OUR LEADERSHIP
Founder Tony Coolidge was an active member of the Taiwanese-American community in Central Florida.
The ATAYAL organization has been led by a leadership team that is committed to furthering the organization's mission. Since 2001, the group provides professional oversight and transparency in the organization's funding and operations. They have also provided advice and stewardship to help the organization navigate its challenges and opportunities.
Tony Coolidge founded the organization in 2001, and as he shared his vision and participated in cultural activities, he attracted the support of the people around him, and some of his supporters became Directors and Board Members. The team consists of business, civic and academic leaders and provides the unique qualifications to fulfill our mission.
If you have any questions or comments for our Leadership, please contact us at this e-mail address.
Officers | Directors | Board Members | International Advisory Board Members
OFFICERS
Tony Coolidge - President and Executive Director - An entrepreneur and a transformational life coach, Mr. Coolidge turned his attention and resources to charitable efforts. ATAYAL was the first non-profit organization created by the founder, followed by Katrina's Angels in response to Hurricane Katrina. ATAYAL is a fulfillment of his life mission to honor the memory and spirit of his deceased mother, who was a member of the Atayal tribe of Taiwan. After the documentary film, Voices In The Clouds, was released in 2009, Mr. Coolidge has spent considerable time in Taiwan to research its Indigenous people and culture, and to build connections for culture exchange.
Gary Smoke - Vice President and Deputy Director - A retired American Vietnam Veteran living in Taipei, Taiwan, Gary Smoke will continue to offer operational development, decision-making, and support for the organization's programs. He is committed to giving back to the people in the country where he lives and has been working on behalf of the Indigenous people since 2010. It is his hope to unite the Indigenous people of Taiwan with the American Natives of the Pacific Northwest by building a "Sister" relationship for cultural, language and student exchanges as well as developing commercial opportunities. His efforts have launched exchanges between Indigenous peoples of Taiwan and the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.
Wennifer Lin-Haver, PhD - Secretary and Program Director - Wennifer received her masters and doctoral degrees from the World Arts and Cultures/Dance Department at UCLA. She specializes in women's birthing/healing traditions as expressed through indigenous and emergent ritual art and earth-based ontology. Her doctoral dissertation, entitled "Birth Art and the Art of Birthing: Creation and Procreation on the 'Aina of Tutu Pele" (2008), is an interdisciplinary, diachronic, and multivocal study that draws from folklore, medical anthropology, cultural studies, eco-feminism, archaeomythology, spiritual midwifery, and female shamanism. Wennifer has published on folk and alternative medicine and conducted fieldwork in Hawai'i and Los Angeles. In 1999-2002, she was part of a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study on Latino health systems with her mentor, renowned medical folklorist, Dr. Michael Owen Jones. Within the past decade, she has actively shared her research in a number of conferences, including presentations at the Association for the Study of Women and Mythology and the Matriarchal Studies Conference (2010, 2014). She has also lectured at the East-West Center in Honolulu on "Community Building through Food and Folklore: The Importance of Reclaiming our Indigenous Matriarchal Origins" (2012).
Shu-min Coolidge - Treasurer - A Taiwanese-American who is passionate about her homeland, Shu-min keeps things the organization "organized" and provides the accountability that every good charitable organization needs to retain the trust of its supporters. Shu-min is proficient in accounting practices as well as English, Chinese and Taiwanese languages. She has also served as a translator and communications officer for the company. Shu-min is from Tainan City in Taiwan. She graduated from Tamkang University in Tamsui, Taiwan with a Bachelor's degree in English. She worked for several American companies and taught Chinese to honors students at the University of Central Florida before she became a co-founder of ATAYAL.
DIRECTORS
Leiven Hwang - Regional Director - Hawaii - A fusion of master planner, building and interior designer, product designer, entrepreneur, dancer, and teacher, Leiven's professional mission is to create spaces, both physical and virtual, and impact lives to transform and heal people and planet. He has helped guide people from all over the world in their transformation and growth, both 1-on-1 and in group programs, in-person and online, supporting them in cultivating their vitality, leadership, and relationship skills, navigating the challenges in their lives, and using those challenges as fuel for growth. Leiven also supports couples looking for greater intimacy and to deepen their connection with each other, communicate in more grounded, accepting ways, and to transmute whatever conflicts that do arise into deeper and more expansive love.
Will Tsang - Regional Director - Washington State - A first generation Taiwanese-Canadian immigrant of Chinese and Atayal heritage, William is an advocate of indigenous self-determination. In 2017, he helped organize the first Taiwanese delegation to the Tribal Canoe Journeys in Washington State. Since then, he has been involved with hosting delegations as a translator and cultural facilitator. Through local partnerships in the Pacific Northwest, ATAYAL's regional involvement in Seattle has led to the display of a Tao fishing boat at the Burke Museum’s Culture is Living gallery and the donation of surgical masks to local Tribal Nations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthonie Tumpag - Regional Director - Illinois - Anthonie Tumpag is a resident of the Chicago area in Illinois, where he has been active organizing cultural exchange events. Anthonie is our Curator of the Google Arts and Culture Gallery for Indigenous Bridges. He organized two events in 2021, including an exhibit featuring our organization's cultural exchange work at the Trickster Cultural Center in Shaumberg, Illinois in July 2021, and in October 2021, he organized a similar exhibit at the West Loop Dot Gallery. His experience in the field of digital media, as well as his connections to the Native American communities in the Midwest, makes Mr. Tumpag a great asset to our organization. Anthonie Tumpag is based in the Greater Chicago area where he served as the Curator and Collections Manager for the Trickster Cultural Center. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Master's in Cultural Anthropology and certificates in Applied Anthropology and Art History. He also holds a Bachelor of Social Work and specializes in gender and post-colonial studies among diasporic communities of the Philippines and Indonesia. He's done fieldwork in Indonesia, Madagascar, Philippines, and Taiwan researching topics relevant across nations like ecological conservation and the impacts of cultural tourism. He has curated exhibits and given talks at universities and museums and was a research intern at the Smithsonian Institution. Anthonie served on the board of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, where he worked to digitize their collections.
Gerald A. Santos - Regional Director - California - Gerald Arcilla Santos is a resident of the Bay Area of California, and he has been a longtime advocate for indigenous peoples and cultures of the Philippines. He is knowledgable in Austronesian history and cultures of the world. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Aeta Tribe Foundation, which empowers Aeta communities have access to clean water and other wellness programs. Mr. Santos has been very active in different aspects of Austronesian culture, including volunteering as a Talking Dictionary Researcher for the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages to help build their Bikolano Dictionary System. He studies the indigenous Indonesian folk dances and gamelan music with different Indonesian and Balinese Dance companies. Gerald practices the Arnis Martial Arts with the Senkotiros Organization, and studies Kulintang music with local Kulintang performing arts company that helps promote the indigenous music of the different tribes of southern Philippines. Gerald A. Santos will advocate our organization's objectives in the Bay Area through organizing cultural events and creating new opportunities for discussions and awareness of the issues important to many different indigenous communities. With media being one of the most effective methods of reaching communities, he has accepted the role of our Director of Indigenous Media Exchange to develop new media-related programs in California and the USA for our organization.
BOARD MEMBERS
Our organization appreciates the stewardship and oversight of our Board Members, past and present. We are currently recruiting new Board members who can support our Indigenous Bridges Program. If you are interested in making a difference in our international efforts, please contact us at this e-mail address
Dr. Ming-lon Young - Board Chairman - Dr. Young is an internationally renowned and respected specialist in Pediatric Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is also Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of Miami and he is Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Young also co-founded Project Haiti Heart, a medical mission to Haiti. He has been a loyal supporter of the ATAYAL organization since its inception in 2001, and in 2019 has joined the Board of Directors.
Hanford McCloud - Board Member - Hanford McCloud has served on the Tribal Council of the Nisqually Tribe of Washington State. His mother is from the Nisqually Tribe and his father is from the Puyallup Tribe. Mr. McCloud has long been an advocate of Nisqually Culture and a leader in his community. In 2017, he initiated the Tribal Journeys program when he invited a delegation from the Tao Tribe to join his canoe family. Each year, he is furthering his vision of providing the Nisqually youth with cultural exchange opportunities. He provides the ATAYAL organization oversight and guidance for exchange activities with Native American groups.
Guy Charlton - Board Member - Guy C. Charlton has a broad range of legal experience. He is currently an Associate Professor in Law at the University of New England located in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia where he assisted in the establishment of the UNE First People First Peoples Rights and Law Centre. He has lectured law in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan and published law articles in 5 different jurisdictions. He was awarded his PhD thesis at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law for a thesis entitled, "Constitutional Conflicts and Aboriginal Rights: Hunting, Fishing, Gathering Rights in Canada, New Zealand and the United States." This thesis argues that the present approach courts have taken toward the determination of the source, content and scope of usufructuary rights has been affected by historical and contemporary disputes concerning the nature and understanding of sovereignty, the nature and level of governmental authority and different philosophical approaches to political organization and individual rights. Guy has his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin and an MA in International Relations from the University of Toronto.
Sue Babcock - Board Member - Suzan P. Babcock is an American who is an accomplished ex-pat living in Taipei, Taiwan. She is an established community leader, with credentials in education, international cross-cultural management, writing and publishing. She has built a noteworthy network of relationships through her mentorship and community-service. Sue has worked for notable positions with Taiwan's Ministry of Education, National Taiwan Normal University, and she is currently the editor of "Centered in Taipei" magazine, serving the foreign national community in Taipei. As a member of the media and a member of the Taipei International Women's Club, she is a natural bridge and a connector to many people and communities in Taiwan. She provides the ATAYAL organization mentorship in promotion and community development.
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Our organization appreciates the advice and expertise provided the members of our International Advisory Board, past and present. We are currently recruiting new International Advisory Board members who can support our Indigenous Bridges Program. If you are interested in making a difference in our international efforts, please contact us at this e-mail address
Rt. Hon Bikenibeu Paeniu - International Advisory Board Member, Tuvalu - Providing over 30 years of public service to his island nation of Tuvalu, Mr. Paeniu has been a strong advocate for protecting against Climate Change, and is currently advocating for the preservation and exchange of Austronesian traditional culture, especially in the context of sustainable community development that respects Indigenous traditions. He has served three times as Prime Minister and twice as Finance Minister of Tuvalu and is currently serving as Ambassador. Mr. Paeniu has over 20 years of professional experience in development planning, policy analysis, project formulation and monitoring, accounting for the imperative dimensions such as the cultural settings, environment, gender, good governance and sustainable development. He was the Lead Consultant in the formulation of the National Sustainable Development Strategy of Tuvalu. His work experience has included positions and projects in Tuvalu, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Australia, giving him a wealth of connections.
Professor Alan Tratner - International Advisory Board Member, Hawai'i - Professor Alan Arthur Tratner helped found EarthDay 1970, and then contributed to and participated in the First International United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. He created the pioneering Environmental Education Group and Green2Gold Incubator on EarthDay - the original "Impact" Incubator for inventing/entrepreneuring the Future of Sustainability and Economic Development, fostering Renewable Energy and the Inclusive, global, GREEN ECONOMY --- the true solution to helping civilization and saving our "SpaceShip Earth." Alan is a Professor of Environment and Energy, has won numerous awards and recognitions ranging from the White House, to Governors, Mayors, and many private and public institutions, and The Lifetime Achievement from the International Green Industries Hall of Fame. He has traveled to numerous nations for sustainable economic development, Green2Gold has over 100,000 members globally, and has helped incubate over 260 socially- and environmentally-responsible non-profits.
Professor Ya-wei Wang (王亞維) - International Advisory Board Member, Taiwan - Dr. Wang is an accomplished and notable Associate Professor in the Radio and Television Department at National Cheng Chi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Professor Wang is knowledgeable about indigenous culture and issues in Taiwan, and has cooperated on previous projects of the ATAYAL organization. He majored in Theater and Film and graduated from the film program at the School of Communications of Boston University. Professor Wang has been devoted to indigenous media education and media rights promoting for years. He was the head of programming at Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) during 2000-2008 and produced numerous award-winning documentaries, TV dramas, and programs on art. His research concerns the modernity of indigenous media, traditional Taiwanese theater, and the early Taiwanese cinema in a transnational context.
Hua-yuan (Wally) Su - International Advisory Board Member, Taiwan - Wally Su is an accomplished public speaker and successful businessman in the public and private educational markets. This well-connected Taiwanese has supported the ATAYAL organization for years. With years of experience in management in educational technology, he is well-position to contribute to our organization's education-oriented policies and project. His connections and resources will also be helpful for creating sustainable programs. Mr. Su will be consulted to troubleshoot and create solutions with our partners in Taiwan.
Rosa Enn, PhD - International Advisory Board Member - Rosa Enn is an Anthropologist and an independent researcher. She obtained her doctoral degree (PhD) at the University of Vienna and has a BA in Chinese Studies. Her fields of expertise are environmental justice and indigenous peoples with regard to their social, cultural, and legal positions within national and international discourses, human rights, and empowerment. Her recent publications discuss the heritage of colonialism and the impact of a nuclear waste repository on the socio-economic structures of the indigenous Tao community on Taiwan’s Orchid Island. Beside her academic research, Rosa is founder of the NGO Matarosa and book review editor for the Island Studies Journal.
Scott Simon, PhD - International Advisory Board Member - Mr. Simon is a Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa, Canada, and Co-Chair of the Research Chair in Taiwan Studies. He has lived in Taiwan for 10 years, mostly for research purposes, and is author of three books on Taiwan. Since 2004, he has been doing research with Seediq and Truku people. He is now working on a new book about indigenous lifeworlds in Taiwan. He provides the ATAYAL organization an excellent academic perspective on indigenous people of Taiwan.
ATAYAL
c/o Tony Coolidge
11018 SE 322nd St
Auburn, WA 98092
407-459-7766
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