Indigenous Peoples' Day: Evening Session (Session #2)

Frank Ettawageshik

Keynote Speaker

Frank Ettawageshik lives in Harbor Springs, Michigan, with his wife Rochelle.  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, Michigan. 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.  Recently he was appointed Tribal Court Appellate Justice for his tribe.

Since 2009 Frank has been serving as the Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan. He also serves on the Michigan Water Use Advisory Council, and on the Great Lakes Water Quality Board of the International Joint Commission. Internationally, he has represented the National Congress of American Indians at several meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Paris, France, in Bonn, Germany, in Katowice, Poland, and in Madrid, Spain.. He has also participated in meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Bazile Panek

Moderator

linkedin.com/bazilepanek

Bazile Panek is a proud member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and he was born and raised on the Red Cliff reservation. Bazile is heavily involved with his culture, regularly attending ceremonies and cultural events. In recent years, he has become a leader in his community by teaching others how to play Moccasin Game.



Currently, Bazile is a senior studying Native American Studies with minors in Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at Northern Michigan University (NMU). He has had the honor to serve and participate in various committees and organizations. At NMU, Bazile is the current President of the Native American Student Association, he serves as the Student Representative on the President’s Committee on Diversity, as well as on the Center for Native American Studies’ Curriculum Committee. At home, Bazile is a board member on the Red Cliff Business Development Corporation. Bazile has also served on various ad hoc committees, and he has educated many people about Native American culture, language, and history. Recently, Bazile was instrumental in advocating for the official recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day by Northern Michigan University.

Leora Tadgerson

NMU Student Equity and Engagement Center

Miskopwaaganikwe -Leora L Tadgerson, is a contingent special instructor of Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University and MA candidate in Education Administration: American Indian Education Administration and Supervision. Her research involves Postcolonial Indigenous Theory, Tribal Critical Race Theory, and Indigenous pedagogy with an emphasis of teachings from the Great Lakes Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy. In addition to education, Lancaster works as the Community Engagement and Program Manager for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She is a member of the turtle clan and proud tribal citizen of both Gnoozhikaaning - Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan and Wiikwemkong First Nations in Manitoulin Island, Ontario.

Grey Shea

Grey Shea is a proud citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians from Bahweting (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.) They are an alumnus of Northern Michigan University, holding a Bachelor's degree in Native American Studies. During their time at NMU, they were vice president of the Native American Student Association and worked at the Center for Native American Studies. Grey currently works for their tribe's Language and Culture Department as an Administrative Assistant. They love to practice traditional arts, learn Anishinaabemowin, and help others on their cultural learning journey.

Waawiyeyaa

Music Group