Meet the Team
Administrative Staff
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Michael Turcotte
Executive Director
Hą́ midáguyebi, Michael Turcotte emágiyab, Húdam tamákoce žemádahą, midáguye Húdešana žécabi no I’á Síja žécabi ko Wįcó’i’e Tí né wįcó’įcaǧe wįcóȟ’ąge wahógųwįcakiyabi no Žéca čén cįjábi né dąyą́ owį́camani no Wįcóȟ’ąge dąyą́ yúzabi ko Ųdáguye watépe wįcášta téhą acé’ųgiyabi no Nécen dágu ų́bi adé amáȟbiya ohá oyáde wįcák’ubic’ehą Midáguyebi, ųgúšigabi wo Nécen dágu ecų́gubi ųtáwešį no Togáda giyá né knuhá ko Wówaši wįcáštabi né dąyą́ ecų́bi no Wįcá wą̨́ž, Muhamad Ali, né eyá, “ųgíye, ųgíye, ųgíye.” Mni’hé’įc’iya bo!!
Peter Gopher
Curriculum Specialist
Okii niistowakoa'k Sooa'tsikiimaan, nomoto'too Mosskitsipahpiistaki. Wɔhéíh néí’chíí’ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́nííínen’i, cɔ́ɔsíííneninɔɔ. Niith'íícicaanɔɔ ’in’ ’ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́naačíiníiinɔn’a, ’in’ ’aaniiθɔ́ɔninɔɔ neinɔɔ nɔh niinaaninɔɔ bétaaníísičyɔɔnɔh ’ohúúsi’uθaanin’ɔ. nihiisičyah’ácihɔh nohu bah'íiihánɔh wɔɔcɔh’ɔ́ɔɔch. nih'ei'inááθɔhei’aach nohu bah’íiihánɔh. I am thankful for that! Wears Eagletail feathers is my name, I am from Heart Butte. I enjoy working with the Whiteclay language along with the many other things that I do at LLL.
Stevie Werk
Assistant Director
Há dagúciyabi, Waníyedu Gamnéza Wį́yą emagíyabi. Wašín eyabi en Stevie Rose Helgeson ejiyabi. Mihįkna Tuffy Helgeson ejiyabi. Ȟaȟatuwan oyą́ge enwati. Nakón wicoie tibi wowáše. Cį́jabi zaptá mnúha. Cékbabi žécabi micįkši Máto Gasnóhinąpe íš micų́kši Cągú dóba wįyą́, micįkši Tadaya Onowa, micų́kši Toką́naska, micįkši ihą́ge Tawásu Ȟmúna ejiyabi.
Robin Blackwolf
Curriculum Specialist
Nahááh phíííh níít’ɔinɔh! Naniish’íit’ɔ Kyɔɔɔ’ɔɔh. ’Ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́níínenininɔɔ, nabín’ɔ Wɔɔθɔɔθɔɔnɔtaach. Niitɔɔnɔɔ ’in’ Ba’éei’ééítaan’a nɔh niicicaanɔɔ ’in’ ’Ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́naakíiníiinɔn’a. Hello my relatives! My name is Incense – Robin Black Wolf. I am White Clay and come from the Fast Travelers band. I reside in Harlem and work at Life’s Language Lodge. I am one of the Curriculum Specialists here at Life’s Language Lodge, alongside my wonderful spouse, Peter Gopher. I am very grateful to be apart of this language journey that we get to share with our children and community. My son, Sinopáá, attends LLL and we get to see firsthand how the environment here has shaped his mind and over all being. I believe my son being exposed to both Aaniiih and Nakoda languages daily, both here and at home has truly benefited him. It is a privilege to have been working here at LLL since we first opened. I look forward to what the future holds for LLL. I know we are capable of great things. Nahaasíiih.
Theresa Horse Capture
Cultural Specialist
Nahááh, I carry the name Dark Hair. I am Aaniiih and part of the Upper Quarters band. I live here in Hays on Carrywater mountain with my husband George Horse Capture Jr. and our son Iisaaw.
Ilene Longknife
Cultural Data Analyst
Ne cazi' mitawa, Wiya Num. Osnibi ti'ospaye Nakoniyabi. It is said we descend from the Cold People of the North, where the land is always covered in snow. The priority of my position is researching archived material that is relevant to our community. Authenticating and preserving historical records, pictures, maps, digitized documents and sound recordings. Identifying culturally sensitive materials and safeguarding records through digitization. Collaborating with Museums, University, Libraries and elder collections to develop curriculum.
Makayla Stiffarm
Administrative Assistant
Teaching Staff
Wiyódahá Tí/Nɔɔwúúúníiin’ɔ
Infant Room
Thae Main
Teacher (Nakón iʾá)
Įtúga ská wį́ya emagiya, įkce micažé Thae Main. Ina Nona Longknife ejiyab, adé Kenny Main ejiyab. Yamni cįjabi mnuha, Keicyn, Niibyaa, Oou Wutanii ejiyab. Wana nakón wicʾoʾie waní yedu zapta wawowašé. Daguškibina waʾų́spekiya zémaca. My name is White weasle woman, my common name is Thae Main. My mother Nona Longknife, my father is Kenny Main. I have Three children and I have worked at LLL for 5 years as the Infant teacher.
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Barbara Russell
Teacher (Ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́náakíit’ɔ)
Nahááh! Barbara Russell nániishíit’ɔ. Niiθénɔɔ Ennis Russell Sr. ’iiniish’íit’ɔ nɔh Neinɔɔ Staci Bradley ’iiniish’íit’ɔ. Niitɔ́ɔnɔɔ ’in’ ’ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́níííneníítaan’a nɔh nɔ́ɔ́wúúnɔ́ɔ́kineihííninɔɔ. ’In’ tɔ́yóóún’i 2025 niicicaanɔɔ ’in’ ’ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́naakíiniinɔn’a.
Wazíhe Tí/Niniibiiiníiin’ɔ
Toddler
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Nashone Shambo
Teacher (Ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́náakíit’ɔ)
Isiah Runsabove
Teacher (Nakón iʾá)
Nahááh! My name is Nashone Shambo. I grew up in Hays MT, I’m an Aaniiih teacher here at the LLL, and I’ve been working here since last September of 2025.
Wihínapá Tí/Kénihúúúníiin’ɔ
PreK
Gary Werk
Teacher (Nakón iʾá)
Otʾį́ Waką́ Hokší emągíyabi.
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Thomas Molina
Teacher (Nakón iʾá)
Namákoda no, waną́be cį́j́á emą́gíyabi.
Support Staff
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Arlene Morin
Head Cook
Kassie Buckles
Teaching Assistant (Nakón iʾá)
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Itehi Stiffarm
Teaching Assistant (Ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́náakíit’ɔ)
Naaʔhaah Niitʔɔinɔh. Nabisiph wɔ́sʔi kyɔ'óóútʔ. Niiiph Byíííʔ nɔhʔ ʔíθaaʔ cɔ́ʔɔciikʔi táásʔ ʔɔhʔɔnáákʔ. Niiϴénɔɔʔ θéih Wɔ́sʔi, Neinɔɔʔ nɔ́cʔtéʔinaaʔ kibyɔ́ʔɔhuʔ ʔíθaaʔ. Niinaaninɔɔʔ ʔɔʔɔ́ɔ́ɔ́niiih nɔhʔ nɔkineih. Niinitɔɔnɔɔʔ ʔinʔ ciinuhnɔɔwuuh. Naaniisihitʔɔ Nɔ́ɔ́cibhʔɔ́ɔɔʔnéθaaʔ Ihte’ Stiffarm naahaasihinɔɔʔ