Ed is responsible for reviewing construction plans and conducting inspections of construction-in-progress to ensure compliance with tribal building codes. He is also responsible for verifying compliance with Tribal Ordinances including but not limited to zoning, nuisance, solid waste and building code.

Sally Kniffen has worked for SCIT for 20+ years and currently fills our Environmental Specialist position where she helps oversee the EPA: General Assistance Program. Sally is also a trustee council representative for the Tribe on two Natural Resources Damage and Assessment case involving Dow Chemical Company contaminates in the Tittabawassee River and the General Motors contaminates in the Saginaw River and Bay. Sally has an interest in sustainable projects thus she has worked with students at SCTC + CMU and Andahwad facilities on food waste recovery projects. Sally is currently working with the Saginaw Chippewa Academy to incorporate these community values into practical solutions.

Alexis Bruce is an Environmental Resource Technician who guides the pesticide program for the SCIT. Our goal is to limit pesticide use on tribal land in favor of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a pest control strategy that uses a combination of nontoxic methods and pesticides only if necessary. She can help navigate pesticide and disinfectant concerns or resources, but pollinator protection is the focus of the program. Public health is the priority, but we want to check that your pesticide method applies to the right pest. Alexis is an alumni from Central Michigan University, receiving an Environmental Studies degree and a Communication minor in 2023.

Kim oversees Curbside Collection, Elder's Assistance Home Repair, Elder’s ADA Accessibility, and Indian Health Service Well and Septic Programs. She assists the Conservation Committee and issues Hunting licenses. She performs all administrative functions for the Planning and Environmental Team.

Phil Jackson is SCITs Environmental Response Program Specialist and was previously an Environmental Resource Technician for the Tribe’s Environmental team. Phil works with local and regional emergency response personnel to ensure that the views of SCIT are considered when decisions are made regarding our natural resources. The program works to identify and respond to environmental concerns to help guide property cleanup, reuse, and redevelopment activities with community input while also concentrating on Brownfields identification and remediation. He is also working on the Fish Consumption project in which one of the main goals is to create an educational tool to be used by our community so they can make safe choices when choosing which fish to eat. Another project that Phil and the Environmental Resource Technician are working on is a pesticide program that will provide support and educational outreach to the Tribal community to encourage responsible pesticide use in a manner that protects human and environmental health. Phil’s interest in the outdoors and natural resources has encouraged him to complete his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences in 2022 from Southern New Hampshire University. Phil is continuing his education to achieve a master’s degree in Environmental Assessment from the University of Kansas. Prior to this job Phil was employed as a Table Games Dealer for the Saginaw Chippewa and Gun Lake tribes.

Olivia Deardoff is the Water Resource Technician for the tribe, focusing on restoring sustainable and cultural resources that benefit the community. While wild rice and aquatic ecosystem restoration and monitoring are the main objective of the Water Resource Technician, Olivia also assists in several other projects, including water quality monitoring, pathogen tracking, and non-point source pollution. Olivia has a love for the environment and is grateful for the continued opportunity to help protect it.

Dustin Hager is a Natural Resource Specialist with the tribe where he directly works to put environmental and land management practices into action. His job includes many facets such as trail maintenance, invasive species removal, tree planting, and other general aspects of maintaining tribal land. Dustin is an alumni from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental studies with a concentration on political sciences.

Katie Hager is the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s Environmental Outreach Coordinator. Katie’s goal is to work with the environmental team to collect and evaluate information to determine community program needs and aspirations for educational and informational purposes. Katie will be collaborating with the environmental team to aid in facilitating their action plans and events to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly practices both in an administrative and field setting. Katie’s interests and work history include sustainability, grant management, outreach, career training, and education. She has earned associate degrees in Science and Plastic Engineering/Manufacturing Technologies from Mid Michigan College and a bachelor’s of science in Sustainability Management from Bellevue University. Katie has assisted with tree and plant giveaways; river cleanups; water blessings and ceremonies with tribal members and elders; tree plantings; invasive species identification and treatment; youth camps – Anishinaabe Environment and Culture Camp and STEAM Camp; Clean Boats Cleans Waters Boat Wash events; outdoor youth scavenger hunts, hikes, and identification walks; while also working community, environmental meetings, and supporting Saginaw Chippewa Academy environmental and outdoor instruction along with coordinating environmental instructional and community support with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College.

Breanna Knudsen is the Tribal Environmental Response Program Specialist for Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, where she carries out many duties of the SCIT’s EPA 128(a) CERCLA program, conducts the mandated monthly UST inspections on both of the SCIT’s gas stations, and serves on the SCIT’s Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School (MIIBS) Committee, among other assignments. Prior to joining SCIT, she served as Brownfields Specialist for Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Breanna is an alumni of Central Michigan University with both her bachelor’s and master’s degree. She is a proud LRBOI descendant and her hobbies include classical piano, local animal rescue, volunteering, and learning Anishinaabemowin.

Jennifer (Bailey) Stevens is a Natural Resources Specialist with a primary focus on Wild Rice protection, management and restoration. Jennifer performs annual Wild Rice surveys within the Tribe’s ceded territory as well as conducting habitat studies in thriving Wild Rice beds and potential restoration sites. Jennifer also assists with a variety of projects in forestry, land management, restoration, invasive species and water quality.

Ayla Sisco is a Natural Resource Technician that started with the tribe in November of 2022. Ayla works with the Environmental Team’s Natural Resource Specialists on a variety of projects including forestry, land management, restoration, invasive species, and water quality while learning in local, natural environments on Tribal lands. Ayla has also become dive certified to help with management efforts in Tawas Lake to protect the diverse ecosystem and wild rice beds. Ayla is currently attending the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College to pursue her associates degree, she enjoys spending her time outdoors, and is passionate about learning how she can better help care for the environment.

Grey Fox is one of the Environmental teams, Natural Resource Technician where he works directly with Natural Resource Specialists focusing on land management and invasive species treatments. His duties include mowing, invasive species treatment and management while also maintaining Tribal property trails. Grey has an interest and career aspirations in forestry and learning more about management and control methods of invasive species here on Tribal properties. He has strong connections with the Tribal community and lands; thus he is grateful for the opportunity to support and protect the environment while developing his workforce skills.

Owen Howard is the Nonpoint Source Pollution Specialist for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. His role includes sampling for a variety of parameters, with a specific focus on E. coli, to locate the origins of nonpoint source pollution in tribal waterways. He then works with landowners, as well as local, state, and federal agencies, to conduct restoration projects, with the goal of reducing runoff pollution to tribal waterways. Owen’s other duties include educating the public on best practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution, as well as assisting in collecting and archiving data via multi-parameter sampling of tribal waterways. Owen received a BS in biology, as well as a MS in Administration, from Central Michigan University.