91ÊÓƵ

Presenters

Adrea Lawrence 

Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Past President, History of Education Society 

Adrea Lawrence is an education historian. Most of her colleagues know her as someone who has studied American Indian histories and their corresponding education policy histories. After studying this field for a number of years and having tinkered with a variety of different digital and analog platforms, she is increasingly interested in how people keep knowledge about the past and what that means for learning formally and informally.  With her interest in traces of learnings, she is very curious about how researchers approach their studies and in how people have discerned meaning and figured out different ways to live in their worlds. There are many ways of doing so. Adrea serves as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the 91ÊÓƵ in Missoula, where she also served as Dean of the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and as a professor with an affiliate status in the Department of History. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Indiana University in 2006. Before that, Adrea was a high school social studies teacher in Littleton, Colorado. She has a Master of Arts degree in Instruction and curriculum and a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Courtney Little Axe 

Coutney Little Axe is Northern Cheyenna, Absentee Shawnee, and Seminole. She grew up on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Southeastern Montana. She has an AS in Natural Sciences and a Records and Information Managment Certificate from Haskell Indian Nations Univeristy in Lawrence, Kansas. She also has a BA in Anthropology and a Forensic Studies Certificate from the Universtiy of Montana (UM). During her undergrad studies, Courtney worked as an intern in the UM Anthropological Curation Facility, where she began her career journey in repatriation. Following her time at UM, she was selected as a Native American fellow for the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. She was then employed at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California, for three years as the Repatriation Assistant. She is now the Repatriation Coordinator and Collections Manager at the 91ÊÓƵ (UM). Her skill set has helped create procedures in collaboration with numerous tribes across the country to center the importance of cultural protocols for the proper handling and care of cultural belongings. She has dedicated much of her adult life to repatriation and Indigenizing heritage collection care with the hope that her work will help rebuild the framework for what repatriation and collections care could look like. 

Kelly Dixon 

Dr. Kelly J. Dixon has worked in the field of archaeology and heritage management for over 25 years. Since the fall of 2003, Dr. Dixon has worked as an Archaeologist and Professor at the 91ÊÓƵ’s (UM) Department of Anthropology; she has been assisting with UM’s cultural heritage collections as part of her service duties. Living and working in the North American West for 20 years, Dixon’s body of work underscores the ways in which actions in the American West have connections with—and impacts on—the rest of the world as humans navigate extreme social and environmental changes. Whether drawing lessons from the past to make informed decisions about the present or whether working collaboratively with her colleagues, Dixon believes partnerships with Tribal, Federal, State, and local government agencies, as well as with private businesses, stakeholders, communities, and other universities can help responsibly and respectfully preserve and protect land, heritage, and humanity’s well-being in the 21st century and beyond.

Mrs. Elizabeth Matilda Abena MANTEBEAH

Elizabeth Matilda is a doctoral candidate (91ÊÓƵ- Anthropology), Volunteer Expert (UNESCO Earth Network), Facilitator (2003 UNESCO Convention), and Mentee (UNESCO World Heritage Mentorship Program). 

Elizabeth Matilda received her master's degree in Heritage Management (University of Mauritius) and her bachelor's degree in French and Geography and Resource Development (University of Ghana). Her past research has evolved from examining the relevance of slave memorialization in places with painful heritage past currently exploring museums' response to the illicit trafficking of cultural objects and the purposes of repatriation to communities under the UNESCO 2003 Convention 

Previously a Commonwealth Scholar (2013-2015) and a Berta Morton Award recipient (2023/2024), Elizabeth Matilda loves the engage communities on matters of heritage and to help them in the development of their cultural heritage resources. Outside of the academic setting, she spends time writing and working with kids. 

Kendall Edmo 

Kendall Edmo (Blackfeet) has nearly a decade of experience working at the intersection of GIS and Cultural landscape preservation. She previously worked at the Blackfeet Tribal Historic Preservation Office, where she gained experience conducting archaeological surveys, applying geospatial analysis to map cultural resources, and geodatabase management. She received her Master of Science in Earth Sciences in 2024 at Montana State Univeristy, where her research focused on integrating traditional Blackfoot knowledge and geospatial analysis to better understand the spatial dynamics of ancestral Blackfoot land use patterns. Through her consulting firm, 89 North Geospatial, Ms. Edmo assists tribal communities in managing, visualizing, and understanding their spatial data 

Lisa Hunt 

Lisa Hunt is of Blackfoot descent and is a PhD Candidate at the 91ÊÓƵ in Cultural Anthropology. She received her bachelor's degree in Native American Studies and Master's in Cutural Anthropology at the Univeristy of Montana. She has been employed at the Univeristy of Montana Anthropology Collections Facitlity (UMACF) as a Repatriation & Collections Liaison since 2021. She has been assisting with the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) process to reconcile and return ancestral remains removed from their place of rest during salvage archaeology projects associated with the dam-building era in the mid-20th century. She also works to ensure that associated cultural belongings are treated with care and planned for inventory and repatriation. As part of this work, Lisa had been actively involved in visits from tribal Historic preservation Officers (THPOs) and Tribal delegations throughout the region, working through cultural belongings issues and related repatriation needs in the UMACF. These events have been associated with UM's anthropological collections history and represent a shift toward respect and reconciliation by working in concert with the region's tribal cultural heritage leaders and stewards. 

Lucas Van Boyden

Lucas Van Boyden is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying in the Anthropology Department at the Universtiy of Montana, with a focus in Archaeology. He currently works as a Collections Assistant at the 91ÊÓƵ Anthropological Collections Facilty (UMACF), where he is involved in archaeological site cataloging, organizing site collections, and heritage collections care. In addition to being a Collections Assistant, Lucas helps with educational outreach focused on presenting the story of the 1904 Fort Shaw Girls' champion basketball team and showcasing Emma Sansaver's Dress. Lucus has experience with repatriation, often working alongside UM's NAGPRA Repatriation Coordinator and Assistants to prepare for Tribal Consultations and physical repatriation. He is passionate about collections care and collaborating with tribes to help properly steward their belongings. ,

Lylliam Posadas 

Lylliam Posadas is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Your Neighborhood Museum and the Colonial Pathways Repatriation Manager at the Museum of Us. Lylliam has over 15 years of experience in repatriation and focuses on collaborative program development and community-led research practices. Lylliam has experience facilitating repatriations, building repatriation programs, and building research protocols at the Fowler Museums at UCLA and the Autry Musueum of the American West, and has engaged diverse audiences such as museum staff, artists, students, and the general public in repatriation advocacy. Lylliam received an M.Sc in Technology and Analysis of Archaeological Materials from the University College London and a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Psychology from UCLA and has field research experience in Ghana, Peru, Louisiana, and California. Lylliam is interested in the intersections of community building, arts and culture, preservation, and health and wellness, and is invented in collaborative work that supports and respects cultural workers. 

Dr. Maegan Rides At The Door, LCPC (sher/her)

As a dedicated leader in trauma-informed care, Dr. Maegan Rides At The Door, LCPC (sher/her) (enrolled member of the Fort Peck Dakota and Nakoda Tribes and descendant of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe) has spent over a decade advancing the healing and resilience of Native children, families, and communities. With a robust background as the Director of the National Native Children’s Trauma Center (NNCTC) at the 91ÊÓƵ, she has consistently driven initiatives aimed at trauma-focused healing for Native populations. She has contributed to the successful management of multimillion-dollar projects funded by federal agencies. Through initiatives such as the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative and the Training and Technical Assistance to expand Children’s Advocacy Centers serving American Indian and Alaska Native Communities, she has led efforts that expand quality services and promote healing in Indigenous communities across the country. She actively contributes to academia through teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses for the 91ÊÓƵ and Salish Kootenai College. She remains steadfast in her mission to expand access to quality services, promote trauma-informed policies, and empower individuals to heal from the effects of trauma.

Makayla Rawlins (she/her/hers)

Makayla Rawlins is a 3rd year graduate student of the UCLA/Getty Conservation of Cultural Heritage Master’s program. She is dedicated to advancing her career in art conservation, with a focus on community engagement and utilizing her expertise to support and preserve community collections. Makayla holds a B.A. in Art History and Biological Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, along with a minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies. She has gained valuable hands-on experience through various internships across the United States, working with both large museums and small cultural centers. She is currently a Programs Assistant and Assistant Conservator for Your Neighborhood Museum and is honored to be working so close with communities.

Mikalen Running Fisher

Mikalen Running Fisher, an enrolled member of the Amskapii Pikanni (Blackfeet Nation), was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. Deeply shaped by the rich cultural heritage and traditions of her community, she has dedicated her academic and professional journey to cultural preservation, education, and the revitalization of Indigenous knowledge.

In 2022, Mikalen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies with a minor in Communication Studies from the 91ÊÓƵ. She continued her academic path by completing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2024, integrating the fields of History, Linguistics, and Anthropology. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cultural Heritage and Applied Anthropology at the 91ÊÓƵ. Currently, Mikalen serves as the Collections and Repatriation Liaison for UMACF and continues her work at the Blackfeet THPO as an Archivist. Her long-term goal is to return to her community as a Ph.D.-holding cultural professional, helping lead efforts in cultural preservation, education, and repatriation. She strives to bridge the gap between academic institutions and Indigenous communities by creating culturally grounded, accessible educational resources.

Sonia Guiñansaca

Sonia Guiñansaca is an international award winning migrant indigenous Kichwa-Kañari poet, cultural strategist and social justice activist. They emerged as a national leader in the migrant artistic and political communities where they coordinated and participated in groundbreaking non-violent civil disobedience actions. Guiñansaca helped co-found and build some of the largest undocumented organizations in the U.S, including some of the first artistic projects by and for undocumented writers and artists. Sonia has worked for over a decade in both policy and cultural efforts building equitable infrastructures for migrant artists. Currently a consultant on artist convenings, cultural activations, and civic engagement for national social justice organizations, cultural institutions, and foundations. Past clients and collaborative partners include Rasmuson Foundation, Innercity Struggle, Informed Immigrant, National Employment Law Project, Latina Institute, Amplifier, and Your Neighborhood Museum. Their migration and cultural equity work has also taken them to London and Mexico City to advise on migrant policy and arts programming. They’ve been an invited speaker for conferences in Ecuador, Colombia, U.K and across the United States. They serve as the national advisory board member of the Laundromat Project, Association of Writers and Writers Programs Latinx Caucus, and Level Ground. As a writer and performer, Sonia creates narrative poems and essays on migration, queerness, and nostalgia, often collaborating with filmmakers and visual artists. They have been awarded residencies and fellowships from Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation, Poetry Foundation, British Council, and the Hemispheric Institute for Performance & Politics. Guiñansaca has performed at the Met, the NYC Public Theater, Lehmann Maupin Gallery, Lincoln Center, toured campuses across the country, and has been featured on Interview Magazine, Ms.Magazine, Teen Vogue, Diva Magazine UK, CNN, NBC, and PBS to name a few.

Their writing appears in many anthologies like Daughter of Latin America: An International Anthology of Writing by Latine Women (HarperCollins 2023), and Colonize This! Young Women of color on Today’s Feminism 2nd Edition (Seal Press 2019). They co-edited the anthology Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices On Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings (HarperCollins 2022). They self-published their debut poetry book Nostalgia & Borders (2016), and in 2023 it was translated to Kichwa & Spanish by Severo Editorial under Nostalgia Y Fronteras. In April 2022, Sonia launched House of Alegría, a multi-fold creative project supporting emerging undocumented Queer/Trans/Non-binary artists. For more information SoniaGuinansaca.com , IG @TheSoniaG .

Raimund Combs

Raimund Combs is of the Killer Whale Clan of the Tsimshian First Nations and veteran military officer and helicopter pilot, former U.S. Border Patrol Agent, and former Federal Air Marshal. As a second year graduate student at the 91ÊÓƵ his master’s thesis is the little known history of an almost unknown Indian boarding school outside Hot Springs, SD named Brainerd. Rai has led discussions and classes both on and off campus in and around Missoula regarding various Indigenous issues such as NAGPRA, repatriations, Indian boarding schools, Indigenous histories, cultures, and spiritualities. Rai also serves as a primary Indigenous advisor to the Racial Justice Task Force of the Montana Synod of the Lutheran Church. Both an educator and activist, Rai now seeks to serve his people-the Indigenous of Turtle Island.

Keynote Speaker 

Shannon O'Loughlin (Choctaw)

Chief Executive & Attorney

Association on American Indian Affairs



Shannon O’Loughlin is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and serves the Association on American Indian Affairs as its Chief Executive and Attorney. The Association is the longest serving national Native nonprofit, since 1922. Shannon has been practicing law for more than 24 years and is a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. Shannon serves as Vice Chair of the Board at Native Ways Federation, which educates about informed giving to Native-led nonprofits. She also serves on the Board of Potawatomi Ventures, the economic development corporation of the Forest County Potawatomi Nation, and serves as their Governance Committee Chair. She is a former Chief of Staff to the National Indian Gaming Commission, where she assisted in the development and implementation of national gaming policy, and oversaw the agency’s public affairs, technology, compliance and finance divisions. Shannon has also served Native Country in the private sector​ as an attorney​, leading a large national firm’s Native Nations law practice group that worked to strengthen, maintain and protect sovereignty, self-determination and culture. Shannon was appointed by Secretary​ of the Department of the Interior, Sally Jewell to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee in 2013; and was appointed by President Barack Obama as the first Native American to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee within the State Department in 2015. ​Shannon received a B.A.​ in American Indian Studies​ from California State University, Long Beach and joint M.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Arizona​ in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy​.