D. K. Sprague

David Sprague (D.K.) has served in the capacity of Tribal Chairman since the Tribe began the federal acknowledgment process in 1992. His leadership was instrumental in achieving federal acknowledgment. David has been active in the Native American community for many years and is looked upon with admiration and respect. He is a veteran of the US Army and served six years of active duty and one tour in Vietnam. Our chairman has volunteered his services to the American Red Cross to assist in thirteen disasters worldwide. Chairman Sprague represents the Bradley voting district.

Ed Pigeon

Ed Pigeon is currently serving as Vice-Chairman and has been on the Tribal Council since 1999. Ed is a member of the Pigeon Family, Heritage award winners known for their Black Ash Basketry. Ed has over 10 years of involvement in cultural presentations and teaching activities throughout Michigan. Ed is currently employed as the Gun Lake Language and Cultural Coordinator, and in the course of his job provides language instruction through formal classes and in cultural workshops integrating language components. 

Ed has helped shape the direction and growth of the Tribal Government during his time on Tribal Council. Ed sits on the Health & Human services, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental, Tax Agreement, Tribal Roads, Public Safety, and the Development Board for our casino project. Ed is also a board member for the Kalamazoo Poverty Reduction Initiative. Ed represents the Salem voting district.

Ardis Badger

Ardis Badger is the Council secretary and has served on the Council since 1999. Ardis retired from Spectrum Health (formerly Butterworth) after 30 years as a surgical technologist. She is now employed in the Tribal office as the Enrollment Clerk. Her knowledge of Tribal history has proved her to be a valuable asset. Ardis represents the Bradley voting district and graduated from Martin High School.

Coleen Nessner

Coleen Nessner had served on Tribal Council since 2004, just recently re-elected for her second term. She currently serves as the Treasurer to the Council. Coleen represents the At-Large District. Coleen also serves on the Housing Committee and has been an active committee member since 2001. She also serves as the Chairperson for the Elder’s Committee and is a voting delegate; representing the Tribe at the Michigan Indian Elders Association meetings which take place 3x a year. Coleen takes great pride in her work for the Tribe, carrying on the family name and traditions left behind by “Aunt Lou”. On top of Coleen’s committee work, she volunteers every year as the Host of the Tribe’s Christmas parties for both children and adults. She is active with all tribal fund raising events and can always be seen helping in the kitchen and where ever else there is a need.

Phyllis Davis

Tribal Councilwoman, Phyllis Davis, currently resides in the Grand Valley region west of Standale Michigan. Elected to Tribal Council August 2008 to represent the At-Large District for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan. Phyllis is married to Monte Davis Sr and has two sons, Jeffery and Monte Jr. Phyllis is a very proud and grateful grandmother of three, Tristell, Blade and Gracie and finds the greatest joy in life are in spending time with her grandkids and family. Phyllis has worked for the tribe since May 1998 and was instrumental in the program development of the Tribal Health and Human Services Department. Phyllis has a true desire to see improvements in access to health care, to elevate the health status of American Indians and reduce the disparities that American Indians are challenged with daily. As an advocate for health care Phyllis has taken a proactive approach to addressing these needs, by promoting collaborations with tribal nations, local, regional and federal agencies to promote and educate our partners on issues related to American Indian health and human service gaps and to find solutions that will have the best outcome for our nation. She currently sits as Co-Chair for the Michigan Tribal Health Directors Association, the Resource Allocation committee for the Bemidji Area and is an alternate board member for the National American Indian/Alaskan Native Health Research Advisory Council.

Lorraine "Punkin" Shananaquet

Punkin Shananaquet represents the Salem voting district in Allegan County and has served on Tribal Council since 2008.

Punkin is currently employed as a Community Health Representative for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Health & Human Services since 2002.

Punkin is a lifelong resident of Allegan County and graduated from Hopkins High School in 1979.

I have served our Tribe by being a member of the Luella Collins Community Center Task Force Committee and currently serve as a committee member for the Education Department.

I, along with the Indian Women Community Task Force representing the greater Grand Rapids Indian Community created the Pink Shawl Project and is in its 6th year of creation to raise awareness for Breast Health Awareness and Education. It is now been embraced by many nations on Turtle Island and was presented to the World Indigenous People’s Conference on Education in Aortoeroa – Hamilton, New Zealand in 2005.

I believe in the spiritual philosophy of the Anishinabek Nation and one that follows a seasonal cycle of ceremonies as a Second Degree member of the Three Fires Midewin Society. Punkin also holds title to “Midewaunakwe” or Keeper of the Water Bundle Teachings for the Center Fire. The Water Bundle is passed down from generation to generation and along with her daughter and mother is responsible for the lifting of our sacred water while ceremonies are in session.

My interests are a culmination of who I am and how I was raised. I am a traditional woman dancer, beadwork artist, and work to reclaim our original language and culture.

My greatest achievements are being a mother, daughter, sister and auntie. I have been with my life partner David for 28 years and we share two adult children; Paul; 27 and Carly; 25.

I look forward to a future where we all understand the concept of the sacredness of life and well being and the Seven Generations yet to come.

Ni Kani nigaa  “All my Relations”

Becky Baker

Rebecca (Becky) Baker was elected to the Tribal Council in 2010 to represent the Bradley District. Becky has resided in the Bradley/Wayland area her entire life and graduated from Wayland Union High School. She continued her education by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Baker College. Becky is employed in the Tribe’s Health Human Services Department.

Becky and her husband Don are the proud parents of three-year-old twins named Dominik and Haven. The twins already participate in tribal culture through naming ceremonies, pow-wows, and other tribal events. Becky’s mother is Sharon (Sprague) Near. Growing up in the Bradley Settlement (Mission) Becky learned traditional values from her grandparents Fred and Leona Sprague.

Becky is very excited that the Tribe is beginning to return home to the Bradley Settlement. Her family is very involved in community events which include the Bradley Indian Cemetery clean-up, tree planting, Michigan Indian Family Olympics, Pink Shawl Project, and the Allegan County float and parade. Becky also played for the Tribe’s softball team the last 2 seasons.

While pursuing a college degree Becky dreamed of serving the Tribe to give back to the tribal community that has given so much to her. Principles that guide Becky’s service include; achieving self-sufficiency, retaining the culture, and caring for the elders and youth.

Representing the Bradley District is a privilege that allows Becky to help create a stable ground for future generations to move the Tribe forward, while building on the foundations left by the Elders.