Indigenous Cultural Connections

04/01/2026

ICC Board member and Veteran Nicole Raphael is a certified Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps Facilitator. She is a fire starter to this program and ready to bring it into MDOC Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility! Chi Miigwetch Nicole for your hard work, and support to ICC’s Mission! “Bringing Culture to the Incarcerated”

04/01/2026

ICC has Certified Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps Facilitators, fire starters to the recovery program that helps keep me sober. 19 years of sobriety. Chi Miigwetch White Bison for trainings that allow us to get out there and serve our communities! It was an awesome group and I had a great learning experience!

03/16/2026

MMIR

🚨 MISSING JUVENILE – SIOUX FALLS 🚨

Please help share!!

The family is looking for information about a missing 14-year-old from Sioux Falls. A report has been filed with the Sioux Falls Police Department.

McKenna Wendel, 14, has been missing since Friday night and family members say this is very unlike her. She does not have a phone or warm jacket, which is adding to the concern.

Description:
• Name: McKenna Wendel
• Age: 14
• Race: American Indian / Alaskan Native
• Height: ~5'2"
• Weight: ~98 lbs
• Build: Tall, skinny
• Hair: Dark brown with a blue/teal streak on one side
• School: 8th grade at George McGovern Middle School

Family says she was reportedly given a ride home by a relative Friday night, but home security cameras did not capture anyone arriving at the expected time, which has raised serious concern.

McKenna lives with her grandparents on the west side of Sioux Falls, and family says she normally would have contacted them by now.

⚠️ If you have seen McKenna or know where she may be, please contact the Sioux Falls Police Department immediately.

📞 605-367-7000

If you are with McKenna or know where she is, please encourage her to contact her family or police so they know she is safe.

🙏 Please SHARE this post to help bring McKenna home safely.

02/19/2026

2025 I was officially certified to facilitate “Warrior Down” a White Bison peer to peer program for those re-entering society from incarceration or treatment. ICC is ready to help reduce recidivism and support those who need this talking circle! Aho’

10/08/2025

Aanii Boozhoo! Just wanted to update that Indigenous Cultural Connections(ICC) has a website you can find at www.Indculturalc.org
I want everyone to know that I’m working very hard to bring my passion of giving MDOC inmates the cultural teachings they deserve, and getting inside to do that. Im currently looking for Grant Writers for this 501(c)3! So, if you have a lead or someone who might be interested in this cause please contact me at: [email protected]
Chi Miigwetch!

04/28/2025

The backdrop is the one prison in Michigan(of 27) that houses female inmates, Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

04/19/2025

Aanii Boozhoo! My name is Melody Harris, I am the Executive Director of the Non-Profit Indigenous Cultural Connections. Nice to meet and see everyone here on this platform. It’s been my passion to give back to our Indigenous brothers and sisters incarcerated in Michigan State Prisons, as well as the children affected by incarceration. I will bring our teachings to them so they can begin their healing journey while incarcerated and then continue the good red road upon their release. MDOC allows the bare minimum for our people, a smudge, ghost supper and a medicine bag. I will fight for Sweat Lodges, and for all sacred ceremonies. We will not settle for the bare minimum when our relatives lives are at risk. We will help provide a spiritual foundation that is so desperately needed. Currently I am trained in Don Coyis’ Warrior Down program and as soon as I can obtain office space, I will open it up immediately for talking circles and finding the children who want to get in contact with their loved ones incarcerated. Look forward to taking this journey with all involved and our supporters! Chi Miigwetch!