Who We are

Stacey Ettawageshik is a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. For the last 11 years she has played an integral part in developing, implementing and maintaining Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) within the LTBB Department of Human Services. During this time, she assisted in securing funding and expanding services to serve indigenous survivors within the LTBB community and beyond. It is her life’s work and passion to empower indigenous survivors and strive to end domestic/sexual violence and the MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives) crisis in Indian Country. Stacey received her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University in May 2018. She has also been on the Uniting Three Fires Against Violence Board of Directors since 2013; Secretary 2013-2015, President 2015-2022 and Vice President 2022-2024.

Vanessa Owaski-Patzwald is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Vanessa began as the Training Coordinator at Uniting Three Fires Against Violence (UTFAV) in January 2018. In October 2024, she took on the position of Operations Manager.  She previously worked for 12 years for her tribe, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, as a Court Reporter and then as Legal Secretary for the Advocacy Resource Center’s Legal Aid program. Vanessa is a graduate of Lake Superior State University with an associate degree in office administration. 

Samantha Brown is Ojibwe and a member of the Crane clan. She is enrolled in the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa. Samantha received her Master of Arts in Education from the University of Alabama and her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Smith College. She is currently enrolled in the Pane Anishinaabemowin Language Immersion Program at Bay Mills Community College. Samantha is a certified teacher in the State of Michigan. Owing to her passion for sharing knowledge and advocacy, Samantha has held numerous roles in the field of education. Prior to her position at UTFAV, Samantha worked as an elementary teacher, a youth prevention coordinator, and as an education assistant in the Sault Tribe Youth Education and Activities Program. Samantha’s personal and professional interests include language revitalization, a return to traditional foodways, and justice for survivors, families, and communities that have been harmed by race and gender-based violence.

Sandra Pilgrim-Lewis is of Oglala Lakota Sioux heritage. She currently serves as the Uniting Three Fires Against Violence, DVS Director. She is a lifetime social change activist and advocate who has remained dedicated to seeking opportunities for creating chances for opening doors and diminishing access and social barriers. She holds a post graduate degree in education. Sandra worked as an Executive Director of dual organizations in Michigan and Alaska for nearly two decades. She also served on the Michigan Coalition to Ending Domestic and Sexual Violence, Praxis International and Sunrise Center Boards of Directors and held an active role in the Alaska Native Sisterhood. Additionally, Sandra has remained active in supporting tribal programs throughout her lifetime. She was one of the initial supporting members of Uniting Three Fires Against Violence Tribal Coalition in Michigan. Sandra, humbly served as a Project Manager for the Michigan Division of Victim Services, focusing on Tribal and other culturally specific community funding and service gaps. Sandra remains a constant voice, and advocate for expanding access to resources for our indigenous relatives, programs and communities with a concentration on violence against women and children issues. Sandra’s work has been recognized and honored by her being a recipient of awards including Tillie BLACK BEAR MEMORIAL AWARD, VISIONARY VOICE AWARD, APPLE BLOSSOM AWARD, SAGE AWARD AND MICHIGAN REHABILITATION SERVICES INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR AWARD (TWICE). She has provided
technical assistance, change impact and prevention education on a national, and international scale.