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Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The Montana Two Spirit Society is an organization driven by a passionate team of board members and staff, all of whom identify as two-spirit. Their dedication to creating opportunities, establishing networks, and protecting two-spirit rights make them invaluable allies in championing the two-spirit community.
Leadership
David Herrera
Mestizo & Adopted Blackfeet
Pronouns: (He/Him)
Co-Founder & Executive Director
David is the current director for FDH & Associates and the Montana Gay Men’s Task Force, and has conducted HIV prevention, testing & counseling in Montana since 1986 after receiving his degree in Cultural Anthropology from Stanford University in 1986. He was a founding member of the board of directors for the Yellowstone AIDS Project and served as the organization’s executive director from the late 90's until 2001. He has served as the Community Co-Chair for the Statewide Community Planning Group (CPG) and as Chair for the Governor’s HIV / AIDS Advisory Council as well as a member of the planning committee for the 2005 National Gay Men’s Health Summit held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since 1995, he has helped coordinate the annual Montana Two Spirit Gathering, which he still helps host today. As a long time community organizer for the 2SLGBT+ community, he currently serves as a board member of the Western Montana LGBT Community Center and is an active tennis player and works to promote tennis in the LGBT and Native communities by serving on the Garden City Tennis Association board as its President.
Steven Barrios
Pikunii Blackfeet Nation
Pronouns; (He/Him)
Co-Founder & Board Chair
As a founder of the Montana Two Spirit Society, Steven continues to educate and bring awareness about a culture that due to colonization was almost forgotten and eliminated. For over 20 years he has worked to educate Native and non-Native communities about two spirit culture and the impact of HIV infection on Native communities. Since 1997, he has helped plan and coordinate the annual Montana Two Spirit Gathering as well as conducting HIV testing on his home reservation. He serves on the Montana Community Planning Group, as well as the Montana Gay Health Task Force. He has served on the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center’s Harm Reduction Board, National Native American CPG, and Pride Foundation’s Racial Equity Initiative. He has conducted presentations on two spirit history throughout the Pacific Northwest and states such as Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico.
Staff
Sheldon Clairmont
Salish-Kootenai
Pronouns: (He/They)
Community Engagment Coordinator
Sheldon is a two-spirit man working for the MTTSS since summer 2022. He moved to Missoula in 2013, going to school for psychology, focusing on learning trauma informed care. Having worked in Tribal Social Services on his home reservation as well as working for Partnership for Children for over 5 years, becoming the Senior Attachment Counselor by the time of his departure. Their experience working with native children has led him to stive to create safe spaces for two-spirit youth and adults to occupy and thrive. His passion lies with creating partnerships within the community to provide programming, opportunities and support for the two-spirit community he serves though his work with the Montana Two Spirit Society and the Gay Health Task Force. Their other passions include taking the time to dabble in new creative hobbies such as crochet, sewing, music making and singing whenever he gets the chance.
Kera Rivera
Taíno
Pronouns: (They/Them)
Events Coordinator
Kera is the one we turn to keep things in line. Driven and headstrong, they are passionate about creating a comfortable and safe space for their community while focusing on accessibility and inclusivity. Kera has been a part of the Missoula community for almost 10 years, moving to Missoula from Chicago in 2012. Kera does local theater, hangs out with their cat, and jams at karaoke in their free time.
Board of Directors
Hiram
calf-Looking
Pikunii Blackfeet Nation
Pronouns: (He/Him)
Hiram is a Native family/community advocate, cultural knowledge-keeper, educator, and artist. Hiram Calf Looking currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission, Co-Chair of the Northwest Two-Spirit Society, serves on the Board of the Montana Two-Spirit Society, and is an active delegate/member of the International Council of Two-Spirit Society, and the Blackfeet Nation Northwest Delegation. Hiram Calf Looking currently lives in Seattle, Washington.
Raven E. HeavyRunner
Pikunii Blackfeet Nation
Pronouns: (He/Him)
Raven is one of the many Two Spirit voices in the western United States, reclaiming a tradition that European colonization. had nearly extinguished among Native Americans. Raven is currently a social worker with the Muckleshoot Tribe in Washington State, and he continues to be active in the revival of Two Spirit awareness nationwide.
Renee Bremner
Pikunii Blackfeet Nation
& Littel Shell Cree
Pronouns: (She/Her)
Renee’s Blackfeet name is Holy Mountain Woman. As a board member, Renee’ works to ensure that the Montana Gathering remains one of the most successful across Turtle Island. She currently works with the Montana Office of Public Assistance and is the proud mother of two beautiful children!
Leo
Thompson
Yo'eme
Pronouns: (She/they)
Leo is one of the newest Montana Two Spirit Society board members joining in March 2023. As an Indigenous person adopted out of their tribe, Leo has become a passionate advocate for cross-generational culturally specific Indigenous education. They recently earned an M.A. in Indigenous Education at Arizona State University and currently work as an educator/storyteller for incarcerated youth in Montana, disproportionately Indigenous. Leo was also instrumental in developing MTSS's youth group Nk̓ʷuwilš collaborating with board, staff, and community members on the Flathead Reservation in its creation and ongoing facilitation led by youth.
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