Agenda

Breakfast & Registration

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Welcome & Keynote

William Morin (Ojibwa Anishinaabek, Mishibigwadinong / Michipicoten First Nation Citizen), Artist / Educator / Traditional Storyteller, B.F.A., B.A., B.Ed., M.A., Ph.D. (abd), Laurentian University Ph.D. Candidate

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Break

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101: Education As a Tool To Heal from Domestic Violence

Samantha R Brown (Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa), Community Outreach Specialist, Uniting Three Fires Against Violence

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102: Sending a Message Through Music

Dr. Martin Reinhardt (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Leader singer/song writer, Waawiyeyaa

Tom Biron (Kitigaunseebing [Garden River] First Nation), Guitarist, Waawiyeyaa

Jud Sojourn, Guitarist/Vocalist, Waawiyeyaa

Danny Garceau (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Traditionalist Flutist/Vocalist, Waawiyeyaa

Karen Moses (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Hand Drum/Vocalist, Waawiyeyaa

Joe Dowd (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) Bassist, Waawiyeyaa

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103: Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the Age of AI: Walking in Two Worlds

Courtney Lewis (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians [LTBB]), Student Advisor, Waganakising Odawa Career and Technical Education Program, LTBB

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Break

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201: Strengthening Community-Led Suicide Prevention for Future Generations

Dr. Elizabeth Evans (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community), Research Faculty, University of Michigan-Institute for Social Research

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202: Big Heart Beats

Christopher Yepez (Anishinaabe [Ojibwe + Potawatomi]), Walpole Island First Nation, Thunderbird Clan), Music Artist & Educator, Big Heart Beats

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203: College and Career Panel

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Lunch

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301: Impact of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools on Present-Day Child-Rearing

Suzanne L. Cross (Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan), Associate Professor emeritus - MSU, Native American Artist and Private Consultant

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302: Tribal Governance Capacity Building with a University Partner: Lessons from Southwest Michigan

Sam Morseau (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Secretary, Western Michigan University, Tribal Governance Faculty

Robin C. Greymountain (Sault Tribe of Chippewa), Director, Kalamazoo Adult Education, Western Michigan University, doctoral student and graduate of Tribal Governance Certificate Program

Jamie Stuck (Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi), Faculty - Tribal Governance Certificate Program, Western Michigan University

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303: Education For Everyone: Native Ways of Knowing

Waabanoqua (Judy D. Pamp), (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan) Indigenous Educator and Knowledge Keeper, Co-Teacher, Mt. Pleasant Public Schools and High School

Ms. Margie Dexter, English Teacher, Mt. Pleasant High School

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Break

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401: Testimony from a Boarding School Survivor

Linda Raye Cobe (Lac Vieux Desert), MPA

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402: Midwest Comprehensive Center & The Federal Technical Assistance Ecosystem

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403: Rebuilding a University Native Student Organization: An Intergenerational Approach

Robin Christine Greymountain (Sault Tribe of Chippewa), Director - Kalamazoo Adult Education Program, Elder in Residence at WMU

Shabanaa Mary Bush (Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians), Aerospace Engineering Student; NASO Secretary; former NASO President; WALI Chief Engineer / Mission Control Officer

Jordan Morseau (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), President - Native American Student Organization, Western Michigan University

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Break

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501: 2025 Boarding School Report

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502: Ensuring Authenticity in Art, Words, and Actions

Jodi Biimskanodin Branton (Aamjiwnaang First Nation) Cultural Consultant, Awishinaabe

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503: Finding Balance: Thunderbird and Underwater Panther

Punkin Shananaquet (Potawatomi and Ojibwe), Lifegiver and Firekeeper, Three Fires Confederacy

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Friday Closing Announcements & Saturday Housekeeping

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Practicing our Traditions: Beading Workshop

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Limited to 25 participants. $10 additional fee for supplies OR
Crafting - Bring your own project and join us for a crafting evening.