TaShena Sams serves as new cultural assistant/director

While TaShena Sams, 37, may have started in her new role as Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ (GTB) cultural department assistant/ director in November, she’s been working for the tribe for 22 years now and counting.

After being employed by GTB for most of her life, she said she couldn’t see herself working anywhere else.

“This is my home and community, and I really want my community to have its best, give its best, be able to provide its best,” Sams said. “Our culture is just so enriched and I just feel like we need people to keep being able to provide that. I grew up with a lot of it and centered around it through my parents and my family members.”