Michaela Pavlat, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is the Indigenous Partnerships Program Manager at the National Parks Conservation Association. Originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she graduated from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in drawing and painting. In her previous role she served as an educator at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, and conducted programs to disseminate Indigenous histories and contemporary issues.
At NPCA, Michaela builds relationships with Tribal Nation and Tribal organizations to ensure indigenous knowledge and Tribal Nations are incorporated into our park protection. She advocates for Tribal programs within NPS such as Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation. Michaela’s lived experience and cultural knowledge brings a unique perspective in protecting our parks, cultural and historical sites.