John Skenandore

John Skenandore, a member of the Turtle Clan from Oneida, Wisconsin, is a leader in indigenous governance with a vision of achieving full territorial and economic sovereignty. As the Chief Operations and Tactical Officer at White Pine Republic, he is at the forefront of a movement dedicated to self-determination through innovative, community-centered solutions in governance, energy independence, and economic empowerment. A central tenet of his work is to move beyond the classification of "domestic dependent nations" and operate as a fully sovereign entity, outside of the confines of the United States' legal framework. He emphasizes that he is working in a good way, speaking for himself as he exercises the inherent rights of the Confederacy.

A core focus of Skenandore's work is the re-establishment of the Iroquois Confederacy and the institution of the Great Law of Peace. This includes the development of a self-sufficient economic ecosystem to support the Confederacy's goals.
In addition to economic and political initiatives, Skenandore is dedicated to rebuilding the strength and integrity of indigenous communities. He is actively working on re-instituting the Warrior Societies to their rightful place and empowering the men of the community. In their traditional roles, these societies served not as a militarized force, but as an essential part of tribal governance and community well-being. They functioned as a form of law enforcement and public service, responsible for maintaining discipline, protecting resources, and upholding cultural values. This model offers a valuable alternative to modern police departments, prioritizing community connection, cultural alignment, and a protective "guardian" role over an adversarial "us vs. them" approach. This is complemented by his work with the Guardians of the Ancestral Path, a men's camp dedicated to fostering this vision of a strong, self-reliant nation capable of protecting its people and way of life.

His commitment to land rematriation is deeply intertwined with his work in environmental sustainability and community health. Through a partnership with the Native Health Matters Foundation, he is actively involved in utilizing advanced agricultural techniques like biochar and compost tea. These methods are not only restoring the health of the land but also playing a crucial role in the remediation of polluted sites, including the cleanup of PCBs, thereby supporting the vision of self-sufficiency by fostering healthy food systems and a renewed connection to ancestral lands.

He is currently working on the tokenization of indigenous currency as a vital step toward economic independence. This initiative, along with the creation of an indigenous central bank or banking system, is designed to provide the financial infrastructure necessary for indigenous nations to govern their own affairs and build a prosperous future.
Skenandore's commitment to joining and uniting indigenous native nations is exemplified by the Global Trade Alliance, a collaborative effort focused on minerals and commodities that aims to empower indigenous nations economically on a global scale. His work is guided by a commitment to ethical governance and culturally aligned strategies, ensuring that all progress honors and reflects the values of the communities it serves.