Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Ada McDaniel

1. What experiences have most influenced your approach to leadership in emergency management and organizational preparedness?

When I was first assigned to the position of Emergency Manager, I had to wing it and begin meeting with all of the 29 tribes in Washington State, there were quarterly meetings. I also begin to meet our city, state, federal and other partners who have a stake in this business to. I was given tours of Emergency Operations Centers throughout the tribes, cities and counties; places folks never knew existed!

I was invited to King County meetings and attended as many as I could. I noticed the word “tribes” was never mentioned in the discussions, I kept bringing it up wanting an answer, it was never thought of before, so they soon added the word to the agenda in the order I asked, I just wanted them to be sure to include the tribes! How difficult was it when there were only two in King County?

After this happened. I felt the doors were opening for tribes to be mentioned and noticed, I then met Lynda Zambrano who formed Northwest Tribal Emergency Management, she showed me what we needed to become compliant with mitigation planning, I met Lee Shipman of Sholwater Bay tribe and she guided me and begin adding me to a few of the state emergency management committees.

The uniqueness’ tribes have for survival methods have been around for centuries. We are not alone in this effort of trying to save our own people when it comes to a man-made or natural disaster. There are no border lines or walls. When Mother Nature decides she wants to take her land back and restore it to its natural state, she just does it with no – notice given!  Whichever way these events happen we all need to be prepared, stay prepared, build relationships with the folks who may have more experience and teach those who have less experience.

2. How do you balance proactive planning, risk mitigation, and rapid decision-making during emergency situations?

I’ve learned patience through planning, attending training, knowing that these events are a part of reality and can happen at any time. Trainings in this field are very important to attend, they cover every aspect of what may or may not happen and train you to be prepared. It takes a team approach to be able to sit at a table and discuss the pre/post effects that will affect your communities’ folks depend on you for. It takes more than one person to make a rapid decision that will be for the greater good for all people.

3. What leadership lessons have been most valuable in building resilient teams and fostering collaboration across agencies and stakeholders?

It has been 32 years of employment with the Muckleshoot Tribe for me, the skill set along with the confidence Emergency Management has taught me is something that I can transfer with me to any position, all departments need to know the basics of EM.

A leader has to build a lasting and trusting relationship, be willing to new and experienced ideas, along with a willingness to share some indigenous knowledge.

4. What emerging threats or trends do you believe will have the greatest impact on the future of emergency management and disaster preparedness?

Technology, the use of Artificial Intelligence, the new generations bringing in these skills while still depending on the oldest threat, a man-made disaster. I admire all the new technology being used and invented, but there will be a generation gap on the use and ways of knowing for the current and outgoing generations.

5. What advice would you offer to professionals aspiring to build successful careers in emergency management, resilience, and public safety leadership?

Do not be bias or pre-judge what tribes have to offer or question how advanced tribes are on this subject matter. I was just one person learning this skill to save hundreds if not thousands of lives. We are all sitting on a time bomb here in the Pacific Northwest, we all are in this together, we need to continue to learn from each other for the Greater Good of all People.