Art Form: Storytelling and Pottawatomi/Bodéwadmi tribal leadership

Location(s): Hopkins (Allgean County)

Bill Church

Portrait of Bill Church

Bill Church (b. 1945) has worked tirelessly in support of Native people throughout the state of Michigan. A member of the Gun Lake Tribe/Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Bill’s work as head of the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs helped shaped Michigan Indian Policy. He led the campaign to ensure funding for a Native tuition waiver to attend public colleges and universities statewide. Six tribes were recognized during his tenure, and his research was instrumental in the recognition of three more upon retirement. He founded Native Pathways newspaper in the 1970s, as well as directed and hosted the first Native television programs in the state, The Woodland Way and Spirit in the Sky. An avid tribal historian, Bill helped to revitalize Native communities in the Straits of Mackinac in the 1980s through the organization of traditional youth camps and the collection and publication of oral histories.

In addition to his experience as a community organizer and documentarian, Bill is a skilled storyteller. His knowledge of tribal history dating to the early 1800s allows him to combine historical information with the oral histories he has collected from fellow community members, making for compelling and detailed narration. His daughter and nominator, National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow Kelly Church, writes, “He is our gift of historical knowledge and keeper of stories and Michigan Native treasure. His love for his fellow Anishnabe has ensured policies, programs, education, history, and the culture of his people for many generations to come. For him, we are grateful.”

- Micah Ling, 2020