2026 OJI:SDA’ directors and programs
OJI:SDA’ board members and officers for 2026 reflect its vision as an Indigenous women-founded and led non-profit organization.
Board members are Barbara Abrams (Tonawanda Seneca), president; Kayla Matos, treasurer; Leisha Conners Bauer (St. Regis Mohawk), secretary; Mindy Magyar (Mi’kmaq, Sipekne’ First Nation); and Linda Grace-Kobas. Tahila Moss (Yoeme), OJI:SDA’ founder, is executive director.
Bios and information about board members can be found at
OJI:SDA’ Annual Board Retreat
OJI:SDA’ offers educational experiences and programming focused on reconnection to traditional Indigenous teaching. It promotes tools for self-healing and community support and offers curricula rooted in Indigenous perspectives. Since its founding in 2020, OJI:SDA’ has reached thousands of participants through initiatives such as its Plant Care Program, the Center for Intergenerational Learning, Virtual Spring Summit and Camp Turtle.
OJI:SDA’ has partnered with the Ithaca City School District and TST BOCES to offer teacher training in Indigenous land-based wisdom, offering community outreach with Elders and Knowledge Carriers. Its Plant Care program is available online and offers opportunities for participants to cultivate and harvest healing teas and learn about plant medicine. The summer Camp Turtle (Mochik Ania) offers Indigenous families a focus on arts, physical education and sustainability.
Support for OJI:SDA’ has come from the Park Foundation, the New Schools Venture Fund, Ithaca City School District, Tompkins County Public Library and Chëpìka Wines of Finger Lakes NY.
Since the COVID outbreak in 2020, OJI:SDA’ Disaster Relief Program has been an available resource for individuals and communities seeking important information about physical and mental health and how to build relationships with the land and Indigenous wisdom.
OJI:SDA’’s website can be found at https://www.ojisda.org/ . For more information
contact connect@ojisda.org .