Program Coordinator, Anishinaabemowin Revival Program, Lakeview School, M’Chigeeng First Nation
Biography
Alan is one of GRASAC’s co-founders and has been a key member since the inaugural GRASAC meeting at Carleton in 2005. He has been on numerous museum site visits with the GRASAC team, has supervised GRASAC research assistants as the Executive Director at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, delivered presentations at the last two GRASAC research conferences, and has published an article on GRASAC with Heidi and Ruth called “Wampum Unites Us.”
Alan has been researching Anishinaabe language, cultural practices and material culture for a many years. One area of specialization is diplomacy. Alan has conducted research on wampum belts with known Anishinaabe associations and is currently a member of the GRASAC PDG pilot project on wampum. He has also researched medals, gorgets, and other diplomatic gifts. He has been recording elders and crafts people speaking in Ojibwe about their work. These videos will be transcribed, translated and snippets eventually included in the GRASAC database.