Commissioner Biographies
Joanne Dunn
Joanne Dunn is the Executive Director for the North American Indian Center of Boston, with a constituency representative of more than 40 Indian nations. She was born in Maine, raised in Boston, and is an enrolled member of the Mi’kmaq First Nation, Wagmatcook Band, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Her extensive experience spans more than 30 years of service to Boston’s Native Community.Joanne was educated at Radcliff College in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she received her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies. She received her leadership training at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in an executive program entitled, Leadership for the 21stCentury: Chaos, Conflict, and Courage.She continues to dedicate her life to social justice for all North American Indians, encouraging empowerment, pride, and promoting greater self sufficiency.Joanne has two sons, and one daughter, all living in the Greater Boston area.
Gail A. Hill
Gail is a Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Member, born and raised in Mashpee. She holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley College.
As an artist, art administrator and educator, Gail has been employed by several major art institutions across the country. After moving to California, Gail worked at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as an art installer and project manager for some of the largest contemporary travelling exhibits that toured the United States during the mid 1980’s. After leaving California, Gail later joined the staff of The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry as an administrator in the programming department.
Gail returned to Mashpee in 1990, and served on the Board of Directors of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council for 14 years, heading up several committees and departments servicing tribal members. After 19 years as an elementary school teacher in the Town of Mashpee, Gail recently retired. As an artist, she continues to produce her own work, a passion that has spanned over 40 years. Currently, she is a Museum Teacher in the Education Department with Plimoth Plantation and collaborates with native and non-native administrators developing school programs to teach the history and culture of the Wampanoag people. Gail is married and has two grown daughters, both of whom have graduated college.
On February 4, 2010, Ms. Hill was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs.