Staff & Board
The Gichigamiin Museum’s mission is supported through a small, active board and staff that works to share the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of Native communities from the Chicagoland area and beyond.
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum Board of Directors
Officers
- Stephanie Perdew, President, Cherokee Nation
- George Stevenson, Vice President, Cherokee Nation
- Andrew Johnson, Treasurer, Cherokee
- Carol LaMar, Secretary, Seminole/Cherokee
- Jan Berkson, Life Director
Board Members
- Tom Berreth, Gwich’in, Athabaskan
- April Chancellor, Potawatomi
- Noah Cruickshank
- Daniel Guzman-King, Oneida
- Susan Kelsey
- Melvin Masquat, Navajo, Winnebago, Kickapoo
- Joyce Niederman
- Susan Salisbury
- George Strack, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum Staff
Kim Vigue
Executive Director
Email: Kimvigue@gichigamiin.org
Kim brings over 20 years of experience working on behalf of many leading tribal organizations, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities to develop and deliver culturally relevant initiatives and programming designed to improve the well-being of Native children, families, and communities. Kim is also the founder of Wolf River Consulting Group and previously served as the Communications Director at the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education. Kim is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation and a descendant of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin. She joined the Gichigamiin Museum in October 2021.
Josee Starr
Director of Operations
E-mail: JStarr@gichigamiin.org
Josee is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes) of North Dakota and also represents the Omaha Nation of Nebraska and Wiikwemkoong First Nation from Ontario, Canada. She grew up in the greater Chicago American Indian Community, learning her culture and traditional values. She has worked as an independent artist, and her background is in Cultural Education. She has been with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum since December 2019.
Joseph Gackstetter
Development Director
E-mail: JGackstetter@gichigamiin.org
Born in Rockford, IL, Joseph went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and History at Southern Illinois University and a Master’s Degree in Museum and Artifact Studies at Durham University in the UK.
Rachel Niemann
Bookkeeper
E-mail: Bookkeeper@gichigamiin.org
Rachel is a local, growing up and currently residing in Evanston, IL. She joined the museum in 2015, after visiting the museum with her daughter. Rachel enjoys the educational aspect of the museum. Her favorite exhibit is: Stunning Stories in Native American Jewelry.
Camille Billie
Garden Manager
E-mail: Camille.billie@gichigamiin.org
Camille “Katahtu’ntha” Billie is the Garden Manager at the Gichigamiin Museum and is a member of Oneida Nation, Wisconsin. She’s also an alum of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a degree in Studio Fine Arts with an emphasis in Designed Objects. Outside of the Museum, she is a working artist.
Michael Lamble
Visitor Services & Programs Manager
E-mail: mlamble@gichigamiin.org
Born and raised in Chicago, Michael earned his BA in History from Northwestern University, his MA in History from Loyola University Chicago, and his MA in Museology from the University of Washington. His background is in living history interpretation and hands-on educational programming. He is excited to help the public connect with the rich histories and narratives of the Native cultures of the Great Lakes.