National Indian leaders called the late S. Timothy Wapato a committed servant for tribal communities.

Wapato was a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation of Washington. His many leadership roles included serving as vice chair and member of the board of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development for 10 years.

"We were honored to have Mr. Wapato serve as a valued and knowledgeable member of the National Center's board of directors for a decade," stated Margo Gray-Proctor (Osage), the chair of the board. "Mr. Wapato committed his life's work to improving the most difficult areas affecting American Indian communities - justice, equal rights and economic development. In spite of the difficulties he faced, he was able to achieve results that will forever impact tribal economies in the most profound way."

Wapato's efforts often took him to Washington, D.C., where he advocated for new policies to help tribes become self-sufficient. He educated every new Congress on Indian rights and testified in support of Indian gaming, colleagues and friends said.

"Because of Mr. Wapato's work, as his brother in spirit, I am proud to be able to report, that despite the difficult conditions he faced, progress has been made on behalf of us all," said David Lester (Muscogee), a founding board member for the center and the executive director of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes.

"The honor in working with Mr. Wapato has been ours, the benefit in knowing Mr. Wapato has been ours, and the loss in his passing shall too be ours," said John Echohawk (Pawnee), a board member for the center and the executive director of the Native American Rights Fund.

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is based in Mesa, Arizona.

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