2024 North Dakota Oral Traditions/Language

Deborah Gourneau

Anishinaabe (Chippewa) Culture Bearer

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Belcourt, ND

“While reclaiming our ways, I discovered that sharing is imperative to enhancing historical kindness.”

Deborah Gourneau

Photo by Jacob Laducer

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Continuously working to instill the beauty of Anishinaabe life

Boozhoo, Nindinawemaaganak, “Hello, all my relatives (all forms of life).” As Anishinaabe Endow, “one of the people” of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, I was born and raised in Belcourt, North Dakota. My name is Mekinak Ikwey, “Turtle Woman.” I earned my bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Mayville State, ND. I have over 30 years of experience in teaching and education. I attended ceremonies and learned and shared our way of life during my career, integrating traditional teachings with the Western teaching paradigm. I found myself reclaiming my culture and my identity.

In my lifelong journey as a student and teacher, I am continuously working to instill the beauty of Anishinaabe life; I am called upon to help our communities by facilitating ceremonies involving teaching and sharing songs, stories, regalia making, and other protocols. I’ve been married for 52 years to my classmate and friend, Lynn Gourneau.

What does being a Taproot Fellow mean to you in your practice and community?

While reclaiming our ways, I discovered that sharing is imperative to enhancing historical kindness compared to generational/historical trauma; I promote restoring balance by practicing and incorporating the Anishinaabe way through textiling, storytelling, and ceremonial protocol to restore Anishinaabe values.

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