Shannon Wheeler, Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (“NPTEC”), is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe. Mr. Wheeler has an entrepreneurial background and from 1990 to 2016, was primarily involved in his family business in various forms.
Mr. Wheeler was first elected to the NPTEC, the governing body of the Nez Perce Tribe, in May of 2016. In May of 2022, he was elected to his third three-year term. During his tenure on NPTEC, Mr. Wheeler has served as Treasurer (2017–2018), Chairman (2018–2021, 2023), and Vice- Chairman (2021 – 2022). Additionally, Mr. Wheeler has chaired numerous committees while serving on the NPTEC, including Budget and Finance Subcommittee, Land Commission Enterprise, Law and Order Subcommittee, and Climate Change/Energy Subcommittee.
On behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe, Mr. Wheeler has served on the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians’ Economic Development Committee, as a board member for American Rivers, and a variety of tribal boards and commissions.
Mr. Wheeler has been an integral part of the economic growth the Nez Perce Tribe has experienced over the last several years. The Tribe has invested in off-Reservation businesses and has made strategic land purchases in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon—areas within the original territory of the Nez Perce people. Mr. Wheeler is deeply rooted in the protection of natural resources and has advocated in many forms for the continued support and preservation of these life sources.