We Put
Native
Education First

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About Us

The Michigan Indian Education Council (MIEC) is a voluntary, not-for-profit, 501c3 organization that advocates for Indian education concerns throughout the State of Michigan. The primary concern of MIEC is to provide an annual Native American Critical Issues Conference (NACIC).

Annual Conference

The NACIC serves as an opportunity for a broad range of constituents to hear about serious issues impacting Indian people and tribes in Michigan, as well as learning about best practices from professionals in various fields in a wholistic manner.

The conference attracts a broad range of people interested in Indian education issues in Michigan, including teachers, policy makers, Indian Education Act programs, tribal schools, tribal colleges, tribal education departments, and Native American studies programs. It also includes a professional and youth track.

Participants at NACIC have experienced a transformative process and connection to our culture and histories. MIECs goal is to continue to have a lasting impact in correlation to our theme every year so that this work can be sustainably continued seven generations into the future.

Distinguished Service Award

Each year since 2004, MIEC has selected an individual or an organization to receive an MIEC distinguished service award. Recipients have included educators, community leaders, and organizations that exemplify best practices in Michigan Indian education. Award recipients are invited to provide a plenary acceptance speech during the closing ceremony at the annual conference. Recipients of this award are also entitled to a waiver of the NACIC registration fee (organizational awardees are allowed one registration waiver).

2023 Dr. Suzanne Cross

2022 Angeline Boulley

2021 June Mamagona Fletcher

2020 Ron Yob

2019 Bucko Teeple

2018 Frank Ettawageshik

2017 Howard Kimewon

2016 Sharon Kota

2015 Eva Petoskey

2014 Ziibiwing Cultural Society

2013 Arthur Brant
2012 Joseph Webster
2011 Linda Keway
2010 Richard Sgarlotti
2009 Dr. George Cornell
2008 Kenny Pheasant
2007 Paul Johnson
2006 Helen Roy
2005 Victoria Miller
2004 Robert Van Alstine

Michigan Indian Education Council Members

click their photos to learn more

Marty smiles in front of a bookshelf wearing a ribbon shirt.

Martin Reinhardt

Dr. Martin Reinhardt is an Anishinaabe Ojibway citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians from Michigan. He is a tenured professor of Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University. He is the president of the Michigan Indian Education Council, and the lead singer and songwriter for the band Waawiyeyaa (The Circle). His current research focuses on revitalizing relationships between humans and Indigenous plants and animals of the Great Lakes Region. He has taught courses in American Indian education, tribal law and government, and sociology. He has a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the Pennsylvania State University, where his doctoral research focused on Indian education and the law with a special focus on treaty educational provisions. Martin serves as a panelist for the National Indian Education Study Technical Review Panel and as the primary investigator for the Decolonizing Diet Project. He has also served as Chair of the American Association for Higher Education American Indian/Alaska Native Caucus, and as an external advisor for the National Indian School Board Association. He also holds both a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in Sociology.

Frank Ettawageshik

Frank Ettawageshik lives in Harbor Springs, Michigan, with his wife Rochelle. He has four adult children and six grandchildren. He is a traditional storyteller and potter, believing that native people need to be rooted in their traditions in order to be prepared for the future. He served in tribal elected office for sixteen years, fourteen as the Tribal Chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Harbor Springs. During his tenure as Tribal Chairman he was instrumental in the adoption of the Tribal and First Nations Great Lakes Water Accord in 2004 and the United League of Indigenous Nations Treaty in 2007. Now serving as the Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan, he is also the Chairman of the United League of Indigenous Nations Governing Board and the Co-chair of the National Congress of American Indians Federal Recognition Task Force. Frank currently serves on several non-profit boards including the Association on American Indian Affairs, Anishinaabemowin Teg and the Michigan Indian Education Council. In April 2016 he was appointed to the Great Lakes Water Quality Board. Frank was a 2010 Fellow at the Native Nations Institute Indigenous Leaders Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona. His 40 years of public service have included serving on the Executive Board of the National Congress of American Indians, the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, the Historical Society of Michigan, the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, the Michigan Climate Action Council, the Little Traverse Conservancy, the Michigan Travel Commission, the Public Interest Advisory Group for the International Joint Commission’s Upper Great Lakes Study, the Michigan Great Lakes Offshore Wind Council, and the Michigan Ground Water Conservation Advisory Council. In December 2015 he attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Council of the Parties 21 (UNFCCC COP21) in Paris, France, as a delegate from the National Congress of American Indians. Approximately 45,000 people attended COP21 including over 100 Heads of State. Frank joined approximately 200 Indigenous Peoples delegates as a member of the International Indigenous Peoples Caucus on Climate Change.

Amber Morseau

Amber Morseau, M.Ed., is a Pokagon Band Citizen, Potawatomi originally from the Ann Arbor area. An alum of Eastern Michigan University, earning her Bachelor of Science in psychology and anthropology (2016) and her Master of Arts in educational leadership, higher education student affairs (2018). Since then, she has served as the Native American Recruitment Coordinator and Programs Coordinator under the Wokini Initiative at South Dakota State University. Later she and her family returned to their traditional homelands along Lake Superior, as Director of the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University. Morseau is a current board member of the Michigan Indian Education Council and engages in mentorship with students through cultural activities including a student beading circle. Her background in both Student and Academic Affairs has informed her research and advocacy for Indian Education, she continues to strengthen the relationship and application of these two distinct fields as Research Coordinator for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Success Research Team.

Rochelle smiles in front of floral print wallpaper.

Rochelle Ettawageshik

Rochelle Ettawageshik lives in Harbor Springs, Michigan, with her husband Frank. She worked for the State of Michigan for 30 years. She began her career as a program assistant for Urban Indian Concerns, Department of Social Services. During her career she has held many positions. She worked as the Director of the Office of Native American Affairs in the Administration for Child and Family Services, Family Independence Agency (FIA). During her tenue as Director of Native American Affairs she was instrumental in the adoption of the policy regarding Indian Child welfare.
Rochelle earned her Associate Degree from Lansing Community College. She is also a graduate of the Lansing Community Leadership Development Academy.
Rochelle is the past Chair of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Indians Child Welfare Commission. She is the Vice President of the Michigan Indian Education of Council. She serves on the board of National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) and is the past Vice President. She currently is on the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and she served as the past Vice President. She is an enrolled citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Harbor Springs, Michigan.

June grins in front of a black background.

June Mamagona Fletcher

June Mamagona Fletcher is a member of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake). She was born in Detroit, Michigan and has lived in Dorr and Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds an MBA from Grand Valley State Unviersity as well as degrees from Western Michigan University and Grand Rapids Community College.

Paula grins in front of a pink background.

Paula Finfrock

Paula Finfrock zhaaganaashii-noozwin.Waabinigiishweshiins ndizhinikaaz. Migizi ndoodem.
Anishinaabe kwe ndaaw. Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians ndadibendaagwaz. Bahweting ndidaa. Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District ndooninokiitage. Project Director miinwaa Cultural Competence Consultant ndoonaangzhe.
My English name is Paula Finfrock and my Anishinaabe name is Little Bittern. My clan is eagle. I am an Ojibwe woman, a citizen of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. I work at the EUPISD where I am a Project Director and Cultural Competence Consultant.
As a project director of SNAP-Ed, the focus is to help families gain knowledge through evidence-based culturally relevant programming and increase access to local resources that support healthy eating and physical activity. In addition, I am the Cultural Competence Consultant for our area school districts in the eastern upper peninsula where I support school staff around Anishinaabe inclusion and engagement within school policies, academics, and environment to better serve our Anishinaabe youth. I have 18+ years as an educator in early childhood up to the college level in multiple areas ranging from general education, physical activity, health, special education, and Native American culture/traditions. I have a B.A. in Education from Michigan State University and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Lake Superior State University. I am currently an Anishinaabemowin Pane Immersion student at Bay Mills Community College. I have spent my life learning the culture as well as educating others at schools, festivals, fairs, ect. with my family/relatives/friends and of course my wonderful parents, Lou Anne Bush and Henry Tiq-ba Bush. I am grateful for their teachings in life as I continue on with Tiq-ba's legacy while teaching my two children as well as through multiple aspects of my life. I also love to bead, sew, and eat yummy food! Mii'iw Miigwech. Thank you, that is all.

Lissa smiles in front of a wooden background.

Lisa Kurtz-Tollenaar

Lisa Kurtz-Tollenaar is the Native American Outreach Worker with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Kurtz-Tollenaar has been employed through the state of Michigan for seven years, prior to her employment with MDHHS she was the Lead Tribal Social Worker through the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians for six years. Ms. Kurtz-Tollenaar graduated from Lake Superior State University with a Bachelors in Human Services and a minor in Social Worker and later returned to school to complete her Masters in Human Service, with emphasize on Social and Community Services. Ms. Kurtz-Tollenaar is an enrolled member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and has proudly worked with Native American populations her entire career. Ms. Kurtz Tollenaar was raised on Sugar Island, Michigan. Ms. Kurtz-Tollenaar volunteers in the Little Traverse Bay Community and her hometown community. Ms. Kurtz-Tollenaar volunteers on the Michigan Indian Education Council and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Child Welfare Committee.

Eva smiles in front of a lake with a friend.

Eva Menefee

Eva Menefee is a member of the Oneida of the Thames First Nations. She grew up in Dearborn Heights, which is a suburb of Detroit. She graduated from Michigan State University and has completed graduate credits at MSU, CMU and finished her MS at Capella University. Eva works at Lansing Community College, where she is an Academic Advisor. Her passion is working with students, especially students who are coming to college for the first time. On the weekends, she joins Robin in their food trailer making Indian Tacos.

Melinda grins in front of a blue background.

Melinda Hernandez

Roxy Sprowl

Roxy Sprowl (Bezhigonoodinkwe) is a proud citizen of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Miskwabikaang) who was born and raised in Marquette, Michigan. She is a student studying Social Work; American Indian and Indigenous Studies; and Race and Ethnicity in the United States at Michigan State University. Roxy is a Student Assistant in the Native American Affairs and Race Equity Office for the Child Services Agency in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. On campus, Roxy serves as the Co-Chair for the North American Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO) and is a lead researcher in an undergraduate-led research project, Sins of Commission and Omission, which analyzes the racial, ethnic, and gender representation in United States history textbooks for high school students. She is a member of several ad-hoc committees and has been a part of numerous speaking panels. More recently, her personal memoir “At the Expense of A Student” has been published in the book, Teaching on Days After: Educating for Equity in the Wake of Injustice (2021) by Dr. Alyssa Dunn.

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We Put Native Education First