Daniel C. Cardenas Jr., is a member of the Hammawi Band of the Pit River Tribe of California. He makes his home at Saint Stephens, WY, Alturas, CA, and Miami, FL with his six children. Daniel graduated high school at River City High School, West Sacramento, CA, attended the University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
Daniel served as an elected member of the Pit River Tribal Council, a Federally Recognized Tribe, representing the Hammawi Band, for over 15 years, from 1992-2016. He has owned and operated Hammawi Communications, a public relations firm, Shasta Advisors, a business consulting firm, and Sweetgrass Government Relations, a government relations/lobbying/advocacy firm, since 1999.
Daniel served as a Principal with Yavapai Regional Capital for several years, where he developed Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) in the Western United States. These projects included two rail projects, a bridge project, and a toll-road project. He is also the owner of Seven Generations Infrastructure, a tribal renewable energy infrastructure development firm.
Daniel has served on various non-profit boards, including, the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies, the Wind River Tourism Council, and he co-founded the Wind River Community Foundation, and Knowledge River, an indigenous Energy STEM Initiative.
Daniel also serves on the Advisory Committee of the “Climate Equity and the Clean Energy Transition” Project sponsored by the Clean Air Task Force.
Daniel currently serves as the CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board of the American Indian Infrastructure Association and the National Tribal Energy Association, both trade associations representing the interests of Native American Tribes across the United States.