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Nigig-enz Baapi nindizhinikaaz. Ajijaak doodem. Kchiwiikwedong miinawaa Mashkiziibi nindonjibaa.

My name is Little Laughing Otter. I am crane clan. I come from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibway.

Cecelia Rose LaPointe (they/them/their) is Ojibway/Métis and is Mashkiziibi (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibway or LaPointe Band of Ojibway) and Kchiwiikwedong (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community). They are enrolled in Mashkiziibi and maintain a strong community affiliation to Kchiwiikwedong. Cecelia identifies as Two-Spirit based in their culture from an old school and decolonial framework. They have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a Master of Arts in Environmental Leadership from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. They were an NDN Changemaker Fellow through NDN Collective representing the Great Lakes Region in 2020. Cecelia has been fiercely walking a sober road for 13 years.

Cecelia is also the Founder and Owner of Red Circle Consulting and Waub Ajijaak Press. They are also Consultant, Publisher, Poet, Writer, and Author. In their free time, they enjoy spending time on the land, water, running, hiking, cycling, and reading.

Bronson Herman (he/him) is an unaffiliated Ojibway, who has been experiencing his own “Anishinaabe awakening.” He has a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Humanities and Spanish from Michigan State University. Additionally, he holds Certificates in Indigenous Canada from the University of Alberta and Curanderismo: Traditional Healing of the Mind, Energy and Spirit from the University of New Mexico.

Previously, Bronson worked in the fields of immigration law, disability law, and civil litigation, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault support services as well as victims of crime advocacy throughout Metro Detroit. He is a proponent for the power of international education, second language acquisition, social justice initiatives and being a conscientious traveler wherever he goes.

Lowell Wolfe (he/him) is a recent graduate from McGill University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and anthropology with first-class honours. His scholarship has focused on decolonial environmental philosophies, Indigenous literatures, and critical Indigenous theory. He hopes to pursue a J.D. in Native American Law. After working as the Conference Intern for the Native Justice Coalition in the summer/fall of 2022, Lowell transitioned to being the Conference Coordinator.

As a non-Indigenous ally at Native Justice Coalition, he hopes to help strengthen forms of decolonial solidarity across the Great Lakes Region and beyond. In his free time, he enjoys reading poetry and spending time outdoors.

Elizabeth Perera (they/them) is of South Asian (Sri Lankan) and Southeast Asian (Filipino) descent. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and a Master of Science in Geography from York University in Toronto, Canada. Previously, their work took them to Alaska, where they studied glacier albedo and supported expeditions onto the Juneau Icefield, as well as to Iceland, where they conducted wetland hydrology surveys and further investigated the importance of Arctic environments. Their own experiences with culture clash and social exclusion led to their work in improving mental health practices for marginalized communities in Polar science and laying the groundwork for building relationships between science education and the Tlingit (Lingít) peoples in Juneau. Their work with the Native Justice Coalition is facilitated by their drive to connect through cultural identity and outreach using intersectional approaches towards both inclusion and wellness.

During their free time, Elizabeth practices and teaches martial arts. They enjoy traveling, learning music, spending time in nature with their dog, and exploring scientific and cultural activities.

Areeba Nadeem (she/her) recently graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in the James Madison College for Social Relations & Public Policy, and a degree in Philosophy. She is a Muslim Pakistani immigrant, but grew up in the U.S. for the majority of her life. As a student, she was a research assistant for the Human Rights Lab and for the Philosophy department, specializing in post-Marxist studies and gender studies. She maintained heavy involvement with student groups throughout school, such as UNICEF at MSU, dreaMSU, MSU YDSA, and Students United for Palestinian Rights. As a non-Indigenous ally, she hopes to continue learning the different ways to decolonize spaces, work towards racial and gender justice, and stand in solidarity with diverse communities. Her passion is to work in the development sector of like-minded non-profits.

As a devout Muslim, you can find her volunteering at the mosque in her free time. She also enjoys writing poetry and reading literature.

Miranda Recollet nda nooziwin, Wiikwemikoong Mnidoo Mnis ndodabendagwis, miinwaa Upper Peninsula, Chimookmaaning ndidaa.

My name is Miranda Recollet, and I belong to Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Territory Manitoulin Island and now call the upper peninsula home.

Miranda has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta, where she acquired the necessary tools to effectively serve our people. Over the past 15 years, she has worked with various tribes and public institutions throughout Mishiikenh Mnis (Turtle Island) to encourage, support, and advocate for our children, families, and communities.

In 2014, Miranda attended the first Truth & Reconciliation Conference in Edmonton Alberta, which had a profound impact on her as a descendant daughter and granddaughter of residential school survivors and Holy Childhood fighters. It strengthened her resolve to serve the Anishinaabeg community on its path to healing and justice. However, it was her community upbringing, anishinaabemowin, and traditional teachings that she attributes her success to. It was through these foundations that she has been able to continue to serve with care and compassion.

As the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Coordinator, she believes that we need to address the historical injustices that have been inflicted upon our community. She remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote understanding, respect, and collaboration across Michigan and the Great Lakes.  In her free time, Miranda has been working towards an off-grid traditional lifestyle in the Upper Peninsula by harvesting medicine, hunting, and fishing, and enjoying the abundance of northern life.