Cyndee Fox-Starr, Cultural Coordinator

Cyndee Fox-Starr’s Anishnaabe name is Anungokwe-(Star Woman). She is an enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe in NE and Odawa/Potawatomi of Wikwemikoong First Nation of Canada. In her family, she is the first generation to be born in an urban area and raised within the Chicago Native Community.

Cyndee balances traditional cultural teachings in these modern times living in an urban setting. Cyndee has worked for the Native American Community in Chicago for 40 years and considers it her life’s work. She previously worked with AIHSC of Chicago 20 years prior as the Community Health Coordinator for the Senior Program. She feels blessed to have worked in our community, learning culture and traditions from various tribal elders throughout her life, and continues to learn from our Elders.

“I have had many workshops and classes sharing my cultural knowledge with our community and other organizations. I am a traditional dancer, regalia maker, and bead worker. I have used my gifts to make my family regalia, and some of my beadwork is in the Smithsonian’s NMAI and the Field Museum. My family is also known as the community cooks, as we had the opportunity to cater to various events in the city and suburbs. I am blessed to have learned how to hand harvest, prepare traditional foods, and continue to learn other ways of indigenous harvesting. Including, blessed to know about some of our traditional medicines and ceremonies and always learning from our Elders. I am willing to share my knowledge to ensure that the next seven generations will have these valuable teachings while living in an urban space.”