Mikayla Thompson is a reconnecting descendant of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied Linguistics and Indigenous Studies. Mikayla's family has roots along the Little Tennessee River, but she was born and raised in Bridgman, Michigan. Her life's passion lies in the field of language revitalization and her ultimate goal is to document historically minoritized Indigenous languages. Mikayla is also heavily interested in the intersections between language, land and treaty rights, Indigenous cultural wellness, and food sovereignty. Mikayla is excited to be working at the CCED on the Tribal Fellowship project, assisting in coordinating efforts and crafting materials to cater to the specific needs of each Michigan Native tribe's community workplan. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing poetry, gardening, and going to the beach.