Manidoo-noodin, Jason Schlender
 
Chairman, Board of Directors – Gidinwewininaan Foundation
 
Manidoo-noodin, also known as Jason Schlender, is a lifelong advocate for Ojibwe language revitalization, cultural preservation, and Indigenous education. A citizen of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, he has dedicated his career to empowering Anishinaabe communities through language, education, and cultural restoration.
 
A Life Rooted in Language & Culture
Schlender carries his name, Manidoo-noodin, meaning “Spirit Wind,” with great purpose. His work reflects the unseen but powerful forces of cultural resilience and knowledge transmission, ensuring that the language, traditions, and teachings of the Anishinaabe people remain strong for generations to come.
 
Growing up surrounded by the wisdom of Elders and fluent speakers, he developed a deep understanding of the responsibility that comes with being Anishinaabe—a responsibility to safeguard the stories, ceremonies, and language that define the people and their connection to the land. This perspective has guided him in his leadership roles, advocacy, and mentorship across many cultural and educational initiatives.
 
Educational Background
Schlender’s commitment to education is reflected in his academic and professional journey:

✔Associates Degree- Lac Courte Oreilles University 
✔ Bachelor’s degree in History – University of Wisconsin-Superior
✔ Master’s degree in Education – University of Minnesota-Duluth
✔ Doctorate of Education (in progress) – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
 
His academic path reinforces his deep commitment to lifelong learning, ensuring that education remains a central force in Anishinaabe self-determination and cultural preservation.
 
Leadership & Vision
As Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Gidinwewininaan Foundation, Schlender leads efforts to rebuild Anishinaabemowin as a living language in daily use. His leadership ensures that the foundation’s programs are community-led, culturally rooted, and intergenerational, creating opportunities for language learners at all stages of their journey.
 
Schlender’s vision is shaped by a strong belief that language is identity, and that true revitalization requires not just learning words but understanding the values, worldview, and way of life that come with them. Under his guidance, the foundation works to:
 
✔ Expand access to community-based language programs and immersive learning experiences.
✔ Support Elders and fluent speakers in sharing their knowledge with future generations.
✔ Strengthen digital resources like the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary to reach learners everywhere.
✔ Create healing spaces where Anishinaabe people, including those who are incarcerated, can reconnect with their language and identity.
 
Professional Leadership & Achievements
Schlender’s leadership extends across multiple tribal, educational, and conservation organizations, demonstrating his dedication to treaty rights, language, and cultural preservation:
 
✔ Executive Administrator – Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)
• Oversees treaty-protected rights, natural resource management, and environmental sustainability in the Great Lakes region.

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✔Tribal Administrator- St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin.
• Policy design and Governance 
• Strategic planning and Innovation 
• Team building
• Economic Development 

 
✔ Former Vice Chairman – Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board
• Contributed to tribal governance, policy development, and community advancement.
 
✔ Chairman – Voigt Inter-Tribal Task Force
• Led efforts to manage and protect off-reservation treaty rights, ensuring sustainable practices and the preservation of natural resources.
 
✔ Chairman – Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute
• Advanced initiatives to expand Ojibwe language immersion programs and curriculum development.
 
Through these roles, Schlender has shaped key policies, advocated for tribal sovereignty, and implemented language and cultural preservation strategies that impact Indigenous communities across the region.
 
Commitment to Community & Future Generations
Schlender’s dedication extends beyond organizational leadership—he is a hands-on mentor, cultural teacher, and community leader. He has been instrumental in organizing:
 
✔ Cultural camps that reconnect youth with traditional skills and knowledge.
✔ Traditional harvesting workshops, ensuring sustainable practices in line with Anishinaabe lifeways.
✔ Ojibwe immersion programs, reinforcing the importance of language learning in natural environments.
 
His work is deeply rooted in Anishinaabe values of reciprocity, humility, and service. He believes that language and culture cannot be separated, and that revitalization is strongest when people are actively living their traditions—net-mending, harvesting, storytelling, and speaking the language within their homes and communities.
 
A Legacy in Motion
Schlender’s leadership is not just about preserving the past—it is about securing the future. He envisions a world where:
🌿 Ojibwe language and cultural fluency thrive in daily life.
👶 Children grow up speaking Anishinaabemowin as their first language.
🏹 Every Anishinaabe person has the opportunity to reclaim the knowledge that was once threatened by colonial systems.
 
For Manidoo noodin, Jason Schlender, this work is not a job—it is a lifelong responsibility, a spiritual calling, and a deep commitment to the Anishinaabe way of life.