Indigenous Visionaries

Bay Mills Community College

About Mariah

Boozhoo. Mariah Wanic ndizhnikaaz. Gnoozhekaaning nindoonjibaa. Migizi ndoodem. Hello, my name is Mariah Wanic. I am a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC) and belong to the Eagle Clan. In 2020, I was named the Director of Charter Schools for BMCC Charter Schools Office. I lead the Charter Schools Office in fulfilling its mission to ensure a quality education for students in underserved populations by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. Our team provides oversight for 45 public school academies across the state of Michigan. It is one of my lifelong goals to complete my doctoral degree so that I can become a better leader within my tribal community and an expert in my field. I am currently working through the dissertation process of my Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at Central Michigan University (CMU), where I anticipate graduating in 2024 or 2025. Another goal of mine is to learn more Ojibwe language. I learned my introduction from my daughter who took several classes at BMCC, and it was inspiring to see her learning our traditional language. I have two associate degrees from BMCC: one degree in Computer Information Systems and the other in Computer Hardware Systems. Additionally, I have a bachelor’s degree in Community Development, a Master of Science degree in Administration, and a Specialist in Education degree all from CMU. I recently celebrated my twenty-year anniversary of working at BMCC, where I started as an administrative assistant and worked my way up to the Director of Charter Schools for BMCC. I am the acting Vice Chair of the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, elected in the summer of 2022. Outside of education and my career, I love participating in some of the craft workshops offered by my tribal community. I have learned how to make ribbon skirts, moccasins, and leather fur-lined gloves at the workshops I have attended. On my own, I enjoy doing beadwork and creating earrings, medallions, and lanyards. I have even beaded a feather and graduation cap for my daughter. Another fun fact is that I have 2 crazy chihuahuas, Maxwell and Reese, and a Yorkshire terrier, Eddie. I am also caring for my daughter’s chihuahua, Amelia, while she prepares to start medical school.

Northwest Indian College

About Orinda

My Name is Orinda Sasheen Goddard, I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. I am a descendant of the Quinault Nation, Yakama Nation, First Nation’s Wolf Clan, Cowlitz Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Coeur D’Alene Tribe, and Navajo Nation. I work in the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR) Institute at Northwest Indian College located in Bellingham, Washington, as an instructor. My inspiration is my grandfather because he has been a voice for the tribes of Washington State. He went to college back in the 1940s, was a big advocate in the fish wars, helped tribes to get gaming licenses, and helped with taxation for the tribes in Washington State. He is a past leader of my tribe, and he still carries so much traditional knowledge that he shares with all his 87 grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great grandkids. He has been broken down and yet gets back up and helps his people that are in need.

My goal is to run for a state position because that is one of the areas that needs more voices to help our people. My first goal to get there is to run for the voluntary position on the school board in my area in which you must be on the official voting ballot for Thurston County in Olympia, Washington. I want to help our kids in this level and network to get more leadership opportunities.

My education background includes a high school diploma, two scholarships for Fastpitch Softball, a certification for completing the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program, an associate degree in general education, and a bachelor’s degree in Native Studies and Leadership. This fall I will be enrolling into a master’s program through Western Washington University to get my CRC in Vocational Rehabilitation.

One significant academic achievement of mine is applying for the Cobell Scholarship and receiving it to help me in my junior year of college. My tribe did not help with any type of funding, so I applied for many scholarships. Receiving scholarships was a push to help me have a standard to live up to, that I need to do my best to get it done and graduate. My professional achievements that stand out the most are that I helped two vocational rehabilitation programs write their policies and procedures and they were approved by the federal government with 3 fixtures to make.

I have four jobs: I work at the TVR Institute, contract for VR programs for support, have my own art business, and raise my three children. I am a basket weaver, beader, coastal art form-line artist and seamstress, and I teach my children how to speak three of our languages, Chehalis, Chinook, and Lushootseed.

Oglala Lakota College

About Lisa

My name is Dr. Lisa Brooks, and my Lakota name is Wambli Owe Win (Tracks of an Eagle Woman). I am an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and am from Porcupine, South Dakota located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I currently work at Oglala Lakota College as a Business Department Associate Professor. I have a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in Management from Northcentral University, a master’s in physical therapy, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Mary. I have published peer-reviewed journal articles with the Academy of Business Research and the Journal of Faculty Development. I am certified through the state of South Dakota to teach the Lakota language for grades K-12. I was also voted by my peers to become a part of the Piya Wiconi Okolakiciye committee for Oglala Lakota College through 2024.

My professional goals include being impactful in my own community through persistent leadership in education. In addition, my personal passion is being a Lakota language warrior. I plan to continue helping with the Lakota language revitalization efforts through teaching, creating content, and networking. I love to travel and mountain bike with my kids and we have ridden on some of the best trails in the country. Finally, my sidekick is my cat Beans who brings so much joy and love into my life.

College of the Muscogee Nation

About Linette

I am a Muscogee (Creek) from the Broken Arrow Tribal Town and am Nokosvlke (Bear Clan). I graduated from OSU-Okmulgee with an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, Bacone College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, College of the Muscogee Nation with an Associate of Arts in Native American Studies, and Northeastern State University with a Master of Business Administration. I am currently enrolled at Grand Canyon University, pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration.

I have been employed with the College of the Muscogee Nation since July 2013. I served as an Accounting Specialist for eight years before being promoted to Accounting Manager, where I worked for nine months before being selected as Director of Business Affairs. My professional experience began with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation a year after graduating from high school. I have worked within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Housing Division, Payroll Department, and Tax Commission, where I gained experience in tribal government. I enjoy volunteering in the community and have served previously on the Okmulgee Indian Community’s Board of Directors as Treasurer and Secretary. I am an Okmulgee Johnson O’Malley Parent Committee member, serving as Secretary and previously Member-At-Large. In addition, I am a member of Nuyaka Indian Baptist Church and help my mother, Irene Washington, Women’s Leader at Artussee Indian Baptist Church.

In addition to my duties as the Director of Business Affairs, I participate in the following
committees: HEERF Emergency Assistance Committee, Accreditation Steering Committees for Reaffirmation Federal Compliance and Initial Accreditation Criterion Two, Graduation Committee, Fall Fest Committee, Institutional Outcome Subcommittee, and have participated in the Leadership Class.

My husband, Brian, and I have one son. I have lived in Okmulgee since 1979 and enjoy
spending time with my family and attending church.

Cankdeska Cikana Community College

About Ann

My name is Ann Marie Wadsworth (Cante Waste Winya), and I am enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Tribe and a resident of the St. Michael’s District.

Currently, I am Dr. Cynthia Lindquist executive assistant at Cankdeska Cikana Community College.

My overall goal would be to possibly complete a master’s degree and utilize it within my community possibly as a Tribal leader, where I believe I can help my people.
I graduated from Warwick High School in 1989 and began to further my education by enrolling in courses at Cankdeska Cikana Community College where I was able obtain an Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts and Associated of Applied Science.

I wanted to continue on, and the University of North Dakota is where I chose to enroll. It is taking me years to complete, but I will do so by the spring 2024. I believe my motivation is my grandchildren and attempting to be someone that they want to look up to. My biggest academic achievement would be attending a college/university. I am a first-generation student. My father attended and completed the 8th grade, and later entered the Army and served in the Korean Conflict. My mother graduated high school, but did not attend college.

I enjoy softball and bowling! At fifty-two, the body is a little slower in catching and throwing the softball, but I sure try.

Fort Peck Community College

About Heather

My name is Heather Burshia, and I am a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. I have my Bachelor of Science in public health. I am currently a Project Director for a Native Youth Community Project grant at Fort Peck Community College. My goals are to successfully manage this grant for the next five years and to impact the lives of the students on the reservation. At the end of the grant, I want my experience to be reflected on my resume. Within the next five years I want to also receive my master’s in public health. My ultimate goal would to be to instill a good work ethic in young Native children. I want to teach them to try harder and achieve more, to not be satisfied with the bare minimum. After my current job position is up, I want to get back into the health field by becoming a certified health educator through taking and passing the CHES exam. My dream job would be working for the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) department. In my professional life I am proud of the achievements I have made. When I was an intern for the Family Crisis Center, I drafted a new intern manual to help train the new incoming interns. In my short seven-week internship I made great relationships with all the employees and by the end of it, the boss offered me a job right on the spot. My academic achievements consist of scholarship awards and being placed on the Dean’s list. One fun fact about me is I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for the past nine years. Another fun fact is my third son was born the day I graduated college.

Institute of American Indian Arts

About Deborah

Deborah Taffa’s debut book, Whiskey Tender, was published in February 2024 with HarperCollins Harper. The memoir has received praise from Oprah Daily, The NY Times, The Washington Post, ELLE Magazine, and other outlets. With fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts in Prose, PEN America, A Public Space, MacDowell, and the NY State Summer Writer’s Institute, Deborah received her MFA in Creative Writing from the NWP at the University of Iowa. A citizen of the Kwatsaan (Yuma) Nation and Laguna Pueblo, she is the director of the MFA CW program at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM.

Prior to her job at IAIA, Deborah served as an Executive Board Member with the Missouri Humanities Council where she was instrumental in creating a Native American Heritage Program in that state. Her writing can be found at The Boston Review, The Los Angeles Review of Books, A Public Space, Salon, The Huff Post, The Best of Brevity: Twenty Groundbreaking Years of Flash Nonfiction, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, and other places. She is the EIC at River Styx Magazine.

Fun fact #1: Deborah has had the incredible honor of reading a series of poetic interludes for the Chaco Symphony featuring the Grammy nominated flautist, R. Carlos Nakai. Her next performance with the Chaco Symphony is on March 15, 2024 in Durango, CO.

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

About Mechelle

My name is Mechelle Iron Cloud-Crazy Thunder, and I am enrolled under my mom’s tribe with The Three Affiliated Tribes from New Town, North Dakota. I was raised in my father’s tribe on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. I have been the wife of Jerome Sr for 33 years. I am a mother of three daughters, Rachael, Alysha, and Marrissa, and one son Jerome Jr. I am also the grandmother to seven grandsons, Bryson, Logan, Messiah, Khaden, Malakai, Lukas, Sam Jr, and two twin granddaughters Alyvia and Samiya.

I am currently one of the academic support counselors at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, and I have been here for four years. My goals and aspirations are to assist students in their education journey and to make their experience with tribal college a positive and loving experience. I aspire to become an Indigenous education change-maker.

I am the first in my family to be a college graduate, and I will be the first to obtain a doctoral degree. I have maintained a GPA of 3.5 and above during my academic career. I am currently the co-president of the (SNAGUS) student organization at UNM, I have been a student congress member on a national level with AIHEC and student body president at UTTC during my undergraduate studies. I have been employed in tribal and non-tribal colleges and have worked hard to assist our Native American students to achieve their educational goals in both settings. I have been recognized within my institutions and nationally for my work with students.

A couple fun facts about myself, I love to bead and make ribbon skirts. These are my stress-relieving activities and allow me a chance to create something beautiful.

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

About Danielle

My name is Danielle N. Carley, and I am a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. I am the Associate Dean of Students and the Work-Based Learning Program Director at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCCOU). We work to improve the LCOOU Career Services and create a K-16 tribal school system on the LCO Reservation.

I have a bachelor’s degree in general studies, concentrating on behavioral health and Native American studies. My academic achievements include acquiring my bachelor’s degree, becoming a Global Career Development Facilitator, and obtaining a nationally recognized management certification. Professional achievements include assisting in opening of casinos in the state of Delaware which included writing all policies and procedures that were adopted by the state of Delaware and influence casino operations in Atlantic City. I also streamlined LCO Tribal Human Resource’s policies and procedures for all tribal operations, and am developing and continuously improving Career Services including the Internship program at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University.

Fun facts about me are that I am an amateur photographer, I love to take pictures of nature and go on daytrips to isolated locations in Northern Wisconsin to take pictures. I also love to collect rocks and look for agates. This was something that my dad loved to do; it was a family tradition. My dad told me that the rocks are our grandfathers, they’ve been here on the Earth the longest and they are healers for our troubles.

United Tribes Technical College

About Jessica

My name is Jessica Rae Brunelle, and I proudly belong to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota. Currently serving as a Business Instructor-Advisor at United Tribes Technical College (UTTC), I am deeply committed to furthering my education and advancing within the institution. Having obtained my undergraduate degree from UTTC, I am eager to complete my master’s degree while continuing to contribute to the college’s mission and growth.

Teaching has become more than just a profession for me; it’s a calling that resonates with my core values. I am grateful for the unwavering support and guidance provided by the UTTC staff and faculty throughout my academic and professional journey. During my undergraduate studies, I consistently achieved academic excellence and was honored to be recognized on the vice president’s list for maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above. 

My journey into teaching was unexpected but incredibly fulfilling. Initially employed in the financial aid office at UTTC, I was encouraged to pursue a teaching position—a prospect I never imagined for myself. However, after my inaugural year as an instructor, I discovered a profound passion for educating and empowering others.

In addition to my professional endeavors, I am a proud mother of four wonderful children and two bonus children. Described as fun-loving, easy-going, and hard-working, I strive to be a positive role model for those around me. My experiences have taught me resilience and the importance of overcoming adversity with grace and determination.

As an open book, I am eager to share my story and inspire other Indigenous women to pursue their dreams despite any obstacles they may face. I am committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive community where individuals are encouraged to thrive and succeed.