ALASKA LEND Family Faculty Appointed to GAO Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council

In Fall 2025, Tracy Charles-Smith, Alaska LEND family faculty, was appointed to the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council. Ms. Charles-Smith was one of six appointed members. The Council, created in 2022, provides GAO with insights and counsel on matters affecting tribal nations and their citizens and helps inform the agency's future work and priorities in examining federal programs that serve tribal communities and indigenous peoples.

Ms. Charles-Smith is the President of the Native Village of Dot Lake Tribal Council. Her leadership spans across many community initiatives from services for those who experience disabilities to environmental health concerns. An example of her leadership includes behavioral health programming which provides counseling and therapy services for all Alaska Natives in the region, as well as tribal members wherever they might live. The program includes education designed to break the cycle of violence that many Alaska Native women face.

In her role in the LEND Program, Tracy mentors long-term Fellows and leads seminars related to cultural values and practices at the intersection of disability services and family needs. As the parent of a child who experiences disabilities, she weaves her family experiences into the fabric of the LEND interdisciplinary lens. The Alaska LEND is grateful for her expertise and energy.