Merris Obie

Native American Rights Specialist and Advocate

Merris D. Obie is a highly-respected Child Welfare Operations Administrator for the Karuk Tribe of northwestern California, with over two decades of extensive experience in program management, grant writing, and policy development, primarily with local tribal governments. With a specialized certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor, she has a profound understanding of the complexities involved in chemical dependency treatment and case management practices.

Her leadership and managerial capabilities are evident through her history of successfully applying for and managing substantial agency grants and budgets, ranging up to $6,000,000, and overseeing staff of up to 60 people in tightly-knit communities. Obie's approach is deeply influenced by decolonization, culture- and trauma-informed strategies, particularly in her work with tribal communities. There, she has focused on child welfare, youth violence prevention, program development, and drug and alcohol prevention programs.

Obie's commitment and contributions to her field have not gone unnoticed. She has been recognized by significant national figures: former First Lady Hillary Clinton honored her at the White House as one of only two Outstanding Native American Women Managers during the Honoring of Indigenous Women of America ceremonies in 1999, and in 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hosted her as a guest of the Supreme Court. She maintains consultative ties with Yurok tribal court judge Abby Abinanti.

As an enrolled member of the Yurok nation and with extensive lived experience, Obie possesses deep-rooted connections and understanding of the local tribal governments in her northwest corner of California, which include several indigenous lineages. Her academic journey, including a BA and an MSW from CSU-Humboldt (now Cal Poly Humboldt), was richly integrated with studies of the cultural and historical origins of the indigenous peoples of California’s Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, and Siskiyou counties.

During her tenure as a student member of the NASW-CA Chapter board in the early 2000s, Obie was instrumental in educating her board colleagues about significant tribal traditions. There, she was pivotal in establishing the Chapter’s annual Bird Woman Scholarship program for indigenous social work students, a legacy that continues to support social work education and awareness, and advance career opportunities statewide for indigenous students.

Raised on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and hailing from the village of Katamiin, Obie possesses first-hand knowledge of the challenges and cultural significance faced by tribes in her locality, including the Hoopa, Yurok, Karuk, Wiyot, and Tolowa nations. Her personal experiences and professional expertise align to make her a formidable advocate and leader in her community, dedicated to enhancing the welfare and recognition of tribal peoples through her compassionate and culturally informed work.