Business Council
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is a sovereign nation governed by a 14-person board of adult Colville tribal members officially titled the Colville Business Council and informally called the tribal council.
On February 26, 1938, the United States federal government approved the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation's Constitution and By-Laws and from this document, the Colville Business Council was established as the governing board of the Tribes.
The Confederated Tribes' Constitution divides the Colville Indian Reservation into four voting districts based on the former aboriginal territories of the 12 groups or bands of Colville Indian People including: the Omak District, the Nespelem District, the Keller District, and the Inchelium District.
Eligible adult Colville tribal members may register in one of the districts to vote in the yearly tribal election proceedings for seven open leadership positions. On-reservation voting takes place at designated polling sites in the communities of Omak, Nespelem, Keller, and Inchelium. Eligible tribal voters may also choose to vote by an established absentee voting method.
In addition, eligible adult Colville tribal members may become certified candidates in the yearly election for seven of the 14 two-year council terms. The election process includes a Primary Election held in May prior to the General Election in June.
In mid-July, the seven newly elected tribal council members are seated in a special ceremony conducted by the Colville Business Council and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the council's chambers at Nespelem.
The entire 14-member tribal council conducts its reorganization meeting directly after the seven new council members have taken their oath of office. During this meeting, the Colville Business Council selects its Executive Committee, the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary, and the chairpersons for each of the council committees that will govern tribal operations during the next 12 months.
The Colville Business Council oversees a thriving, multi-million dollar administration from its headquarters on the Colville Indian Reservation at Nespelem, Washington. Enhancing the quality of life for the Colville Indian People and protecting the resources of the Colville Indian Reservation are the monumental considerations addressed in each yearly fiscal cycle by the tribal council.
Members of the Colville Business Council are salaried while in office.
Official Executive Committee
John E. Sirois, Chairman Colville Business Council
Executive Committee
Omak District Representative
Work (509) 634-2212, Ext 2212
Cell (509) 631-1448
john.sirois@colvilletribes.com
Michael O. Finley, Vice-Chairman Colville Business Council
Executive Committee
Inchelium District Representative
Work (509) 634-2208, Ext 2208
Cell (509) 631-4887
michael.finley@colvilletribes.com
N. Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, Secretary Colville Business Council
Executive Committee
Omak District Representative
Chair, Employment and Education Committee
Work (509) 634-2217, Ext 2217
Cell (509) 634-1653
lynn.palmanteer-holder@colvilletribes.com
Darlene Zacherle
Executive Committee
Keller District Representative
Work (509) 634-2215, Ext 2215
Cell (509) 634-1193
darlene.zacherle@colvilletribes.com
Andrew Joseph, Jr.
Executive Committee
Nespelem District Representataive
Chair, Veterans Services Committee
Work (509) 634-2209, Ext. 2209
Cell (509) 631-4406
andy.joseph@colvilletribes.com
Colville Business Council and Committee Chairs
Nancy Johnson
Colville Business Council
Nespelem District Representative
Chair, Health & Human Resources Committee
Work (509) 634-2216, Ext 2216
Cell (509) 634-1803
nancy.johnson@colvilletribes.com
William Nicholson II
Colville Business Council
Nespelem District Representative
Chair, Management & Budget Committee
Work (509) 634-2218, Ext 2218
Cell (509) 634-1804
billy.nicholson@colvilletribes.com
Luana Boyd Rowley
Colville Business Council
Inchelium District Representative
Chair, Tribal Government Committee
(509) 634-2210, Ext 2210
Cell (509) 634-1501
luana.rowley@colvilletribes.com
Joseph Somday
Colville Business Council
Keller District Representative
Chair, Natural Resources Committee
Work (509) 634-2214, Ext. 2214
Cell (509) 634-1637
joseph.somday@colvilletribes.com
Brian Nissen
Colville Business Council
Nespelem District Representative
Chair, Law And Justice Committee
Work (509) 634-2207, Ext. 2207
Cell (509) 631-0136
brian.nissen@colvilletribes.com
Ben E. Marchand
Colville Business Council
Omak District Representative
Chair, Community Development Committee
634-2205, Ext. 2205
Cell (509) 634-1827
benny.marchand@colvilletribes.com
Jim Boyd
Colville Business Council
Chair, Culture Committee
Inchelium District Representative
Work (509) 634-2219, Ext. 2219
Cell (509) 634-1540
jim.boyd@colvilletribes.com
Ernest "Sneena" Brooks III
Colville Business Council
CTFC Board Representative
Omak District Representative
Work (509) 634-2206, Ext 2206
Cell (509) 322-6022
sneena.brooks@colvilletribes.com
Richard A. Swan
Colville Business Council
Inchelium District
Work (509) 634-2211, Ext 2211
Cell (509) 631-0402
richard.swansr@colvilletribes.com
