November 17, 2023 3:00 a.m.

On Thursday, Governor Tina Kotek announced that Shana McConville Radford has joined the administration as her Tribal Affairs Director.

A release from the Governor’s office said Radford recently served as the deputy executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Kotek said, “Communication and transparency are cornerstone to the state’s relationship with Oregon’s nine sovereign Tribes”. Kotek said, “Shana McConville Radford has extensive experience in Tribal matters, policies, and government-to-government relations through a career of promoting tribal sovereignty, fostering positive relationships and advancing the interests of Oregon’s Tribal nations”.

The release said Radford brings over 15 years of Tribal relations, policy, Tribal facilitation, negotiation and intergovernmental relations experience to the role. Outside of her role with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Radford previously served as a Tribal consultant on energy, education and health. During the 2020 Decennial Census, the release said Radford played an instrumental role with the U.S. Census Bureau as the Tribal and Congressional lead in ensuring that Oregon and Idaho’s historically undercounted Tribal nations were meaningfully and accurately counted.

Radford said, “Governor Kotek’s trust in me underscores her respect and commitment in strengthening, addressing, and understanding the distinctive needs and the unique political relationship with Oregon’s Tribal nations”. Radford said, “I look forward to the learning, relationships and opportunities ahead to make meaningful contributions to Governor Kotek’s initiatives with hope and possibility for individual and collective well-being”.