The Native Cultures of the Americas Seminar - LOCAL CHALLENGES TO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY: A CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION CASE STUDY

LOCAL CHALLENGES TO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY: A CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION CASE STUDY

SPEAKER: KELLI MOSTELLER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM

Dr. Kelli Mosteller has served as the Executive Director of the Harvard University Native American Program since the summer of 2022. In her role, she works with Harvard students, faculty, staff, and the public toward the mission of supporting programming that fosters education, scholarship, and builds community, and collaborative efforts that advance research and the well- being of Indigenous communities.

Before her time at Harvard, she was the Executive Director for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) from 2010 to 2022. During her tenure, she oversaw the tribe’s cultural services including a museum, cultural classes and programming, tribal archives, and historic preservation. She also led her team in a multi-year renovation of the CHC’s exhibits, resulting in the museum’s recognition as a Top Ten Native Cultural Center in the U.S. by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums in 2020.

As a tribal citizen, her most cherished role over the years has been as a mentor for Citizen Potawatomi youth, facilitator of women’s ceremonies, and auntie to the eagles at the CPN Eagle Aviary.