Powwow Bound: Co-Creating Through Culture and Play

November 20, 2025

What does authentic collaboration look like in public media? Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation about Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming, a new interactive story game developed through a unique partnership between PBS Wisconsin, Nebraska Public Media, Vision Maker Media, and members of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

This webinar will present a model for collaborative project execution that stations can emulate, highlighting how artists, writers, language experts, musicians, and cultural advisors from the Menominee community worked alongside public media creators to shape an authentic storytelling game.

The discussion will focus on lessons learned about building trust, sharing creative decision-making, and co-creating stories that center community voices. With perspectives from project partners and Menominee collaborators, this session offers a model for how public media can move beyond representation to true collaboration – creating content that is both innovative and deeply rooted in the community being served.

Panelists

Jacob Schwitzer

Jacob Schwitzer

Jacob Schwitzer is a member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and a Software Developer/Game Producer for Nebraska Public Media. He works with a diverse interdisciplinary team to create games that align with the values of public media and uplift underrepresented voices.

Angelina Shi

Angelina Shi

Angelina Shi is an Interactive Media Producer at PBS Wisconsin. She works to create innovative interactive content, such as video games, websites, and virtual tours, intended to inform and inspire audiences.

Justin Gauthier

Justin Gauthier

Justin “Jud” Gauthier is a multi-talented artist from the Menominee Nation. As an actor, Jud has graced stages across North America and was featured in the FX on Hulu series Reservation Dogs. As a writer, Jud has worked on an array of projects ranging from narrative podcast episodes to the groundbreaking video game Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming. Jud is honored to have been able to work on Powwow Bound and considers it a major step forward for indigenous culture into the digital mediascape that’s long overdue.

Naneque LaTender

Naneque LaTender

I am Wanānīkwew LaTender or Tail Feather Woman. Bald eagle is my clan and I am an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. I am currently 27 years-old living in the woodlands of West Branch on the Menominee Reservation. Daniel Grignon is my partner, Cherry Grignon is my daughter and Ember Grignon is my son. Together, we are speakers of the Menomini Language and learners of the cultural ways of doing. Our work as Language & Material Culture Revitalization Artists is to gain perspective into the authentic nature of Menomini life. We do this by creating artwork and experiences that are a translation of our unique culture.