Lora Ann Chaisson is the Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation (UHN), the largest Indigenous Tribe in Louisiana. With over 40 years of advocacy. She represents UHN at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). She is currently serving her second term as the Southeast Regional Alternate Area Vice President on its Executive Committee.
She serves as an advisor on the Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations & Communities Committee. For the past twelve years, Chief Chaisson has been a board member and is now the Vice President of the American Indigenous Tourism Association. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for StrongHearts, which supports domestic violence and sexual assault services for Native communities across the United States.
Chief Chaisson is currently serving her second term on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Native American Employment and Training Council and has been a longstanding board member of the Inter-Tribal Council of Louisiana’s Institute for Indian Development.
She is an alumna of the American Indian Opportunity Ambassador Program and works with the Tribal Solutions Group, providing educational, gaming, medical, and broadband services to tribal nations. In 2024, she was recognized as a Top Female Achiever by New Orleans Magazine. She also enjoys teaching traditional Houma Indian basket weaving, jewelry making, cooking, and, most importantly, spending time with her family.
