Project Advisory Board
The Project Advisory Board comprises a group of Crow experts who bring an array of professional, cultural and lived experiences to guide all activities of the AEJ project. The Project Advisory Board meets twice a month to discuss the details of project progress and also to share insights and wisdom about the energy transition occurring in southeast Montana and the related governance and community development issues. Project Advisory Board members guide choices about research, help interpret research findings, mentor the Leadership fellows, and have an explicit role in the project’s ethics permit as guardians of the intellectual and cultural property of the Apsáalooke people.(Read our project’s ethics statement here)
From top center: Sharon Peregoy, Sidney Fitzpatrick, Cleora Hill Scott, Shawn Real
Bird, Jim Real Bird
Project Advisory Board Members
Angela Russell served as a Chief Tribal Judge, Tribal Court Administrator and served as a state legislator. She currently represents community members in Tribal court.
Cleora Hill-Scott has worked with the Crow Tribe in various capacities, including as ExecutiveDirector of the tribe’s Community Development Institute. She is currently the ExecutiveDirector for the Potlatch Fund, a native led nonprofit organization. Previously, she served asExecutive Director for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and Grants Director of theSwinomish Indian Tribal Community.
Jim Real Bird currently works at the Crow Wellness Center. He has served as a Housing Director and served on the board. He is a founding member of the Apsáalooke Water and Waste Water Authority. He is also the director of the Battle of the Little Big Horn Re-enactment.
Sharon Peregoy has been Montana state senator for District 20 since 2017 and has alsopreviously served as a legislator for the Crow Tribe, where she acted as Education CabinetHead, as well as various positions with the Crow Tribe including Tribal Health Director.
Shawn Real Bird served as a legislator for the Crow Tribe, served on the State Tribal EconomicDevelopment Commission for 18 years and served as the Chairman for many years. He alsoserved as the Economic Development Cabinet Head for the Crow Tribe and has worked in othercapacities under the Executive Branch.
Sidney Fitzpatrick served as a Big Horn County Commissioner, including as Chairman. He also served as a tribal legislator for the Reno District. He served as a law enforcement officer for many years. Fitzpatrick owns Black Canyon Construction LLC.
Dr. Tim McCleary is an anthropologist who has worked with the Little Big Horn College for many years. He has authored a number of books and serves on the Planning Board for the Little Big Horn College Museum.