Michael Claus Thiel, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and a senior kinesiology student at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), graduated at the end of the fall 2024 semester. An Indigenous Kinship and Responsibility (K&R) Scholar since Fall of 2023, Michael recently shared his experiences in the program during an interview with Tomas Commodore Hill (Oneida). He reflected on how the K&R cohort shaped his academic journey and research and offered valuable advice to current and future scholars.
For Michael, being part of the Indigenous K&R Scholarship Program means actively contributing to his community, both on and off campus. He defines kinship as fostering support among K&R scholars, the broader community, and his family. It’s about treating others with respect, lifting each other up, and giving back to those around him. Responsibility, to Michael, goes hand-in-hand with kinship—it’s the commitment to share knowledge, resources, and encouragement with the cohort and the community.
Initially, Michael’s research focused on biomechanical 3-D motion capture to analyze gait correlations with plantar fasciitis, aligning with his academic interests in kinesiology. However, his time with the Electa Quinney Institute and the American Indian Success Center inspired a shift toward more personal and community-centered passions, including exploring his cultural heritage, particularly traditional hunting practices. During his time at UWM he had the opportunity to learn and experience more about traditional hunting practices with EQI’s director Dr. Mark Freeland (Ojibwe) and expressed “I am grateful Dr. Freeland passed down knowledge from his family to me. I appreciate his understanding of our relationship to the land. It’s clear Mark is an ethical, experienced hunter, and I feel blessed I had the opportunity to join him on a hunt. I’ve always been interested in hunting but didn’t have a mentor to learn from. I felt disconnected with the land by not ever hunting. Now I feel capable of taking the next step in expanding my abilities”. Through the K&R Scholars program, Michael was able to strengthen his connection to the land and hunting practices, while also engaging in meaningful research connected to this academic goals.
Michael encourages other students to lean into their personal interests and explore topics that feel meaningful to them. He believes that when academic pursuits align with personal passions, the journey becomes more fulfilling. He also advises students to seek out programs like the K&R Scholarship, emphasizing the value of peer, staff, and faculty mentoring and the opportunity to conduct interest-driven research both on campus and within the Milwaukee community.
After graduation, Michael plans to take a gap year to support and assist in the growth of his family’s minority women-owned business. He also aims to network with tribal business owners and engage in ventures on and off reservation land. Looking ahead, Michael is balancing multiple opportunities, including working for the family business, developing his start-up business, pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy, achieving personal goals, and exploring various career paths.
For more information of the Indigenous Kinship and Responsibility Scholarship check out our website or reach out to the Electa Quinney Institute for American Indian Education at eqi-uwm@uwm.edu.