Grace B. Gillette

As Executive Director, Grace B. Gillette brings a combination of management and traditional experience to the organization. Grace moved to Denver over 30 years ago with her daughter Avanelle Jo "AJ". She is the proud grandmother of Larissa Evelyn No Braid who is the current Denver March Powwow Princess and Lara Jewell No Braid who is the current Denver Indian Center Princess.

Grace is pictured with Margaret Tyon, a close friend and long-time resident of Denver. Mrs. Tyon is an original committee member of the Denver March Powwow. The photo was taken when Ms. Gillette was Head Woman Dancer for the Native American Rights Fund's Community Appreciation Powwow in November (photo credit: Native American Rights Fund).

Ms. Gillette was born and raised on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Her father, George Gillette was a full-blood Arikara. Her mother, Evelyn Wilkinson-Gillette was 3/4 Arikara and 1/4 Norwegian. Her father had the life-time position of Tail Feather Carrier for the Arikara Tribe. This position has been passed on to her brother Russell. Her sister Barbara was inducted into the "War Sister Society." As a result, she has actively participated in the planning of numerous ceremonies and celebrations/dances her entire life. Her tribe refers to powwows as such -- celebrations or dances. During a ceremony, Ms. Gillette was given her Indian name and an eagle plume. She also received the right to dance. Even though Grace resides in Denver, she maintains close ties to her family in Fort Berthold, ND. She has been called upon twice to participate in Warbonnet Dances. She was asked by two granddaughters, Ashleigh Indian Star Heavy Gun for Four Bears Princess and Cassidy Smith for White Shield Traveling Princess

Grace has one brother and seven sisters. Russell Gillette, a well-known traditional dancer, is a Program Director for the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND. Shirley Smith retired from teaching at the Black Lodge Headstart in New Town, ND. Sylvia Chase passed away December, 1978. Barbara Roy retired from the Indian Health Service in Oklahoma City. Aurelia Gillette is retired and raising her grandchildren in New Town, ND. Florence Brady works for the Three Affiliated Tribes in New Town, ND. Dr. Sandra Fox retired from the BIA and lives in Albuquerque, NM. Her adopted sister Dr. Denise Lajimodiere is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Department at NDSU.

Professionally, Grace has more than 40 years of management experience, which includes several years of conference coordination. She has been employed by prominent national organizations, e.g., Manager of Operations for the Council of Energy Resource Tribes. (CERT); Business Manager/Corporate Officer for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF); Office Manager, American Indian Commission on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Logistical Support Coordinator/Office Manager, Osoro and Associates. She has been actively involved with this powwow for 25+ years. Grace was named in the Denver Business Journal's "Who's Who in Denver Business". She was also named in Strathmore's Who's Who for 2006-2007. and most recently she was selected as one of “Denver’s 150", a special honor recognizing ordinary citizens who are making extraordinary contributions to the Mile High City commemorating Denver’s 150th Birthday.

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