Brian D. McInnesLeola R. Culver Professor in Nonprofits and Philanthropy; Associate Professor

As an enrolled member of the Ojibwe nation and direct descendant of the Wisconsin Potawatomi tribe, I am committed to building opportunities for increased intercultural understanding, collaboration, and critical change.

I principally work in community-based language revitalization, oral history, and educational anthropology. My current research is focused on culture and language revitalization initiatives in northern Wisconsin, holistic program evaluation for Indigenous language immersion schools, and environmental change education (Great Lakes Water Walk movement). My 2017 book, Sounding Thunder: The Stories of Francis Pegahmagabow, won both an American Book Award and Fred Landon Award for its portrayal of North America’s most decorated Indigenous soldier from the First World War era.

Recent press

UW departments expand Native programming around touring Our Shared Future maker, Cap Times, February 24, 2020
New faculty focus: SoHE’s Brian McInnes and Mariaelena Huambachano, UW News, February 4, 2020
Why is there a ‘Wau’ in so many Wisconsin place names?, Wisconsin Public Radio, May 25, 2020

Publications

Corlis, T., Ruffo A. & B. D. McInnes. (forthcoming). Biidwedamo: The Song of Francis Pegahmagabow. Montreal, QB: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

McInnes, B. D. (forthcoming). Respect, reciprocity, and reconciliation in Indigenous research In E. S. Huaman & N. Martin, Indigenous communities and research: With, by, and for Indigenous peoples. Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars’ Press.

McInnes, B. D. (2017). Sounding thunder: The stories of Francis Pegahmagabow. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.