Tale of Told Feelings
“As I poured out my desire for him, he grabbed his hands back. His face fell and he couldn’t look at me.”
Creative Nonfiction
In Print
Nonfiction
Student 2025
Writing Contest Winners
Stronger Through Courage
“All I could think about was saving the life of my children as I could hear the kitchen knife drawer opening…”
Earn Every Word
The acclaimed First Nations author offers words of inspiration and presents his top creative writing selections from the 2024 student contest.
Medicines in the Ground
“Upholding the values of land connection, resource stewardship, and gratitude, we acknowledge Mother Earth’s role in sustaining our well-being.”
A Kinaalda Blessing Inspired by My Grandmother
“My grandmother told me, ‘The songs are about how the Earth, sky, and mountains are connected. When you run towards the horizon it is a great blessing to the Holy People.’”
Ádééhonílzin (To Know Yourself)
“I sat in the corner of the classroom looking through the pages of books, flowing like the water during those monsoon thunderstorms.”
Environmental DNA and PCR Protocol
Justice Black Williams of Northwest Indian College sequenced and analyzed environmental DNA, which is an important part of natural resource management in tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest.
CT Scans for Manufacturing
Through her internship at Navajo Technical University’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Deirdra Deswood utilized a CT scanner to inspect additive manufacturing pieces without damaging them. Deirdra and her mentor, Dr. Scott Halliday, believe this technology will be vital to health and economic improvements for Native communities in the future.
Brook Trout Sustainability
Zelina Huhta, with an AIHEC internship and USDA funding, studied the impact of stream water temperatures on the long-term sustainability of brook trout in northern Michigan. Mentored by Dr. Bob Rabin and Dr. Andrew Kozich, Zelina’s work sheds light on the importance of preserving this significant food source for Native communities.
Water Toxin Exploration
Joshua Robinson, a student at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, along with environmental science chair Dr. Andrew Kozich, sampled spring and well water around Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The research aimed to identify, compare, and understand the presence of toxins in these crucial water sources.