James Flores

James Flores comes from the Oneida Nation. His Oneida name is Yot^halahkwatasé and he is part of the Turtle Clan. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in American Indian Studies with a certificate in Cultures and Communities and is presently pursuing a master’s degree in public history.

James’ experience as an Oneida Nation tribal member provides him with an intimate perspective on the Native American experience in the United States. In addition to his personal background, he has years of academic and professional experiences. Through his formal education at UW-Milwaukee, he gained additional knowledge on Native American history, anthropology, archeology, ethnobotany as well as a wide array of other courses. Work at the Milwaukee Public Museum provided him with hands-on experience working with Native American exhibits, engaging the community, and working with tribal liaisons with repatriating cultural and ceremonial items that fall under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

James currently works as a tribal government employee in the position of scholarship coordinator for the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation. In his current position and as a tribal citizen of the Oneida Nation, he has the opportunity to participate in the processes conducted in tribal government. As a guest lecturer at UWM and a presenter at various conferences and community events, he hopes to broaden the understanding of Native American culture and history to a diverse group of people.