Description: Human trafficking (HT), including the Missing Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) crisis, affects individuals, families, and communities in unique and profound ways. Education on this form of violence—scope, risk factors, and resulting impact—is important for multidisciplinary providers. However, efforts often remain stuck in repetitious horror and harm discussions rather than solutions. Likewise, many anti-trafficking and MMIR efforts result in re-exploitation and re-traumatization.
Now, more than ever, it is critical that we responsibly reflect, honor lived experiences, humbly seek reconciliation, establish alliances, unite our voices, build capacity, and engage effectively.
Rooted in Native tradition, this keynote will utilize vulnerable storytelling and a modeling of therapeutic narrative practices to share lived and professional expertise. Aligned with Indigenous values of sharing experiences, wisdom, and resources for the greater good of all our relatives, participants will be invited to consider effective strategies to not only combat HT/MMIR but promote well-being. Ultimately, if open to exploration, participants will gain invaluable insights on the power of Innaisstsisini; on the good medicine of collective care, community collaboration, curating kinship, and journeying alongside victims-survivors-overcomers-thrivers in a manner that fosters healing, promotes justice, and empowers transformational—kaleidoscopic prosperity.
Participants will:
Dr. Roswurm is more than her degrees, professional titles, and accomplishments. She is a survivor, thriver, and overcomer. She is a wife, mother, sister-friend, dancer, gardener, chef, and roller-skating warrior queen. Like an eagle, she inspires and casts vision. Like a servant gardener, dependent upon the control of our Creator, she awakens and cultivates the autonomous leader in others. Like a navigating companion, she humbly offers resources as she walks alongside survivors she is honored to know. Like a lotus, despite pain and fear, she leans in and strives. And like a 5am alarm playing a rhythmic “fight song,” Dr. Roswurm mobilizes others to act with conscious courage in efforts to empower safety, opportunity, justice, and kaleidoscopic prosperity for all.
Description: This session will explain Indian country jurisdiction and will discuss why some cases go to federal court while others are handled in state or tribal court instead.
Roy Kranz is an Assistant United States Attorney with over 28 years of experience prosecuting cases. He has specialized in Indian country cases since 2009. The focus of his casework involves physical and sexual assaults committed against women and children, including domestic violence. He graduated 8th in his class from Thomas Cooley Law School in 1998. He received a Director’s Award in 2014 from the Executive Office of the United States Attorney for Superior Performance in Indian County. He was also named as the 2006 Prosecutor of the Year by the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee and the International Association of Arson Investigators for his work in an arson-related murder case. In his free time Roy enjoys hiking, cycling, and canyoneering.
Frank Ettawageshik is a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and a longtime Tribal leader. He served 16 years in elected Tribal office, including 14 years as Chairman, and currently serves as an appellate justice for the Tribal Court. Since 2009, he has been Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan and brings more than 40 years of experience in Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous rights, and Great Lakes protection.
Description: Interactive conversation with panel discussion
Steven Beatty is an attorney with more than 30 years of experience in criminal law, prosecution, and providing law-enforcement legal guidance. He is a legal advisor to the Michigan State Police (MSP) and serves as the department’s Tribal Liaison, providing guidance to command staff and personnel on investigations, law enforcement authority, policy, and state and federal legal requirements. He also coordinates department legal instruction and training, publishes MSP Legal Updates, and serves as a primary content editor for Criminal Law & Procedure—A Manual for Michigan Police Officers. Prior to joining the MSP in 2013, Mr. Beatty was a prosecutor and trial attorney litigating a wide variety of violent crimes including homicide, torture, violence against children, sex offenses, and other complex cases.
Matthew Wesaw is the Tribal Council Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana. The Pokagon Band is the only federally recognized tribe in Michigan with territory in both Michigan and Indiana. Originally from Bangor, Michigan, Chairman Wesaw has dedicated his career to public service. He joined the Michigan State Police in 1975 and served until his retirement from enlisted service in 2001. He later served as Director of Government Relations for the Troopers Association, where he represented the interests of Michigan State Police troopers until his retirement in March 2008. In 2009, Chairman Wesaw was elected to his first term as Tribal Chairman and has continued to serve his tribal community in that role.
Description: Hearing from survivors on their experience and challenges with the criminal justice system. Themes that will be discussed are challenges of being an MMIP family member, recriminalization of human trafficking survivors, and the impact trauma has on individuals. The goal is to center attendees in the work with hearing from survivors.
Katie Green is a human trafficking survivor and a proud Choctaw Nation descendant. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Clinically Certified Human Trafficking Victims Services Provider. She is the vice chair of the Attorney Generals Michigan Human Trafficking commission. Katie has her own therapy private practice with Life Support Counseling and Coaching, LLC in Grand Rapids, MI. She also has her own consulting business, KTP Empowerment with the goal to provide education to all health and mental health care professionals on human trafficking response.
Alice Johnson is the Founder/Director of theopengateway.org and the Sister Survivors Social Media Connect. She provides supportive services to survivors and direct assistance to victims of trafficking. She has 15 years of outreach, case management, and group facilitation experience. Alice is a human trafficking specialist at Avalon healing center and resident specialist for Haven Homes. She is a published Author of 3 books on survivor curriculum and youth prevention, as well as her own personal journey, Out of the Darkness: A Survivor's Story.
Brigette J. Robarge is an award-winning advocacy consultant, founder, and legally recognized survivor of human trafficking. In 2026, she received a full pardon from the Governor of Wisconsin, marking a new chapter of freedom. She has trained more than 10,000 people and pioneered initiatives in education, housing, and policy. Brigette serves on Michigan’s Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board and is the 2025 Sacred Beginnings Harriet Tubman Survivor of the Year. She uses her lived experience to educate, advocate, and empower survivors.
Margaret Velazquez is a certified subject matter expert and human rights consultant with extensive experience in domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She has served as a children’s rights advocate and independent consultant, with a specialty in legislation and public policy. Margaret brings her expertise and advocacy experience to advancing policies and practices that protect and support survivors and children.
Marie Willis feels blessed to have served her tribal community, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, both on and off for the past 30 years. She currently serves as a Transitions Case Worker with the Tribal Victim Services Program within the Department of Social Services, where she supports individuals and families navigating transitions and accessing resources and services.
Description: JoAnne currently is developing a potential model Peacemaking Circle (Healing Circle) to use in domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking crimes when the victims are Native American and to train interested Tribes and other qualified individuals to conduct peacemaking circles in these cases. She will provide information on Peacemaking Circles, Community Circles, and highlight the project and purposes.
JoAnne Cook is a citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa/Chippewa Indians (GTB) and has been a peacemaker for over 25 years. She was a team leader in the development of the Peacemaking Court at GTB and has continued to conduct Peacemaking circles, presenting, and training other communities. In addition, JoAnne continues to work in tribal courts as a tribal court judge.
Description: A Panel Discussion of the Creation and Implementation in Bay Mills Indian Community Response plan.
Raised on the Bay Mills Indian Reservation, Chief Ronald Carrick began a career in law enforcement as a Police Officer with the Bay Mills Police Department in June 1991. In 1998, Chief Carrick joined the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, where he served until retiring in 2018. Following retirement, Chief Carrick returned to law enforcement as Chief of Police, continuing a career dedicated to serving and protecting the community.
Janet Farrish-Gravelle, LMSW, serves as the Director of Mashkawizii Community & Family Services and the Mashkawizii Child Advocacy Center for the Bay Mills Indian Community. She has extensive experience in child welfare, victim services, advocacy, and developing trauma-informed programs for Native children, adults, and families. Janet is committed to strengthening community partnerships, improving systems of response, and ensuring that the voices and needs of Native victims and families remain at the center of this work.
Nikki Nelson is a citizen of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and serves as the Crime Victim/Legal Advocate for the Bay Mills Indian Community. With more than 20 years in victim services, Nikki’s work is grounded in supporting Indigenous victims and families while navigating the complex systems that surround violence, justice, and MMIP. She serves as Bay Mills’ community point of contact for MMIP efforts and as a member of the Michigan Attorney General’s MMIP Task Force. Her work is guided by a deep commitment to strengthening community response, honoring families, and ensuring Indigenous people are not forgotten.
Shannon Jones is a citizen of Bay Mills Indian Community, and has worked for the tribe for more than 20 years. She provides media guidance to all tribal departments and coordinates communications on their behalf. Additionally, she teaches Native Studies at Bay Mills Community College. She holds graduate degrees from Central Michigan University & Southern New Hampshire University. Jones manages all media communications for the MMIP Plan.
Description: The Blueprint for Safety is both a plan and a method to enhance and improve a community’s response to domestic violence. The Blueprint for Safety is grounded in 35 years of experience and research into what makes for an effective criminal legal system response to domestic violence crimes. The Blueprint for Safety was developed by Praxis International and was first implemented in St. Paul Minnesota. It has been replicated in a number of jurisdictions around the country, including Marquette County, MI.
Judge Wiese’s primary duties are to serve as the Family Court Judge for Marquette County. He previously served as a prosecutor for over 30 years, and was the elected Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney from 2012 through 2023. As a prosecutor, he specialized in prosecuting domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes of personal violence. During his legal career, he also worked as a civilian contractor with the United States Marine Corps, Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence Project, and as a staff attorney with the Battered Women’s Justice Project.
Description: Visit the Walking Together Finding Common Ground Traveling Exhibit and learn about the Michigan-based experience of the Indian School Service, which is now being acknowledged by church leadership as not only crimes against humanity but our first mass generated MMIP effort. This exhibit is a collaborative effort between the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan and Beaumier Heritage Center of Northern Michigan University.
Miskopwaaganikwe – Leora Tadgerson is a proud citizen of Gnoozhikaaning, Bay Mills, MI. She serves as Director of Reparations and Justice and Creative Director of the Walking Together Finding Common Ground Traveling Exhibit, both with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. Leora’s role is focusing on truth-telling, racial equity through restorative justice action, reconciliation research from the Native American boarding school era, and place-based community work/bridge-building as a tribal liaison. Her research involves the Michigan-based Indian boarding school experience and the Episcopal investigation across the US, where she serves as co-chair for the Truth, Healing & Justice Commission on Native Boarding Schools for The Episcopal Church. Through Leora’s research, she hopes to aid in the healing of Native hearts.
Description: This session will cover MMIP/R advocacy support specifically related to search and rescues (bundles) on the community level.
Tina Lightfoot (Zhaawin Noodin n’dizhnikaaz, Maiingan doodem, Anishinaabe and Japanese kwe n’daaw) serves as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People/Relatives (MMIP/R) Policy Analyst and Advocate within Tribal Government Services and Policy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Central Michigan University and has more than 10 years of experience advocating alongside Native families and communities. In her current role, Tina is dedicated to advancing justice, accountability, and visibility for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and their families. She remains committed to honoring our relatives, uplifting their stories, and ensuring their voices are heard in spaces where they have too often been overlooked or silenced.
