Vivian Wan — Co-Founder

Vivian is a junior at Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Delaware. Her journey with the Nanticoke Indian Tribe began in 2023 when she first volunteered at the annual Nanticoke PowWow — and it changed her perspective entirely.

What started as community service quickly grew into a deep academic and personal commitment. Vivian now conducts independent research on the economic impact of cultural tourism in Native American communities, working with faculty at Texas A&M University. Her research examines how events like PowWows and tribal museums contribute to local economies while preserving cultural heritage.

Vivian has organized Girl Scout troops to volunteer at tribal events, contributed to National History Day projects exploring Indigenous history, and written extensively about Indigenous identity and belonging. She is a Scholastic Writing Gold Key winner and was named a First Prize winner in the America’s Field Trip national essay contest, where her essay “The American Mosaic” explored the diverse threads that make up American identity — including Indigenous ones.

Cindy Wan — Co-Founder

Cindy is a freshman at Tower Hill School and brings energy, creativity, and a fresh perspective to the team. She works alongside Vivian in community outreach, event coordination, and content creation for Empower Native Tribes.

Together with Vivian, Cindy also co-founded Funds for Child Poverty, a nonprofit that has raised over $32,000 for children’s education in Nepal — demonstrating the sisters’ broader commitment to social impact beyond their local community.

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Why We Do This

Growing up in Delaware, we walk on land that has been home to the Nanticoke people for thousands of years — yet most residents know almost nothing about them. We believe that living on someone’s ancestral land comes with a responsibility to learn, to listen, and to act.

Empower Native Tribes is our way of bridging that gap: connecting young people with Indigenous communities, amplifying voices that have been historically silenced, and conducting research that can drive real change.

We’re not experts — we’re learners. And we believe that’s exactly where meaningful work begins.