Tribal Council Chairperson: Laura W. Spurr
I am a full-blooded Native American, and one-half Nottawaseppi Huron Potawatomi. After graduating from Athens High School, I enrolled in the University of Michigan, and was awarded a B.S. in Nursing in 1967. I began my nursing career at the University of Michigan hospital. For more than 40 years, I have worked as a nurse in different practice settings in the cities of New York, Washington, D.C, Chicago, and now back in Michigan. In these hospitals I have practiced at different levels of administration with the responsibility for supervision and directing patient care. I have also taught nursing at different times in my career, and while working in Chicago I completed the course work for a master’s degree from DePaul University with a double major in nursing administration and education. I have not completed the thesis for this requirement.
I have always believed it is important to contribute to the community where I live. While in Washington, I served as Chair of the Personnel Committee for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, was on the D.C. Government Committee of the League of Women Voters, and was active in the Metropolitan Hospital Organization. I have always been involved in the schools of our children, serving on parents’ boards, mothers’ clubs, and in various volunteer positions. The Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church has played a major role in my family’s life. For about ten years I took a youth group from the Church on Sunday to the Coalition on Temporary Shelters, a homeless shelter in Detroit. I also represent the Tribe as one of two EPA Region 5 Representatives to the National Tribal Operations Committee (NTOC).
For 36 years I have been married to Steve, a Professor of Economics at Wayne State University. We have two sons, Nathaniel, 30, and Josiah, 22. Nathaniel graduated from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York with a BA in statistics and an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Josiah graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts and now works in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I have encouraged Nathaniel and Josiah to learn the history, customs and language of the Tribe, and to participate often in the Tribe’s activities. They have been to many tribal gatherings and pow-wows, and to the annual Potawatomi Gatherings.
Contact Information:
Laura W. Spurr
Tribal Council Chairperson
269-729-5151
lspurr@nhbpi.com
Tribal Council Vice-Chairperson: Homer A. Mandoka
My name is Homer Austin Mandoka and I have been serving our tribe as an elected council member since November 2002. Because of the support from my family, I’m able to commit to tribal service. They are my sunshine and I want to thank them!
Over the past five years, our tribe has achieved great accomplishments. I have listened carefully to your needs and we have planned accordingly for tribal growth and development. You don’t have to look far to see tribal goals are being met. Our proudest accomplishment is giving you clean audits, not just once but 4 years in a row. No more high risk for us, ahow!
Now we enjoy numerous grant awards to fund projects. When a grant is awarded to our tribe, we strive to complete the grant project on time and within budget. Grant management is key for tribal credibility. Our infrastructure planning keeps the tribe growing and developing in housing, health, roads, education, environment, court, social and behavioral health. At Pine Creek, you will see a $1 million Community Outreach Center is under construction and $1.1 million Health Clinic is in the design phase. We will remain committed to provide our tribe the best opportunity for growth and development.
Now, our tribe is gaining Self-determination and we must focus on the process that leads us toward tribal sovereignty.
Contact Information:
Homer A. Mandoka
Tribal Council Vice-Chairperson
269-729-5151
mandokaha@charter.net
Tribal Council Treasurer: Jamie Stuck
Currently, I am a Fitness Specialist at Borgess Health and Fitness Center. I am also a contracted Fitness Specialist with Borgess CorpFit. I specialize in the functional assessment and program design for people experiencing neurological, spine, orthopedic, and pelvic dysfunctions. I also have experience with Neuromuscular Therapy.
It is an honor to be able to represent the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (NHBP) as the Treasurer of the Tribal Council and the Firekeepers Development Authority. I currently serve as the Chairperson and Secretary of the Election Board, as a Member of the Tribal Justice Advisory Committee, and as a board member of the Potawatomi Resource Conservation and Development Council. I am also active in the editing process of the Turtle Press Newsletter.
So far, my first term has been a phenomenal learning and growing experience. It has been a privilege to be a part of the many accomplishments the Tribe has achieved and I appreciate all the Tribal Members and NHBP Staff who have helped pave the way. Even though the Tribe has overcome several obstacles, there are still more ahead of us. I will keep my Oath of Office and do my part to ensure the NHBP remain on the path to growth and progress for the future of our Tribe.
Contact Information:
Jamie Stuck
Tribal Council Treasurer
269-729-5151
stuckfu@yahoo.com
Tribal Council Secretary: RoAnn Beebe
I am the oldest of six (6) children, my parents are Raymond and Patricia Beebe. My father Raymond is a member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Potawatomi and my mother Patricia is a member of the Sault Saint Marie tribe. I was born in July of 1957, I have two (2) children Joshua and Hilery and I have five (5) grandchildren.
I graduated from Grand Haven High School; I played basketball, was on the gymnastics team, diving team and was on the track and field team. I refereed men’s basketball and taught gymnastics at the Y.M.C.A. in Grand Haven. I was in food service for about 24 years. I am a trader along with my mom – we set up a booth at most of the Pow-Wows in Michigan. I live with my husband Kenneth A. Mohr. We like in West Olive, Michigan and have 2 dogs named Nikki and Shadow.
I’ve been the Tribal Council Secretary since September 2003. I will try to use my best abilities to uphold our Constitution and work towards the betterment of our Tribe and its membership. May the Great Spirit guide all of us to make the right decisions.
Contact Information:
RoAnn Beebe-Mohr
Tribal Council Secretary
269-729-5151
roannotter@wmconnect.com
Tribal Council Sergeant-at-Arms: Henry “Tiq” Bush, Jr.
As a Tribal Council Member, I will be bringing to bear my lifetime of work experiences, my life skills and my knowledge of our Culture and Language in order to help my fellow Council Members increase the quality of life for all our Tribal Members. I graduated with the Class of 1966 at Creston High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1969 and was Honorably Discharged in 1971. I graduated from Western Michigan University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.
I have worked in social services programs for the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inter-Tribal Council of Grand Rapids, the Hannahville Pottawatomi Tribe, the NANA Corporation in Kotzebue, Alaska, the Pokagon Pottawatomi Indians, and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. In my lifetime I have worked as a produce harvester, a newspaper delivery boy, a printer, a commercial fisherman, a laborer in building and boat construction, a builder of office furniture, a maintenance custodian, a security guard, a machine and automotive maintenance and repair, and a school teacher.
More recently, I have completed training from the Grantsmanship Center in researching and writing grants, as well as Tribal Employment Rights Officer training. I have completed training as a Mediator from the Eastern upper Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center and I am certified as a Trauma Counselor from the Trauma and Loss in Children Institute of Detroit.
I have been active all my life in Anishnabeg celebrations and ceremonies. I have participated in Pow Wows all over North America. I have drummed and sang, danced and MC’ed, and served on pow wow planning committees. I have served as an advisor or Board Member to Kotzehue City Council, Minitrista Council in Muncie, Indiana, Eideljorg Museum of Western and American Indian Art in Indianapolis, Indiana, South Bend School Corporation, and the Grand Rapids Museum.
With my work experience, life skills and commitment to community activities, I believe that I’m very well qualified to serve as a Tribal Council Member.
Contact Information:
Henry “Tiq” Bush, Jr.
Tribal Council Sergeant-at-Arms
269-729-5151
tiqwalking@hotmail.com