BELINDA (LIN) BARDWELL

As a proud tribal citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of the Odawa Indians, Belinda (Lin) Bardwell has spent her adult life working to improve the lives of Native Americans. She believes in integrating traditional teachings with today’s principles to see Native Americans excel. In order to accomplish this, she values cultural exchange so that non-Natives get a better understanding of Indigenous culture and knowledge.

 Lin’s pathways have included her work in education, economic development, and environmental issues. In education, she transitioned from working with Native youth in elementary grades to developing and managing Native programs in higher education.  A former tribal council member, she now sits on her tribe’s economic development corporation. A strong proponent of preserving Mother Earth for the next seven generations led to her work in Standing Rock and to being board president of a local environmental council.

 Lin holds both a Bachelor of Science focused on cultural sustainability and tribal sovereignty, as well as a Master of Public Administration degree.