Nora Frank-Buckner
NEZ PERCE/KLAMATH
Nora
Frank-Buckner
MPH
Planning Director, Lead Consultant
Nez Perce/Klamath
Nora@tahomapeak.com
Nora is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho and a direct descendant of the Klamath Tribes of Southern Oregon.
For more than a decade, Nora has passionately worked in the field of Public Health and chronic disease prevention. Her primary focus is on collaborative leadership and systems thinking that has contributed toward the efforts of a regional food sovereignty movement. Her expertise is in developing, facilitating, and coordinating networks, coalitions, and tribal programs that address food sovereignty and systems, food security, and access to fresh, nutritious, and traditional foods.
Special Skills & Qualifications
Successful in building long term relationships with tribal program partners and stakeholders that contributed to a regional food sovereignty movement
10+ years of experience with health promotion and disease prevention program planning
10+ years of experience working with tribal communities and organizations
10+ years of experience in professional presentations at the tribal, regional, and national levels
Skilled in strategic planning, facilitation, and coordination of coalitions, networks, and tribal programs
Certified in the Technology of Participation (ToP) in Facilitation Methods and Strategic Planning
Professional Career
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board- Food Sovereignty Initiatives Director (January 2015-January 2022)
During Nora’s time at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, she quickly advanced her career from a Health Educator and Communications Specialist, to a Project Manager, and most recently the Food Sovereignty Initiatives Director. She developed, facilitated, and coordinated the NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition and its work groups. In addition, Nora led several food systems and sovereignty projects that included assessments, trainings, resource/material development, media messaging, presentations, and subject matter expertise in policy, systems, and environment (PSE) changes, health and nutrition, food access, and program planning.
Nora also worked on organizational leadership and development. In 2019, she led NPAIHB’s staff and Board Delegates through a series of strategic planning sessions that led to the organization’s 5-year strategic plan. In 2018, she was selected to receive the Employee of the Year Award.
Oregon State University Extension Services- Nutrition Educator (May 2011-January 2015)
Prior to pursuing her master’s degree, Nora worked as a Nutrition Educator for Oregon State University Extension office in Portland, Oregon. Her primary role was to educate youth K-12 and their families on topics of healthy eating, physical activity, meal planning, prepping, and cooking. She worked in various locations such as schools, food pantries, summer youth programs, Department of Human Services (DHS) offices, and Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) offices.
During this time, Nora contributed to the expansion of the office’s outreach into the Portland Native community by partnering with organizations such at the Native American Youth and Family Center and the Native American Rehabilitation Association.
Education
Master of Public Health: Health Management and Policy, June 2017
Portland State University/Oregon Health and Science University
Bachelor of Science in Public Health: Health Promotion and Health Behavior, June 2011
Oregon State University
Personal Life
Nora enjoys spending time with her life partner, stepdaughters, and family members that live across the Northwest. In her downtime, she likes to cuddle her dog and cat, cook and learn more about traditional foods, walking, hiking, and trying out new workouts. Nora has participated in 5 Hood to Coast relay races— also known as the “Mother of All Relays”, the event takes 8-12 runners per team, covers 200 miles from the iconic top of Mount Hood to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Each year, she wonders to herself why she signs up for these crazy things—it’s brutal!
Nora’s Writing, News and Presentations
Selected Presentations
NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Initiatives- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, November 2021
Retaining and Reclaiming Native Food Sovereignty in the Pacific Northwest- Oregon Land Trust, June 2021
Food Access and Food Sovereignty- UW Food Systems Seminar, February 2021
NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition- WSU Food Systems Hub Meeting, December 2020
Exploring and Embracing Cultural Identity Through Food-Mental Health America Webinar, July 2020
Framing Indigenous Food Systems and the role of Higher Education- NCORE Conference, Portland, OR, September 2019
Nez Perce HIPT Food Coalition Food Summit Panelist -Lapwai, ID, January 2019
NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition Peccha Kucha Talk- Native American Nutrition Conference, Prior Lake, MN, September 2018
Oregon Community Food System Network IGNITE- Silverton, OR, March 2018
Tribal Policy Guide- NPAIHB Quarterly Board Meeting, Portland, OR, January 2018
Components of a Tribal Policy Guide- Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Community Health Webinar, December 2017
Good Health & Wellness in Indian Country: Using an Indigenous Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention- Native Women's & Men's Wellness Conference, San Diego, CA- April 2017
Nutrition & Cooking Demonstration Break-Out session- Native Fitness Conference, Nike World Headquarters, Beaverton, OR, September 2015
Writing and News
“Food Insecurity and Food Access in Washington State Tribal Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the WA State Tribal Food Survey”, Frank-Buckner, Nora; Dankovchik, Jenine; Warren-Mears, Victoria; Rose, Chelsea M.; Drewnowski, Adam; Buszkiewicz, James; Ismach, Alan; Nguyen, Esther; Sivaramakrishnan, Brinda; Otten, Jennifer J., Washington State Tribal Food Survey. December 2021
American Indian Living Podcast, Native Food Sovereignty, April 6th, 2020
Oregon Public Broadcasting Live Stream, 2019
Northwest Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition: An Intertribal Collaboration. Frank-Buckner, N., & Northwest Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition. (2019). Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(B), 9-12.
Tribal Food Sovereignty, Northwest tribes seek to increase their connection to traditional foods, Frank-Buckner, N. Savor the Gorge Magazine, 2019
Tribal Policy Guide, Aguirre, A, Becenti, A, Frank-Buckner, N Sealy, R. Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and National Indian Child Welfare Association, 2019.
Oregon Behavioral Health Collaborative: Tribal Behavioral Health Recommendations in Oregon- Frank-Buckner, N. June 2017
Board Membership
Oregon Public Health Association-Board of Directors
October 2020- Present
Gorge Grown Food Sovereignty Committee- Co-chair
October 2019-Present
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians-Co-chair Food Sovereignty Sub-committee
January 2019- Present
Oregon Community Food System Network-
Chair January 2019- February 2022
Vice-Chair (December 2018- January 2019)
NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition- Coordinator
October 2017- January 2022