WASHINGTON, D.C. — Another organization serving Indian Country is without a top staffer and, again, it’s for unspecified reasons.

The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) has parted ways with Nikki Santos, a citizen of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe who had worked there for more than six years, including four as executive director. But the organization, which is housed at the Aspen Institute in the nation’s capital, did not say why its highest-ranking staffer is gone.

“After more than six years of service at the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY), Nikki Santos has decided to pursue new opportunities outside of the Aspen Institute, having served as Executive Director for the last four years,” the organization told Indianz.Com in a statement on Friday.

“During her tenure at CNAY, she worked alongside countless Native youth from across the country, and we wish her success in the next chapter of her career,” the statement continued.

Santos also confirmed her departure from CNAY, which was founded by former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan to advocate for the issues and needs of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth. She too did not offer an explanation.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to work towards advancing such an incredible mission and meaningful cause for our youth, all of which would not be possible without partners in the work,” Santos told Indianz.Com on Friday. “I was taught that a good leader knows when to lead, create space, and when to step aside to allow the next leader to carry the work further, and believe it was my time.”

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Despite the positive vibes, neither Santos, nor CNAY, would explain a seemingly unusual development at the organization. Starting in early June, anyone who sent a message to the former executive director at her aspeninstitute.org account would have received a out-of-office reply stating that she was on leave and was not reachable by phone or email.

According to multiple people familiar with the situation, Santos told associates that she was either on vacation, or on sabbatical, from CNAY. Her absence lasted about three months — from about June 5 to September 5, when the Aspen Institute circulated an internal message on Thursday acknowledging Friday, September 6, as her final day on the job.

The lack of clarity has led to widespread speculation among tribal advocates in Washington, D.C. According to a person familiar with the Aspen Institute, employees at the organization typically receive only three weeks of vacation every year.

“It sounds like Aspen is trying to cover something up,” said one person, who heard about Santos going on unspecified leave about three months ago.

With Santos out of the picture, CNAY is being led by two staffers, according to the statement.

“Currently, Cheyenne Brady, MPH (Sac & Fox Nation), Associate Director of Youth Programs, and María Samaniego, Associate Director of Operations and Strategic Partnerships, are leading the organization, supported by the broader Aspen Institute,” CNAY said.

“A search will soon be underway for the next Executive Director, and we look forward to sharing more details in future,” the organization added.

Santos was the third person to serve as executive director for CNAY. She did not disclose her immediate future plans.

“I have so many cherished memories at CNAY — whether in ceremony or in community with our Native youth,” Santos said in her statement. “I wish the next leader success and will continue to support our People and our youth always.”

CNAY isn’t the organization in the nation’s capital that is undergoing change. Last month, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) said it placed its highest-ranking staffer, Stacy Bohlen, on leave to review unspecified “allegations” against her.

Barely a week later, NIHB announced that its board had decided to “terminate” Bohlen, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians who had worked for the organization for more than 20 years. No explanation was provided.

A tribal health advocate in the nation’s capital told Indianz.Com that he been contacted by an employment recruiter for NIHB multiple times. But after Bohlen was terminated, he said the recruitment company contacted him again to inform him that the organization was on a hiring freeze for the time being.

A year ago, around August 2023, the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) parted ways with Chelsea Fish. She had served as the NAIHC executive director for about four months, with no explanation offered for her seemingly short tenure.

More recently, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) announced a search for a new executive director, following the retirement of Diana Cournoyer, who is from the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The organization praised her work in a July 3 news release.

“Diana is a visionary, and her leadership has led to the growth of NIEA’s standing as a national thought leader in policy and education,” said Tesia Zientek, who serves as president of the board of directors for the organization. “We are grateful to Diana’s years of service and vision to establish a paradigm shift through education sovereignty. Her legacy will live on as the organization continues the momentum to change the American education system to better serve Native students.”

Cournoyer also provided a farewell message to Indian Country. She had served as executive director at NIEA for five years, having worked at the organization for 10 years.

“In our collective work, we have changed history and created a space for Native students to grow and thrive in modern American society like never before,” Cournoyer said in a statement posted on the niea.org website. “This paradigm shift was created because of you – our relatives and our community – that I had the confidence to lead through your example and humility to serve the greater goal of education sovereignty for our Native students.”