Yurok Candidate Forum Brings Community Together

September 17, 2025, McKinleyville, CA

Nearly 100 Tribal and community members gathered in-person and virtually for the Yurok Chair Candidates Forum, organized by Tribal Leaders with True North. For our rural region, this was a powerful turnout—and a chance for community voices to be heard in shaping the future of the Yurok Tribe.

All six candidates for Tribal Chair participated, responding to questions developed by Tribal Leaders and community members through recent conversations. The discussion reflected both urgent and long-term priorities: women’s safety in the workplace and community, services for Tribal elders, the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, and each candidate’s vision for the Tribe’s future.

“I was impressed with how thoughtful and passionate they all were. They were taking this seriously—being a leader for our Tribe matters to all of them.”
— Tamara Brooks, Tribal Leader and Yurok Citizen

In her own article, Tamara reflects more deeply on what it means for community members to show up, the power of being heard, and how voting plays a role in shifting local leadership. Read her full piece here.

The forum created space for accountability, dialogue, and connection—ensuring that candidates addressed the concerns most pressing to Yurok citizens. In a time when Sovereign Tribal Nations are strengthening their governance and shaping their own futures, forums like this remind us that democracy and leadership are strongest when rooted in community.

We are grateful to the Leaders who helped organize this forum and to the candidates and community members who participated. You can watch the full livestream on our Facebook page.