Staff & Board

Email: Kimvigue@gichigamiin.org

Kim is a citizen of the Oneida Nation and a descendant of the Menominee Nation, bringing over 25 years of experience in advocating for Indigenous communities. She has worked extensively with tribal organizations, federal agencies, and nonprofits to promote the well-being of Native American populations, with a particular focus on health and community engagement. Previously, Kim served as the Communications Director for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education and managed several tribal health programs and initiatives within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She currently serves on the boards of Northwestern University’s Block Museum and Visionary Ventures, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing equitable housing opportunities for Chicago’s Native American community. Kim joined the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum in October 2021.

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.

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.

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 was: Stunning Stories in Native American Jewelry.

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.

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.

E-mail: teagan.harris@gichigamiin.org

Teagan is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and works in collections and repatriation at the museum. Her role is to connect the museum with Indigenous communities represented in the collection and nurture ongoing accountability and meaningful connections. Teagan is always happy to discuss science fiction, the decolonization of museum collections, or embroidery, or to be a friendly face. Feel free to reach out to Teagan if you’re interested in visiting the collection.