LAILANI UPHAM | PRESIDENT
Lailani Upham, Blackfeet (Pikunii) Tribal member, is a writer, photojournalist, filmmaker, outdoor enthusiast and advocate for wilderness, a clean environment, wildlife conservation and the preservation of Indigenous stories. Lailani, a Freeflow Institute alum, says the experience transformed her life to connect closer to nature, likeminded storytellers and encourage others to tap into their voice to reach a their own unique audience. Lailani added time as a Native Conservation Fellow at Montana Wilderness Association where she fostered Indigenous land-based stories to advocate for public land protection. She teaches tribal story based courses at Salish Kootenai College,and she is a member of the CSKT Climate Change Advisory committee. But most importantly Lailani is a proud mom and grandmother and resides in the Mission Valley.
LAUREN SMITH | VICE PRESIDENT
Lauren Smith is a writer and science communicator who is really into birds. Originally from Ohio, she now calls western Montana home, though her journey there involved field seasons and travels in many states around the U.S. and a brief stint in New Brunswick, Canada. A former field biologist and environmental educator who spent the last few years in the disability research field, she now works as the communications director at a small nonprofit focused on owl research. Lauren spends as much time as possible outdoors, mainly climbing on rocks and sharing unsolicited bird information.
VINA LITTLE OWL | TREASURER
As a citizen of the Frozen Clan of the White Clay People (Gros-Ventre Nation), Vina holds an accounting degree from The University of Montana and is currently progressing towards a CPA with Becker Evolution graduate material. She stands as a professional Indigenous accountant and the Managing Member of Little Owl & Associates.
BROOKS SCOTT | BOARD MEMBER
A 20-plus year veteran of the fly fishing and outdoor industries, Brooks honed his talents running stores for Patagonia where he was responsible for helping to pilot the largest expansion of the company’s direct to consumer business in it’s storied history, all while keeping his hands in helping steer funding to fisheries and cold water conservation through working with Patagonia’s environmental initiatives. After relocating to Montana in 2020, Brooks started his own consulting business operating in the climate sphere as part of the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance. Brooks is also the Executive Director of the Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Foundation, as well as a Freeflow Alum and writer, currently working on his first book. He lives in Livingston with his wife and son.
LEEANNA TORRES | BOARD MEMBER
Leeanna T. Torres is a native daughter of the American Southwest, a Nuevomexicana who has worked as an environmental professional throughout the West since 2001. Her essays have appeared in publications including Blue Mesa Review, Tupelo Quarterly, Eastern Iowa Review, Minding Nature, High Country News, Ofrenda Magazine, High Desert Journal, and more recently, in the Torrey House Press First & Wildest; The Gila Wilderness at 100 (2022) anthology.
ADDITIONAL COLLABORATORS
CHANDRA BROWN | ADVISORY MEMBER
Chandra is a writer, river guide, and educator, originally from the Matanuska Valley of Alaska. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Art Education and Spanish Education from Montana State University, and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Writing from the University of Montana. As an educator, Chandra spent many years in the public school system, designing curriculum and teaching the arts, Spanish, and English. She has worked within the realm of river conservation since her 2010 Fulbright grant to Ecuador, and she founded Freeflow Institute in 2017. Chandra worked as Senior Editor at Camas Magazine, and her writing has been featured in The Guardian, Adventure Journal, The Dirtbag Diaries, Patagonia, and Mountain Outlaw, among others. Chandra, her sweetheart, Nate, and their handsome canine roommates, Bandit and Otter, are all happily home-based in Missoula, where they do a lot of skiing, kayaking, and pizza-eating together.