Jacque Demko

Associate Director, Stewarding Native Lands

Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation

Jacque, sakaa’A Hiraxaat, is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and a descendent of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She joined First Nations as a Grants Officer in January 2020.

Jacque is an alumna of Stetson University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology, and the University of South Florida where she earned a master’s degree in ecology and evolution. Post-graduation, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda from 2011-2013. For the past seven years, she has worked in science education and research. Most recently, her work focused on increasing college access for reservation-based Native American high school students.

Jacque has a strong interest in protecting the rights of Native peoples and expanding their educational and economic opportunities. In her spare time, she enjoys running and traveling.