The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis said its Center for Indian Country Development has added four members to its Leadership Council, an advisory group that helps shape the center’s research, data tools, and policy analysis on economic conditions in Native nations and Indigenous communities. Members are appointed by Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and the council is intended to bring in perspectives from tribal leadership, Native organizations, and tribal economic development and finance practitioners. The new members are Ashley Cornforth, secretary treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Mike Lettig, senior managing director and group head of Native American Financial Services at Huntington Bank, Mary Scott, tax commissioner in the Muscogee Creek Nation Office of the Tax Commission, and Brian Weeden, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. The council helps identify knowledge gaps and barriers to economic opportunity in Native communities, informing CICD’s work on datasets and tools for Indian Country, including the Survey of Native Nations that was launched nationally in 2025.
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis 2026-05-13
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Center for Indian Country Development appoints four new Leadership Council members
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis announced four new appointments to the Leadership Council of its Center for Indian Country Development, which advises on research, data tools, and policy analysis related to economic conditions in Native nations and Indigenous communities. Appointed by Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, the council brings perspectives from tribal leadership, Native organizations, and tribal economic and finance practitioners and helps identify knowledge gaps and barriers to economic opportunity, including informing the Survey of Native Nations launched nationally in 2025.