A citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation of Montana, Robbie Gondara is passionate about the prevention of suicide and commercial tobacco use. In fact, he has dedicated more than 18 years of his career to working in prevention, tobacco and suicide, Indigenous youth mental health, and helping the houseless/homeless population. He has managed multiple million-dollar SAMHSA grants/programs using “Wrap Around” services and creating communities and systems of care and communities of practice. He is trained in Wrap Around, ASSIST, and QPR and has led and directed two Garret Lee Smith Suicide Prevention grants funded by SAMHSA.
Robbie’s career began at the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest in Portland, Oregon. He later worked in suicide prevention for the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Board of Health in Lame Deer, Montana and the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. He currently serves as the program director of the Tribal National Network Driving Action, an initiative of the CDC, at Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council in Billings, Montana.
Robbie attended Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Missouri. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences from the School of Public Health at Oregon State University. He also holds a general studies degree from Chief Dull Knife College.
Robbie has three adult daughters, three amazing grandchildren, and three dogs, who are his babies. In his spare time, he spends as much time with his family as he can. He also enjoys fishing, gardening, and being active within the Native American community.
