SANTA FE, NM (September 23, 2026) — The NAFOA Lifetime Achievement Award is the organization’s highest distinction, honoring Native American leaders who have dedicated their lives to improving their Nations and advancing all of Indian Country. This year’s recipients are Chief J. Allan, Chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and Leonard Forsman, Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe.
Chief J. Allan is the Chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and has served on the Tribal Council for 23 years, including 20 years as Chairman.
Raised on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Idaho, Allan was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a political science degree from Eastern Washington University. His upbringing sharpened his focus on education, economic development, healthy lifestyles, human rights, and environmental protection. Under his leadership, the Tribe has achieved major milestones, including multiple expansions at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and the rapid development of healthcare and wellness facilities across the Reservation. These efforts have transformed the Tribe into one of the most significant economic engines in the Idaho Panhandle.
Chairman Allan has represented the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in high-level negotiations with local, state, and federal governments, frequently providing Congressional testimony to champion federal funding for Tribal healthcare, Bureau of Indian Education initiatives, and natural resource preservation. Beyond his role as Tribal Chairman, he serves on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee, co-chairs the Idaho Council on Indian Affairs, and chairs the Board of Sqwiy Holdings, Inc., a Section 17 Corporation owned by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.
In recognition of Chairman Allan’s dedication to education, economic development, environmental protection, and the betterment of Indian Country, NAFOA is proud to honor Chairman Chief J. Allan with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Leonard Forsman is the Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe and has championed Tribal sovereignty across the Pacific Northwest for over four decades. In recognition of his public service, the Chairman has received the prestigious Charles E. Odegaard Award, as well as the Potlatch Fund’s Fran James Cultural Preservation Award.
Raised in Suquamish on the Port Madison Indian Reservation, Forsman grew up in a family of public servants who instilled in him a commitment to community and cultural preservation. As Chairman, Forsman spearheaded major progress for the Tribe in economic development, environmental protection, climate change resilience, and educational opportunity. The Chairman also holds prominent positions in regional and national organizations, including serving as President of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and as Northwest Area Delegate to the National Congress of American Indians. In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed Forsman to the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, where he served as Vice Chair from 2016 to 2019. He was also the first American Indian appointed to the University of Washington Board of Regents, where he had earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology.
For his dedication to protecting treaty rights, promoting cultural values, and building a strong future for the next generations, NAFOA is proud to recognize Chairman Leonard Forsman with the Lifetime Achievement Award.