Destination Series Coming in 2025: Mexico

Great Lakes Knowledge Bearer

Tribal  Member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

Madelene teaches decolonizing diets by reintroducing Great Lakes indigenous foodways knowledge into this territory. She’s been featured in a local PBS cooking episode and currently does a Meijer corporate yearly Indigenous cooking broadcast. She works with parks and preserves, engaging in Native land use. Most of her work is rooted in being a steward of the land. She is an advocate for Neshnabek and all of their relatives.

 Author of Firekeeper’s Daughter

Tribal Member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Angeline is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Firekeeper’s Daughter is her debut novel, and was an instant #1 NYT Bestseller. The book has been named the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, the Printz Award, the William C. Morris award for YA debut literature, and was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. She recently released her second novel, Warrior Girl Unearthed.

  Historian, Author, Speaker

Chris Czopek is a Civil War History Detective. Among his most notable work, Chris was a consultant for a documentary shown on The History Channel "Indian Warriors: The Untold Story of the Civil War," first airing in 2006 and Assistant Producer and lead speaker in the award-winning PBS film documentary “Road to Andersonville,” airing in 2013. He authored “Who Was Who in Company K: Reliable Facts About Native American Soldiers in Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, During the Civil War, 1861-1865” in 2015.

  Tribal Member Elder 

of the

 Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi  

Kevin Harris Sr. Culture Committee member of NHBP and Traditional dancer and Firekeeper for the Potawatomi nations. Also, is knowledgeable of the Potawatomi history and culture. Attending traditional powwows, vending arts and printing shirts as a hobby. Tribal elder is also Knowledgeable in white bison teachings for sobriety. Kevin Harris sr. Spent over 15 years revitalizing culture and practicing sobriety for Hannahville Potawatomi nation and passing his teachings down to his children.

Tribal Member of the

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi 

Presenter, storyteller, artist, cultural specialist

 Kevin is a Culture Specialist and active community member in the culture of the NHBP, Ceremonies, Student of Potawatomi Language and College Student. Conducts cultural presentations and assists with revitalizing the culture, Food Sovereignty and History of NHBP. Kevin is also a Native Pop Art artist and Board Member of a nonprofit organization for the NHBP. 

   Tribal Member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians

Odawa Artisan 

Culture Department Manager for the NHBP 

 Fred has served as the manager for the Cultural and Historic Preservation Office since 2016. He is Odawa Anishinaabe and is Bear Clan. Fred serves as a cultural advisor to the NHBP and the surrounding community. He is an active member of the traditional community and works to better the position of Anishinaabe in southern Michigan. 

  Artist in Watercolor, Acrylics, Digital Photography and Pottery

Tribal Member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

 Cindy is well-known locally for her nature-inspired pottery, which is showcased each November with a sale at Prudential Nursery, owned by Cindy and her husband Charlie. Each year, she invites other well-known area potters and artists to show their wares. Cindy has most recently received awards for her stunning digitally altered photographs of Native Americans in Pow Wow regalia. 

  Author of Firekeeper’s Daughter

Tribal Member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

  Dr. Pamela Lyles is a painter and craftsperson with ancestors from Potawatomi and Cherokee tribes. Her paternal great, great, great grandmother shared stories about her experiences on the Trail of Tears. This background influenced the subject matter of Lyles’ painting, including eagles, wolves, healers, children in ceremonial dress, and images of wise women. Pamela has a doctorate in Education Administration and has decades of experience teaching textiles and painting in Abilene, Texas and on the Navajo Reservation in Pinon, Arizona.

Tribal Member  Elder and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the 

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi

  Douglas Taylor was born and raised on Pine Creek reservation. He served in the US Army as a Combat engineer in the Airborne until his retirement from service. Doug returned to Pine Creek and joined the Veterans Committee. During Doug’s tenure on the committee, the NHBP CEO approached the committee to seek instruction on veteran roles in ancestral repatriation. This work led to Doug becoming a Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the NHBP. Doug is an active member of the traditional community as a staff and pipe carrier.