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Our Story
Red Sky Nation was founded by the family of the late Terri McCauley. Terri was a young Native woman living in Sioux City, Iowa. She went out one evening and never returned home. Her family reported her missing. Shortly after that, Terri was unfortunately found murdered. The family never received any media attention let alone any type of justice. For decades, the family suffered in pain and silence.
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With the support of community and allies, the family decided to organize the first Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Pow Wow in Sioux City, Iowa in 2021. The goal of the pow wow was to raise awareness of not only her story, but other cases like hers in the local area. The pow wow would serve as a cultural safe space for the families negatively impacted by the MMIR crisis. With grassroots organizing and awareness campaigns and after 41 years, there was an arrest finally made in her case.
Red Sky Nation officially became a Native non-profit organization as of January 1, 2025. Although the MMIR crisis is usually described as the gender-based violence experienced by Native Americans, there are multi-layered issues linked to the crisis as well. Issues such as substance abuse, incarceration, homelessness/poverty, and environmental factors also contribute to this epidemic. Oftentimes, Natives are left with little to no cultural-specific resources that promote long-term preservation of health and wellbeing. Therefore, in order to end or minimize the MMIR crisis, all of these issues must be addressed and provided real-world solutions that work for our specific needs.
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What essentially began as a good thought and prayer turned into creating a nonprofit organization that promotes rematriation, healing justice, a just economy, and breaking down all barriers through community engagement and collaboration. From the beginning, the family didn't want this to be solely about Terri's case. Rather, this was about supporting others in our communities who are experiencing the same disparities and how to work together to end those.
Our Board
JOSH TAYLOR
Umonhon/Ponca
Josh Taylor is an enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. Josh is also the nephew of the late Terri McCauley. Growing up in Sioux City, Iowa, he is very well aware of all the challenges and barriers that the Native community faces. Josh has recently stepped into leadership roles within the Native community and exhibits great critical thinking skills that bring forth positive solutions. Being impacted by the MMIR crisis is what drives his motivation to help others. In addition, Josh is a very dedicated father.
DANIELA HAAS
Lost Bird
Daniela Haas is the Regional Director for the Crittenton Center child development Programs, where she is dedicated to providing resources, education, and empowerment for families and children. With a passion for creating positive change in her community, Daniela works tirelessly to support children’s development and equip families with the tools they need to thrive. In addition to her role at Crittenton Center, Daniela serves on the board for Safe Place, a nonprofit organization focused on providing safety and support to individuals in crisis. She is also an active member of the Siouxland Leadership Group, where she collaborates with other leaders to strengthen the region through community-driven initiatives.
As a teen mother, Daniela understands firsthand the challenges that many families face. This experience has fueled her commitment to helping others navigate difficult circumstances and create better futures for themselves and their children.Daniela now the mother is four is dedicated to fostering environments where both children and families can succeed. Her work reflects a deep understanding of the challenges families face and a personal dedication to making a lasting impact on their lives
ANDREA (ANDY) SNOWBALL
Ho-Chunk/Muscogee
Andrea (Andy) Snowball is both Winnebago (Hunter family) and a member of the Eagle Clan, and Muscogee (Alexander family) from Broken Arrow, OK. She grew up in St. Paul, MN, and currently lives in South Sioux City, NE, with her son, Hollis, and dog Uxini Sep. She is an attorney with Big Fire Law & Policy Group in Winnebago, where she practices primarily transactional federal and tribal Indian law. She serves in the Nebraska Army National Guard and is in the process of direct commissioning as an officer with the Judge Advocate General Corps. Andy also serves on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence Coalition, which promotes the prevention if intimate partner violence against natives and assist in the navigation of MMIP cases. She loves dancing hocak applique, running, and spending time with her friends and family.
Our Team
TRISHA RIVERS
Ho-Chunk/Pima/Meskwaki/Ojibwe
Executive Director
BA Psychology, Minor in Mental Health - University of Northern Iowa
Currently pursuing Master of Public Policy - University of Northern Iowa
Trisha Rivers is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. She also has ancestral ties to the Pima, Meskwaki, and Ojibwe. Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Trisha was adopted and battled leukemia from an early age. She began learning about her cultural roots at the age of twelve. She moved back and forth from Waterloo to Sioux City. She eventually enrolled in college at University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in 2015. She graduated in 2019 with her BA in Psychology and minor in Mental Health. After graduating from UNI, she decided to move back to Sioux City to begin her career as a community grassroots organizer.
Trisha credits her experience at Standing Rock during the labor day fiasco where guard dogs were deployed on water protectors as the moment she would become more aware and active within her Native communities on and off the reservations. She has led different projects, initiatives, and events within the Siouxland community and beyond. Her passion is civic engagement and public policy. In fact, Trisha is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy from UNI and has been a formidable ally to other organizations such as United Today, Stronger Tomorrow. She has served as the first Native American woman to serve on the first Inclusive Committee for the City of Sioux City. She has received awards such as the Women A.W.A.R.E. Young Women of Excellence award and the Sioux City Human Rights Commission
War Eagle award. She has even ran for a local school board election for the Sioux City School District. She serves as a board member for Community Action Agency. Trisha is undoubtedly passionate, unshakeable, fearless, and loves to serve as an advocate for not only Natives, but for all people. She even loves to go on paranormal investigations with her paranormal team, Para 911 Sioux City. Above all of the accomplishments and accolades, Trisha is a dedicated mother to her four children which inspire her to set foot tracks for them to follow.