WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mourns the passing of Eugenia “Gena” Tyner-Dawson, a longtime federal and Tribal policy leader working to make Tribal communities safer and eliminate the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis.
Gena, a native of Wichita, Kansas, was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation and descendant of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Her career began in law enforcement and direct Tribal service as a Certified Peace Officer in Oklahoma. She spent 11 years serving her own Tribal Nation – directing core community programs and serving in multiple governance roles including volunteering as a deputy court clerk and reserve police officer.
From there, she became a lobbyist for Tribal governments and national Tribal organizations in Washington, D.C. She entered federal service in 1998 with the Indian Health Service (IHS), Office of Tribal Self-Governance. She spent nearly 30-years working throughout the federal government, most recently serving for 7 years in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) as Senior Policy Advisor for the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Justice Policy Coordinator, and as the Not Invisible Act Coordinator the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Gena retired from federal service in February 2025. Even in retirement she was a fierce advocate for her community, recently running for and being elected Treasurer for Sac and Fox Nation.
Before joining the DOI, she spent over two decades working in federal leadership across the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and IHS impacting Tribal policy at national scale, including her time as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Attorney General for Tribal Affairs & Executive Director of the DOJ Justice Programs Council on Native American Affairs. She also served as Acting Executive Director of the HHS Intradepartmental Council on Native American Affairs and Acting Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service.
“Gena believed that if we worked together we could create a better future for our children, families and communities,” said Meghan Bishop, Director of Policy who worked closely with Gena at DOI. “Gena was tough, fierce, and held everyone to account - she believed firmly in a future that was free of violence and full of hope.”
“For decades, Eugenia advanced Tribal public safety and justice – linking federal policy to on-the-ground solutions for MMIP, survivor support, and law enforcement capacity,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “Because of her leadership, more Tribal Nations have the tools to protect our people and pursue justice. We honor her by continuing this work with urgency and purpose.”
NCAI extends our deepest condolences to the Tyner-Dawson family, Sac and Fox Nation, and to all who are grieving the loss of such a hero. We honor her dedication and integrity through our work as we carry on the legacy of her achievements.
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About the National Congress of American Indians:
Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of Tribal governments and communities, promoting strong Tribal-federal government-to-government policies and a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights.
