sovereignty, mutual respect, solidarity, and the shared work of creating a future where communities flourish on their own terms.