The Sharing the Story group works to inform the public about of this project through a documentary film, podcast, and other storytelling methods.
Johnnie Jae is an Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw multimedia journalist, artist, speaker, advocate, and most importantly, a community builder. Their belief in the power of representation is a driving force. It propels them to work diligently, creating pathways for more authentic Native representation while amplifying Indigenous voices and addressing critical issues facing Native communities. Jae is the founder of A Tribe Called Geek, an award-winning media platform for Indigenous Geek Culture and STEM. As a lifelong Indigenerd, Jae wanted to create a platform to highlight and celebrate Indigenous peoples’ contributions and achievements in Pop Culture and STEM. It was also their hope A Tribe Called Geek would also foster an inclusive community for Indigenerds to connect, collaborate and support one another, creating a sense of belonging.
In addition to their work with A Tribe Called Geek, Jae has made significant contributions as a writer, editor, podcaster, commentator, and producer for various media outlets. They have written articles, provided commentary, and produced content for Truthout, Native Max Magazine, Real News Network, Prism, Complex, Last Real Indians, CBC, and more. Johnnie Jae’s advocacy work extends far beyond journalism. They are a tireless advocate for Indigenous and Human Rights, with a personal focus on disability justice. Openly discussing their own struggles with Lupus and mental health, they aim to break the silence and stigma that prevent others from receiving the care and help they need. They have also co-founded Not Your Mascots and LiveIndigenousOK to address the misappropriation of Indigenous imagery and histories through Native mascots and stereotypes. Additionally, they are a co-founding member of the Fan Organizer Coalition, a community of fan organizers passionate about the power of fan activism for social change.
Katie Nieland is the Associate Director and Communications Coordinator for the Center for Great Plains Studies. At the Center since 2013, she focuses on communicating the story of the Great Plains through different disciplines, storytellers, and media. She’s also involved in planning the Center’s programming, carrying out conferences, lectures, and more. Besides her work at the Center, Nieland is also an artist, taking part in local shows and markets regularly. You can find her illustrated work in HAD, The New Territory, Rumpus, and The Offing. Nieland is a former journalist with the Chicago Tribune and the Lincoln Journal Star with a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in education administration from UNL.
Alison Cloet is the Education and Outreach Associate at the Center for Great Plains Studies (CGPS) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She will provide administrative support for the project, including scheduling meetings, circulating meeting agendas, taking notes at meetings, booking meeting venues, coordinating supplies and logistics for meetings, and planning and organizing events associated with the project. Cloet came to CGPS in August 2022 after receiving her M.S. in Apparel Studies from the University of Minnesota in 2022 and her B.S. in Textile and Apparel Design from UNL in 2019. In graduate school, she gained experience in interdisciplinary design research for wearable medical products using 3D scanning. However, in lieu of following this path for her thesis, Cloet began to specialize in museum studies and 3D technologies to study experiential and object-based learning for all ages. Throughout her education, Cloet has taken an interest in understanding how art and design intersects with other disciplines to inform and shape learning. In her current position with CGPS, Cloet is working to merge art education and environmental education in the community to enhance appreciation for and conservation of the Great Plains and its diverse peoples, places, and cultures.
Megan Elliott is the founding director of the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts and is the Johnny Carson Endowed Director in Emerging Media Arts. She was previously the manager of leadership and community connections at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia and former director and CEO of digital media think-tank X Media Lab. Elliott is currently serving as AR/VR coordinator for the Worlds of Connections project led by Dr. Julia McQuillan and funded by NIH SEPA (Science Education Partnership Award). This project is developing dynamic learning activities and building partnerships between middle school youth, NIH-funded network scientists, learning research and educators to increase awareness of and interest in network science for health.
Rebekka Schlichting, an enrolled member of the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Rebekka Schlichting is a filmmaker and co-owner of Deer Woman Productions. In 2023, she directed, produced and wrote the documentary Seed Warriors, which will broadcast on Nebraska Stories and PBS Digital Studios on May 18. The world premiere was held at the world Indigenous Maoriland Film Festival in New Zealand, and it is playing at various festivals in the U.S.
Rebekka is also an assistant professor of the practice at the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications where she teaches writing, ethics, and a variety of video classes. She’s an adjunct for Nebraska Indian Community College where she teaches multimedia journalism. She co-directs the KU School of Journalism summer Native Storytelling Workshop for Native American high school students. She serves on the Lawrence Arts and Culture Commission, the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska Culture Committee and heads the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska Annual Powwow.
Annette Arkeketa is an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and is also Muscogee Creek. Arkeketa is founder of Hokte Productions, an independent film and video production company where she is the producer, writer, director, videographer, photographer, and editor.
“I am honored to be on the production team with Deer Woman Productions as one of the Producers for Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors documentary and to be included on the advisory committee as a filmmaker. This project gives me the opportunity to do the things I love in this life. I get to share time with my Otoe-Missouria relatives, learn more about our history, walk upon our traditional homelands, visit our precious waterways, hear the rich clan and family stories that our tribal members hold dear, document our history and traditions, and share our values and culture with our tribe, collaborators on this project and the world. This project and the documentary of this project are for our children and future generations to have and to build upon as Jiwere-Nutache. “
Arkeketa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma; a Master of Arts (MA) in Interdisciplinary Studies in English, TV-Film Communications and Marketing, from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi University; and Associate Arts (AA) in Digital Cinema Production, Oklahoma City Community College.
Candice Dalsing is an award-winning Director/Producer based in Los Angeles, CA. As a part of the LGBTQ+ community and a descendant of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, she is known for her unwavering commitment to inclusive storytelling. With a career spanning over a decade in the film industry, Candice has become a pivotal figure in bringing to light the nuanced narratives of underrepresented communities. Her work, characterized by its depth, authenticity, and innovative approach, aims not only to entertain but to provoke thought and foster understanding across diverse audiences. Candice's portfolio boasts a variety of projects, including feature films, documentaries, short films and music videos each reflecting her dedication to diversity and inclusivity. Her films have garnered acclaim on both national and international platforms, earning awards and nominations for their impactful storytelling and innovative themes. She is also Co-Owner of Deer Woman Productions which is a non profit Native/women run production company.
Beyond her work behind the camera, Candice is an active advocate for Native American, LGBTQ+ rights and their representation in the media. She frequently collaborates with nonprofit organizations, conducts workshops, and participates in panel discussions, striving to create a more inclusive industry.
Kevin Mahler has 15+ years of nonprofit leadership experience, working with a wide variety of organizations in all stages of the nonprofit lifecycle. He is the founder of Contributed Line, LLC, a consultancy in Omaha, Neb., which provides counsel in organizational development. Mahler earned a Master’s Degree from Michigan State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Iowa. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Grant Professionals Association Nebraska Chapter and The New Territory Magazine. Kevin served as the event project manager for the Indigenous Peoples Summit in 2022, 2023, and 2024.