Brett Treadway
Program Associate
Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation
Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation
Brett Treadway joined First Nations in November 2022 as a Program Associate. He is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina. He was born and raised just off the reservation in Bryson City, North Carolina but now resides in Boulder, Colorado.
Brett received his bachelor’s degree in Sustainability Studies from the University of Florida, as well as a minor within American Indian and Indigenous studies and Organic and Sustainable Crop Production. While completing his degree, Brett was active across multiple campus organizations focused on sustainability, climate activism, and outreach. He was the Vice President of the University of Florida Surfrider Foundation club, a school chapter of the nation-wide non-profit that promotes ocean conservation and climate change awareness. He also served as the Vice President of the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture club where he was able to help organize and run an on-campus student based organic garden as well as conduct local outreach focusing within educating the local youth about the importance of organic and sustainable agriculture. He has also had the opportunity to work within grant-based organic agriculture research projects, assisting PhD and Masters level students with their research and data collection.
Prior to joining First Nations, Brett was able to complete an internship within his local tribe’s casino and resort as a sustainability specialist. Within this role he was able to assist the casino eco-board in developing sustainable initiatives and outreach for employees, guests, and the community. He focused heavily on casino and tribal recycling programs, allowing him to work directly with tribal waste directors and eco-board members to help improve recycling and waste programs on casino property.
Outside of work, Brett enjoys spending the majority of his time in the mountains fly fishing, snowboarding, biking, camping and running. When he is not in the mountains he enjoys spending down time with his cat and long-time girlfriend.