Our Story
Vision
Rematriation is the realization of twenty years of dreaming by our Founder, Michelle Schenandoah. While riding the NYC subway as a young, Oneida woman in her early 20s, she noticed Black and Latina women enjoying magazines designed just for them. As an Indigenous woman she wondered, “Where’s my magazine?” Two decades later in 2017, Shenandoah founded Rematriation Magazine as the answer to this question. Today, Rematriation is a multi-media initiative engaging in film production, digital content creation and community engagement. Rematriation is the home of Rematriation Magazine and, most importantly, a community of Haudenosaunee and Indigenous women choosing to heal together. We continue to re-imagine the ways in which a “magazine” can shift narratives, defy stereotypes, and reflect our own experiences.
About
Rematriation is a Haudenosaunee-led, digital storytelling platform connecting Haudenosaunee and Indigenous women across Turtle Island and around the world. We rematriate through Indigenous women-led, in person gatherings; online, Indigenous women-only spaces; and initiatives designed to educate the public and build allies.
Dream
Rematriation is the realization of twenty years of dreaming by our Founder, Michelle Schenandoah. While riding the NYC subway as a young, Oneida woman in her early 20s, she noticed Black and Latina women enjoying magazines designed just for them. As an Indigenous woman she wondered, “Where’s my magazine?” Two decades later in 2017, Shenandoah founded Rematriation Magazine as the answer to this question. Today, Rematriation is a multi-media initiative engaging in film production, digital content creation and community engagement. Rematriation is the home of Rematriation Magazine and, most importantly, a community of Haudenosaunee and Indigenous women choosing to heal together. We continue to re-imagine the ways in which a “magazine” can shift narratives, defy stereotypes, and reflect our own experiences.
Our Team
Michelle Schenandoah
Founder
Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida)
Michelle is an inspirational speaker, writer, thought leader and traditional member of the Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida) Nation Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She is the founder of Rematriation and the non-profit Kanenhi:io Ionkwaienthos. Raised in a family of traditional leadership, she carries the values and responsibilities of being Haudenosaunee throughout her life. Inspired by her grandmothers who led generations of Oneida Nation land claims, Michelle carries her ancestors’ passion to rematriate her people’s lands and bring about the truthful telling of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s influence on the world.
Read More
Michelle’s life experiences paved the way for her to found Rematriation in 2016. As a traditional member of the Longhouse, a trained lawyer and a visionary for change, Michelle creates space for Indigenous voices to be honored fully with light and love. Most recently, as Founder of Rematriation, Michelle directed and produced the Rematriation films: An Indigenous Response to #MeToo and the 10-part series, Indigenous Women’s Voices, with Mohawk Director, Katsitsionni Fox. Through her storytelling as a filmmaker, writer and speaker, Michelle creates safe spaces to share tools and resources that she has learned from her own healing journey and lived experiences.
She is co-founder, owner and principal at Indigenous Concepts Consulting with her husband, Neal Powless, she helps non-Indigenous businesses and media companies develop their own organizational best practices through an Indigenous lens. She holds a JD and LL.M. in Taxation from New York Law School, a MS from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, and a BA from Cornell University. Throughout her career, Michelle has advised tribal governments across Turtle Island, studied facilitation and healing methods in a variety of traditions and worked for numerous non-profits, including: The American Indian College Fund and Children of the Earth.
Michelle is a current board member for the Everson Museum of Art. She has previously served as President of the Board of Directors for the non-profit, Seven Dancers Coalition and as a board member for the NAMMYS where she helped establish the Native Music category in the GRAMMYS.
She lives on her people’s homelands with her husband and their four beautiful children.
Jade Haumann
Administration & Operations Lead
Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:no (Seneca Nation)
Otá:yö:nih (Wolf Clan)
Jade was born into the Seneca Nation of Indians Wolf Clan although she has spent her entire childhood in another nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Onoñda’gegá’ (Onondaga). In 2018, Jade earned a bachelor’s degree in Organismal Biology from Keuka College. Since then, she has traveled Turtle Island learning from other Indigenous Nations like the Karuk, Yurok, and Hoopa tribes of Northern California, and the Seneca-Cayuga Nation in Oklahoma. Jade’s life is driven by living intentionally and sustainably, with a big heart for animals both domestic and wild. Her passion is to care for and advocate for animals with experience in wildlife rehabilitation and studying wildlife conservation. At home, Jade has a micro animal sanctuary and gardens in her freetime while also being active in the Onondaga Nation community as well as the Six Nations Agricultural Society. In recent years she has dedicated her time to learning about Haudenosaunee traditions in seed keeping/gardening and foraging plant medicines.
Read More
Jade joined Rematriation in the fall of 2022 as the Executive Assistant helping with the background workings of the organization. Most recently Jade has also taken on an additional role as Interim Administrative and Operations Lead. Her work responsibilities of managing the business end of the organization allows the creative team to thrive in their inspirations and as a whole we work to support Rematriation and the Sisterhood.
Jade currently lives just outside the Onondaga Nation with her loving partner and their many animals.
Caryn Miller
Marketing Lead
Gawëöwi’ ni’gya:söh
Onöndowa’ga:’ ni’ah
Ageswë’gai:yo’
Ohi:yo’ jo:negano:h nöda:ge:’
Caryn Miller is a dedicated traditional member of the Seneca Nation Hawk Clan, raised on the Allegany territory. She received a B.S. at Syracuse University with a dual major in Marketing Management and Entrepreneurship & Emerging Enterprises and a minor in Native American & Indigenous Studies. She is the daughter of Dawn Colburn and Chris Miller. Driven by her connection to her identity, she takes pride in providing her best contributions possible from an Indigenous woman’s perspective. Caryn aspires to continue working towards uplifting Indigenous voices and connecting with like-minded individuals.
Read More
Outside of her work, Caryn enjoys hiking, volunteering, travelling, and learning new skills. She brings her tenacity and eagerness to continue growing her skill capacity in each aspect of her life. Caryn is a leader in the Seneca community. She has been recognized by her nation for her extraordinary commitment to her community’s growth and flourishment with the 1st Annual Youth Eagle Award in 2016. More recently, she has been selected as a mentor in the American Indian Science & Engineering Society’s (AISES) newly established Indigenous Womxn in STEM program. She continues to influence change within the community and inspires the youth to pursue higher educational goals. She is looking forward to contributing to actions made towards providing a better tomorrow for Indigenous communities.
Afton Paulena Lewis
New Media & App Lead
Diné (Navajo)
Afton P. Lewis is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is of the Mud People Clan born for the Black Sheep Clan. Her maternal grandfather is of the Coyote Pass Clan and her paternal grandmother is of the Edge of the Water Clan. Afton grew up in the Four Corners region of the Southwest in a small town called Farmington in New Mexico.
Afton is a filmmaker, editor, producer, and entrepreneur. She was inspired to join the film industry since she was young but since working for Rematriation, she has found the passion to be in charge of her own media company.
Read More
Afton currently lives in Onondaga territories also known as Syracuse, NY. She lives with her boyfriend Cameron and mother-in-law Diane Schenandoah.
Rematriation Board of Directors
Christina Jimerson
Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:no Seneca Nation
Chelsea Sunday
Akwesasne Kanienkeha Mohawk
Christina Porter
Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:no Seneca Nation
Rematriation Board of Advisors
Diane Schenandoah
Advisor
Tekahnatshyali:te
Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida)
A Faithkeeper of the Oneida Nation, Diane is a traditional titleholder who carries the responsibility of upholding, sharing and honoring Haudenosaunee spirituality and lifeways. She was born into a large Haudenosaunee family and resides in her ancestral Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida) Nation homelands in upstate New York. She is the daughter of the late Clifford Schenandoah, who was an Onondaga Nation Pine Tree Chief and jazz musician; and the late Maisie Shenandoah, an Oneida Nation Wolf Clan Mother.
Read More
Diane was a backup singer and percussionist for her sister and internationally renowned singer/songwriter, Joanne Shenandoah. Together they have traveled the world performing and exhibiting her artwork. Diane is mother to Rematriation founder Michelle Schenandoah; she also has four sons and many beautiful grandchildren.