MARKSVILLE, LA – John Barby, Director of Development & Programming at the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH). Barbry will join the organization for the next three years.
“I am profoundly honored to be part of an organization that works to enrich the body and soul of our community,” said Barbry. “I look forward to working with a group of like-minded individuals who share that passion.”
Similar to the mission of LEH, Barbry has spent years preserving the history of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. He has served as Director for the Tunica-Biloxi Language & Culture Revitalization Program (LCRP) since 2014. In 2016, he was appointed to manage the Tunica-Biloxi Education Department to provide tribal youth with resources needed to stay in school, perform better in school, become college and career-ready, and graduate. He then served as Research Supervisor in the manuscripts division at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Barbry was the first Native American appointed archivist at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in 1993. He earned a B.A. in Music Education from McNeese State University and an M.A. in History from the University of New Orleans.
“I can think of no better individual than John Barbry for this honor,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “He is dedicated to the history and culture of our tribe and Louisiana, and will bring a high-level of expertise to the LEH Board of Directors. I know he will make the Tunica-Biloxi tribal community proud.”
“Since 1971, the LEH has been recognized for its enduring statewide impact, including more than $132 million invested in Louisiana communities,” said Miranda Restovic, Executive Director and President of the LEH. “We look forward to continuing to seek out new opportunities to serve Louisiana alongside Mr. Barbry and Mrs. Prisco and are grateful for their passion and commitment to our state.”
