Rebecca Miles is the Executive Director of the Nez Pierce Tribe.
In May 2004, Rebecca was elected to the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC), the governing body of the Nez Perce Tribe.
In her first year on the NPTEC, Rebecca chaired the Human Resources Subcommittee and served as an Education Liaison. She was appointed NPTEC Secretary during this year as well. During her first year on the NPTEC, Rebecca worked extensively on the Snake River Basin Adjudication, including providing testimony before the Idaho Legislature and began to cultivate her reputation as a problem solver.
In May 2005, Rebecca was elected by her peers as the first woman Chairman of the NPTEC. She was re-elected as Chairman in May 2006 and is currently the youngest to ever be elected to the position. Rebecca was elected to her second three-year term in May 2007 and presently serves as Vice-Chairman.
In Rebecca’s role as Chairman, she has represented the Tribe, locally and nationally, on many critical issues. She has provided testimony on behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe before Congress and the Idaho Legislature on a myriad of issues, including tribal gaming, tribal taxing authority, endangered species recovery and habitat restoration, and treaty reserved rights. Rebecca has also been a keynote speaker at conferences on issues such as education and leadership. In addition, based on her leadership in the cutting edge issues of tribal water rights and treaty fishery rights and species preservation she has been asked to speak at national conferences and to governmental agencies, private organization and colleges and universities.
Rebecca’s work and leadership in areas of note in Indian Country and beyond has been featured by many national news organizations including the New York Times.
In March 2006, Rebecca was selected the Woman of the Year by Washington State University Alumini Association. Rebecca also received the National River Hero Award in 2007 for her work on ESA listed species in the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
