OUR TEAM

  • Loren Waters is an award-winning Cherokee and Kiowa filmmaker, and the Executive Director of the Lindy Waters III Foundation. Named to the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Loren's creative work has been showcased at prestigious festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival. Through her background in filmmaking and storytelling, Loren amplifies Indigenous voices, inspires the next generation, and is passionate about serving Native youth. 

Loren Waters

  • Lisa Waters is the Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of the Lindy Waters III Foundation. In addition to her work with the Foundation, Lisa has dedicated over 20 years to Norman Public Schools, where she currently serves as the District Test Coordinator. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, which has contributed to her expertise in both operational management and data-driven decision-making. With her unique blend of leadership, educational experience, and financial oversight, Lisa is committed to making a positive impact both in her community and in the Foundation's mission.

Lisa Waters

  • Leana Waters, a proud member of the Kiowa and Cherokee tribes, serves as the Program & Communications Coordinator for the Lindy Waters III Foundation. With a diverse background in finance, Leana is also an accomplished artist and digital creator, as well as a successful entrepreneur managing multiple businesses. Her passion lies in fostering connections and making a meaningful difference through her work.

Leana Waters

  • Nizhoni Begay (Diné/Quechua) is the Event and Grant Manager at the Lindy Waters III Foundation. Alongside her work at the foundation, she is the Communications and Development Coordinator at the Water Protector Legal Collective, an Indigenous-led legal organization that grew out of the #NoDAPL resistance at Standing Rock and today, continues to provide legal support and advocacy for Indigenous Peoples, the Earth, and climate justice movements. Nizhoni graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science and minors in Music and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. In 2020, she was awarded the Award of Excellence from the Stanford Alumni Association.

Nizhoni Begay

  • Coach James Kelley is a veteran basketball coach and educator in his 13th season as head coach of the Riverside Indian School Lady Braves. He holds the program’s all-time wins record with 319 victories and has led the team to the state tournament in three of the last four seasons. Over his career, he has helped develop 39 collegiate athletes and founded Native Student Athlete Prospects (NSAP), which has assisted over 200 student-athletes in reaching the college level.

    A proud citizen of the Kiowa and Choctaw Tribes of Oklahoma, Coach Kelley is also a devoted husband to his wife Shandel and father to their three children, Madison, Kyle, and Titan. He brings a strong commitment to Native youth development through athletics, education, and family values.

James Kelley

  • Nanki Kaur is a Literary Journalism and Media Studies student at the University of California, Irvine with a passion for storytelling, culture, and community impact. She is the founder of She Tells A Story Collective, a platform uplifting the voices and experiences of BIPOC youth, and has worked with organizations including Mosaic Journalism and The Mercury News. Her reporting has focused on youth civic engagement and cultural representation in sports. At the Lindy Waters III Foundation, she supports communications and storytelling efforts that amplify Native youth voices and community impact.

Nanki Kaur

Board Members

Meet the Board Members of the Lindy Waters III Foundation

  • Lindy Waters III is a professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, having previously played for the Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder. A proud citizen of the Kiowa and Cherokee Nations, Lindy grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, where his deep connection to his Native heritage shaped his journey on and off the court. He played collegiate basketball at Oklahoma State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management while showcasing leadership and dedication on the court.

    In March 2022, Lindy founded the Lindy Waters III Foundation, driven by his commitment to empowering Native youth. This family foundation focuses on cultural enrichment, mental health advocacy, and promoting physical wellness through sports, including basketball and culture camps.

    Lindy’s vision is to inspire the next generation by celebrating Native identity and fostering opportunities for growth and connection in their communities. Because of this important work, in 2024 the NBA announced that Lindy Waters III was named one of the five finalists for the 2023-24 NBA Social Justice Champion award.

  • Brent Cahwee is a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and also of Euchee descent, originally from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he is now based in Kansas. Brent is the co-founder and editor of NDNSPORTS.COM, which has been the only online sports publication for the past 25 years dedicated to covering the stories and the successes of Native American athletes at the collegiate and professional level. Over the years, he has partnered with many organizations to foster the growth of exposure for prep athletes in Indian Country with events such as the All-Star football game, Native American Top 50 (basketball), Oklahoma Native All-State Games, and the Indigenous Bowl football game. Brent is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University and Missouri State University.

  • William Pipestem (Otoe-Missouria, Osage) has devoted his career to advocating for the rights and sovereignty of tribal nations and Native peoples. His work spans a wide range of issues, including treaty rights, gaming, and the protection of Native women. Pipestem has served as a trusted representative and advisor to tribal governments, inter-tribal organizations, and Native individuals. A graduate of Stanford Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor, Pipestem also holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Oklahoma State University.

    Pipestem’s achievements have been widely recognized. In 2013, he was honored as the American Indian Alumni Society Distinguished Alumni Award recipient by the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU American Indian Alumni Society. Most recently, In 2022, he was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame, the university’s highest honor for alumni or former students. This prestigious recognition celebrates his outstanding professional achievements and contributions to society.

  • Grace Perez, of Nooksack and Mexican Indian descent, has dedicated over 20 years to community service. Since joining YouTube in 2018, she has also been a Global Leader for Google Aboriginal and Indigenous Network (GAIN) - Google’s Indigenous employee resource group (ERG).

    In 2024, she earned Google’s ERG Impact Award and a Webby Award for her contribution to launching Google Search’s Indigenous Owned Attribute. In 2018-2023, she spearheaded Google-wide initiatives to amplify Indigenous voices, increase Indigenous visibility, and improve digital literacy within Indigenous communities through campaigns, writing articles, and leading workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions.

    In January 2025, Grace was the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award issued by President Biden, for building a stronger nation through volunteer service.

    A U.S. Air Force veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Grace holds an M.S. in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.

  • Davis Hudiburg is a partner at Conquer Investments in Oklahoma City, an investment advisory platform that specializes in sourcing private equity opportunities for high-net-worth individuals and families. Additionally, he serves as the Vice President of Hudiburg Auto Group, a portfolio of family-owned automotive dealerships established in the 1950s. At its peak, the group employed over 550 people, with most of its franchises sold in 2019 and 2022. The Ford dealership in Wellston, OK, remains operational today.

    Beyond his business roles, Davis is actively involved in several boards, including the Lindy Waters III Foundation, Highway App Inc., Westminster School, the Presbyterian Health Foundation, Oklahoma Medical Research, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, among others.

    Davis was also the AAU basketball coach for Lindy Waters during his high school years. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Baylor University. Davis and his wife, Mackenci, live in Oklahoma City with their four children.