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 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.

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 participant 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’s interest in filmmaking began as a young child when she watched films that her grandparents made for their grandchildren. To date, she has created and directed several video projects and is now sharing these skills with Rematriation. For over four years, Afton has been a production assistant on Rematriation Media projects and most recently took a leading role in managing the Rematriation App. Afton has been featured in the Daily Orange, took part in the international Lightful Bridge Program, and participated at the MIT Solve US Equity Summit in 2023.

Afton currently lives in Onondaga territories also known as Syracuse, NY. She lives with her boyfriend Cameron and mother-in-law Diane Schenandoah.

Recently, she served as a consulting sculptural artist, with Jane DeDecker, for the Haudenosaunee representation of Laura Cornelius Kellogg in the Congressional Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission’s sculpture in Seneca Falls, NY. Diane is currently a faculty member at Syracuse University’s Barnes Center at the Arch. Her role as ‘Honwadiyenawa’sek’, which translates to The One Who Helps, practices Intuitive Energy Work for students, faculty, and staff. She holds annual Full Moon Ceremonies, and Haudenosaunee Social Dance gatherings bringing Haudenosaunee and SU community together.

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.

Mr. Powless has taught courses and presented across the country for nearly 20 years about Indigenous culture and value systems. He is the Co-Founder/Co-Owner of Indigenous Concepts Consulting, a firm that he currently runs with his wife, Michelle, to bridge Native American ideals and culture with organizations and individuals all over the world. They are currently working on projects for a multi-dimensional media platform, curriculum development, an Indigenous health & wellness initiative and script development of another Major Motion picture with a major Studio label.

He is a producer and participant on the film: An Indigenous Response to #MeToo which is free on Vimeo. He has been screening the film and conducting community dialogues around sexual assault at college campuses and communities who have restorative justice programs. Also, in 2018, one of his PhD papers was published in the book Nasty Women and Bad Hombres: Gender and Race in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Since 2014, Mr. Powless has been the Head Coach for the Netherlands National Lacrosse team that competed in Denver in 2014-2016, and now the Netherlands National Indoor lacrosse team since 2017 and are currently ranked 8th in the world. He was a 3-time All-American lacrosse player which led to his 7-year professional lacrosse career. He played for the Iroquois Nationals in 6 World Lacrosse Championships and made the tournament’s All-World Team in 2002. Mr. Powless has won a total of 5 Professional and National Championships in his career and was inducted into the Nazareth College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the US Lacrosse, CNY Chapter Hall of Fame in 2017.

He formerly served Syracuse University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Career Services. Mr. Powless has a Masters in Counseling from Syracuse University and a BS in Psychology from Nazareth College. His current PhD researched is about Indigenous imagery in contemporary Major Motion Pictures. He resides in Upstate New York with his wife, Michelle Schenandoah-Powless and their 4 children.

Ms. Beauvais recently moved from working for Kahwatsiraien:ton, which was founded, to supporting the families of Ohero:kon. She has dedicated seven years as a council member and Lead Auntie for all adolescent girls entering their first year of fasting in Ohero:kon “Under the Husk,” which is the Rights of Passage for youth in Akwesasne. Through ceremony, these youth commit to four years of fasting, during which they attend weekly gatherings throughout the winter months, where traditional/modern teachings are presented to the young fasters and their families. All with the intention of receiving a vision, insight, or guidance on the purpose of their journey into adulthood.

Ms. Beauvais is also the Co-Creator of the Welcome Home Circle in Akwesasne, inspired by her carceral experience and the undeniable need for representation and support for those directly and indirectly impacted by the criminal system, especially in Native communities. She is actively working on their “Tiny Home Project,” which will give those transitioning back into community peer support and safe housing to ensure those coming home can demonstrate transformational justice.

She has also been a consultant for the Tribal Youth Resource Center, local schools, and Higher Education Institutions. She was chosen to be one of the first three fellows to represent the Haudenosaunee Fellowship at Cornell University and is actively advocating for Native Youth in these spaces of academia.

On July 29, she traveled to Quebec City with a delegation of Haudenosaunee Leadership, where she addressed Pope Francis on the atrocities the Church has played in the genocide against the Indigenous peoples across the Western Hemisphere through the Cradle Board Mandate. In 2022, she received an award from the Women’s Institute for Leadership and Learning for her dedication to raising the voice of women and helping them attain pride and power through personal accountability.

In the spring of 2015, she began her five years of cultivating support and experience around intimate and systemic violence with the Seven Dancers Coalition as Community Outreach in Upstate New York on the U.S./CAN political border of her home territory in Akwesasne. The Coalition seeks to educate Tribal communities and service providers through training and presentations on Sexual Assault, Domestic violence, Campus Safety, Teen Dating, Sex Trafficking, and Stalking. She received the 2020 Visionary Voice Award, nominated by the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault and granted by the National Sexual Assault Resource Center.

She is also a member of the Section 84 parole board of Akwesasne and the Neh Kanikonriio Council. This restorative Justice initiative integrates Indigenous ways of mediation to reduce incarceration and provide a more interpersonal means of healing for both parties.

In 2019, she was picked as one of ten women nationally to represent a fellowship for formerly incarceration or directly impacted women of color through the Community Change organization. With peer-to-peer mentorship, community organizing skill building and cultivating change in the hearts of women directly impacted by social violence, prison systems, and immigration. In 2020, she was accepted to be on a national cohort of women through Columbia University’s Women Transcending fellowship. She also organized to support formerly incarcerated women to build power, gain resources, and strengthen leadership development. In addition, she was invited to sit on the national #FREEHER board with the Circle for Justice Innovations, which gives out grant opportunities for women of color who are in their communities working to address mass incarceration.

Ms. Beauvais is invited to various speaking engagements and was recently invited to represent the U.S. as a Tribal delegate at the Third Annual Trilateral Working Group in Mexico City. Indigenous representatives from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico addressed the adversities Indigenous women face (Oct. 2018). Her passion is to share her life experiences as a native woman who has witnessed and lived the adversities of addiction, caretaking, incarceration, sexual assault, suicide, and other forms of violence.

Through her work as a matrilineal leader and as a mother, she is a founding member of Konón:kwe Council, a circle of Mohawk women working to reconstruct the power of their origins through education, empowerment and trauma-informed approaches. Louise champions the philosophy of Kahnisténhsera, “Mother Law” –a natural law that binds Ohnwehón:we, or Indigenous, kinship society. She is also the lead conductor of the Moon Lodge Society, a convening women and girls on a monthly basis in line with the full moon cycle. Louise is the principal organizer and leader of Oheró:kon, a traditional Rite of Passage ceremony for Mohawk youth. Since 2005, she has guided hundreds of community families and volunteers through self-reflection and Ratinonhsón:ni cultural instruction and ceremony. 

She has also presented at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and lectures regularly at universities throughout Canada and the United States on Ratinonhsón:ni philosophies and self-determination in regards to women. She has been the Distinguished Scholar in Indigenous Learning at McMaster University Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (MIIETL) and received an honorary PhD from SUNY Canton. Her most recent work includes a feature in the documentary film, “Without a Whisper: Konnon:kwe” about the Ratinonhsón:ni women’s influence on the women’s rights movement.