Powwow 101: Learning to Walk Together (While Apart)

Danny J. Garceau

Danny is Anishinabe and his ancestors include members of several tribes of the Lake Superior Chippewa.  His great grandfather was Animodoskwan (Plenty Dogs), a LaPointe Chippewa of Madeline Island.  He currently serves as a Director on the Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) Board and as the Director of the SAIGE Warrior Society.   Danny has served on the SAIGE board since 2007 to include two terms as the Chair from 2008 to 2012. 

In 2007 after 30 years of active duty with the United States Army and Army National Guard he retired with the rank of Sergeant Major.  His last duty assignment was as the Michigan Army National Guard Recruiting Command Sergeant Major.  He is a Master Badge recruiter and Chief’s 50 awardee.  He also served as the Recruiting and Retention Command Area IV Sergeant Major Chair.  SGM Garceau served on the Michigan Diversity Council for seven years as the Strength Maintenance Advisor and as the Native American Special Emphasis Manager. His formal education includes the University of Phoenix, Vincennes University and Northern Michigan University.  In 2002, he graduated with honors from the United States Army Sergeant Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Danny lives in the homeland of his ancestors on the southern shores of Lake Superior with his wife Diane and grandson Misajiidamoo (Grey Squirrel), Logan.  He is an active member of several organizations including; commander of AMVETS Post 122, treasurer of the 107th Engineer Retired Officer Association, Road Captain with the Patriot Guard Riders, Blackhorse Association /Blackhorse Cavalry Regiment Motorcycles, Michigan Bikers Helping Veterans, DAV, American Legion and serves on the Honor Guard for the Wiikwedong Ogitchidaa Society for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.   He sings with local drums Morning Thunder and Teal Lake.  Danny also plays native flute and plays with the organic indigenous rock group Waawiyeyaa.

April Lindala

April E. Lindala teaches Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. She has served NMU for over 28 years in various roles including positions at WNMU Public Broadcasting, Diversity Student Services, and the Center for Native American Studies. From 1992 to 2012, she was the adviser to the NMU Native student organization affiliated with planning the "Learning To Walk Together" powwow. Lindala grew up going to powwows in lower Michigan and southern Ontario as a youth. When she moved to the Upper Peninsula, she eventually found a powwow family and has traveled around Ontario, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and of course, Michigan to sing and dance. She has been a fancy shawl dancer, a jingle dress dancer, and she is currently a women's traditional dancer. She misses hearing the drum roll calls and the sensation that comes with dancing in the grand entry line. She hopes to hit the powwow trail in full force once the global pandemic is over and once she completes her Ph.D. work at Michigan Technological University.

Martin Reinhardt

CNAS Faculty

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.