Jennifer Porter is the current tribal chair of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.[1] She was born in Navajo Nation in Fort Defiance and is half Navajo and half Kootenai.[2] She replaced her uncle on the Kootenai Tribal Council when she was 23. Porter has promoted educational and cultural programs, including a computer program to teach students words from the Kutenai language.[3] She has three children, two of whom attend the Boundary County School District public school.

Jennifer Porter
Tribal chair of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
Assumed office
2005
Preceded byGary Aitken, Sr.
Personal details
Bornc. 1974 (age 49–50)
Navajo Nation, Fort Defiance
CitizenshipUnited States
NationalityNavajo and Kootenai
Children3

Porter has been active in efforts to save the Kootenai River white sturgeon.[4][5]

In 2009, she signed an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection "to develop an enhanced tribal card for the purpose of crossing the border with the U.S. and Canada".[6] In January 2012, the Kootenai Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC) was designated "as a travel document acceptable for entering into the United States through a land or sea port of entry".[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kootenai Tribe of Idaho". Archived from the original on 2006-10-29. Retrieved 2006-10-22.
  2. ^ Cohn, R.J. (December 16, 2008). "Kootenai Tribal Chair Stresses Education for Tribe's Future". Boundary County Digest.
  3. ^ Golder, Julie (November 23, 2011). "Porter passionate about education, Kootenai culture". Bonners Ferry Herald.
  4. ^ "Restoring the Kootenai River". The River Journal. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  5. ^ "The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, State of Montana, Federal Agencies and Conservation Groups reach historic agreement to save Kootenai River white sturgeon". US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  6. ^ "CBP and Idaho's Kootenai Tribe Sign Memorandum of Agreement to Develop Enhanced Tribal Card". CBP NewsPhotos. 2009-02-02. Archived from the original on 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  7. ^ "CBP Designates Kootenai Tribe's Enhanced Tribal Card as Acceptable Travel Document". CBP.gov. 2012-01-31. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2012-12-11.