April 15th, 2026 For Immediate Release
COOS BAY, OREGON— The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) is pleased to announce the selections of Teresa Spangler as Tribal Chair and Brad Kneaper as Vice Chair following its most recent election that saw both Chair Spangler and Vice Chair Kneaper re-elected along with Tribal Council member Debbie Bossley.
As Tribal Chair, Spangler will lead the Tribal Council in its continued mission to promote the health, education, and economic well-being of the Tribal Membership while protecting the Tribe’s sovereignty and natural resources. Chair Spangler brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as Vice-Chair since 2024 and on Tribal Council for multiple terms.
Chair Spangler shared, “I am honored to serve my Tribe for another four years, and very grateful to my peers for electing me as chair. This responsibility is one I take very seriously. I look forward to working closely with our Tribal community to help advance the well-being of our people—not only now, but for the next seven generations.”
Brad Kneaper, selected as Vice-Chair, will continue his role supporting Tribal Membership as a Tribal Council officer, having previously served as Chair from 2022 to 2026.
“I want to thank all those who voted for me to continue on Council as I am looking forward to building on our goals and initiatives from the previous 4 years. I made the decision to step down as Chair so I can dedicate more focused attention to key projects and issues that are important to the Tribe. In this role, I will continue working closely with the Council and the Chair to ensure these priorities remain active and moving forward. I am honored to continue to serve the Tribe and extend a hand to tribal members wherever located.” Vice Chair Kneaper stated.
The Tribal Council is the governing body of CTCLUSI responsible for policy development, oversight of Tribal Government operations and legislative actions.
About CTCLUSI: Headquartered in Coos Bay, Oregon with a five-county service area including Coos, Curry, Lincoln, Douglas and Lane Counties, The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians are one of the 9 Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon. CTCLUSI is comprised of 3 Tribes (4 Bands): 2 bands of Coos Tribes: hanis and miluk; Lower Umpqua Tribe (quuiich); and Siuslaw (sha’yuushtl’a) Tribe.
For media inquiries, please contact: R.J. Benner, Community Information Manager rbenner@ctclusi.org (541) 435-7175
