Nakoda Direct is owned and operated by Ft. Peck Assiniboine & Sioux tribal member, Dr. Natalie O’Neal, PT, DPT. Natalie O’Neal is the first Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Ft. Peck tribes and has over 15 years of experience as a physical therapist. Natalie was one of only a few Native American women on scholarship for Division 1 college basketball after graduating high school in 1996. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and exercise science and while in college she participated in outreach to Native American youth about healthy lifestyles. She has spent her career as a Physical Therapist working in both private sector and tribal health programs. She has spoken at conferences both nationally and internationally and was recently honored as the cover article for the American Physical Therapy Association magazine for her work in Indigenous health and outreach.  She is a published researcher and is faculty at two prestigious universities, the University of Southern California, and Tufts University School of Medicine. She has presented nationally and internationally on physical therapy and education.
Natalie was recently selected to serve as Vice Chair of the Tribal advisory committee for the Center for Innovation for Indigenous Health Equity and delegate for the Montana region. She has dedicated her career to improving access to quality health care and health promotion for American Indian people as well as increasing the number of American Indian providers through education and outreach. She co-founded the Indigenous Physical therapy network as a platform for other American Indian & Alaskan Native (AI/AN) PTs to collaborate and perform outreach to youth to increase the number of Indigenous PTs in the profession.
As a result of the demand for her expertise of the unique needs for health promotion in AI/AN peoples, she founded Nakoda Direct LLC during the COVID19 pandemic when it became apparent that the devastating impact of COVID19 pandemic was hitting hardest with tribal communities. Nakoda Direct LLC aims to provide quality training and education consulting on tribal health based in science and rooted in awareness of the unique cultural aspects for each tribal nation. Nakoda Direct consulting services can aid tribes with developing health promotion and injury prevention programming for youth, adults, and elders. In addition to programmatic development, Nakoda Direct will be able to consult tribes on health and wellness infrastructure including proper equipment selection and wellness facility design.