Nicholas Coble  - (Kaw Nation Citizen)

Director, Indian Child Welfare Department, Kaw Nation of Oklahoma

Member at Large, Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association

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Nicholas Coble, a citizen of the Kaw Nation, resides in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and serves as the Director of the Indian Child Welfare Department for the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma. In this role, Nicholas is committed to advancing the well-being of Kaw children and families through advocacy, culturally grounded services, and community-centered support.

Nicholas holds a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples’ Law from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He has been a tireless advocate for expanding behavioral health services for Indigenous communities and brings extensive experience in the behavioral health field, working in close collaboration with Tribal nations to promote youth and family resilience.

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His career in Tribal service began in 2012 when he joined the Kaw Nation as a Contact Representative for a pilot Child Care Development Fund program. The program’s success led to its expansion into three additional counties in Kansas, significantly increasing access to child care resources for Tribal families. In 2020, Nicholas worked as a Care Coordinator under the Systems of Care Program, supporting the Lakota community on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This experience further deepened his commitment to serving Tribal communities.

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Driven by a passion for protecting the rights of Native youth, Nicholas is focused on strengthening legal advocacy for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). His goal is to ensure that Tribal children, families, and communities are fully represented and protected in courtrooms across the United States.