Seth

Seth Thomas Sutton

Seth Thomas Sutton, the 2024 Michigan Humanities Award recipient, is an Emmy Nominated Métis artist, scholar, author, and activist. He holds Masters degrees in both Visual and Critical Studies from Kendall College of Art & Design and is currently a professor and chair of the Arts & Humanities Department at Montcalm Community College, where he was nominated for Outstanding Faculty of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Seth also sits as a member of council on the Native American Advisory Council at Grand Valley State University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Seth is also the head of the Sugar Council for Montcalm Community College, where he oversees and leads the college's sugar bush project, The Sugar Bush, in the long-standing traditions of maple sugar making.

In 2017 Seth was involved in a collaborative documentary film project for WGVU, a Grand Rapids PBS affiliate, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for their full-length film, wiinwaa niizhaasing (We the 7th). Then again in 2021, their four-part documentary series, Shaping Narratives was nominated for two Emmy Awards. These projects highlight West Michigan's vibrant Indigenous communities, along with their artwork, lifeways, social and cultural activism, and food reclamation. Seth, along with this film crew was among the first Indigenous-based journalists to document and report on the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests in Standing Rock, North Dakota.

His first publication, the Deconstruction of Chief Blackhawk: A Critical Analysis of Mascots & the Visual Rhetoric of the Indian was published and released in 2021, and as a Follett Author, Seth is currently finishing work on several academic monographs, such as, "Indians for Sale! Cigar Shop Indians & The Commodity of Indigenous Culture," as well as concluding editing on, "The Sacred Fire of the Odawa," A narrative on the Waganakising Odawuk // The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, both set to be released in 2025 and 2026, respectively. , "Indians for Sale! Cigar Shop Indians & The Commodity of Indigenous Culture," as well as concluding editing on, "The Sacred Fire of the Odawa," A narrative on the Waganakising Odawuk // The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, both set to be released in 2025.

Although Seth's academic and scholarly writings largely focus on Indigenous-based land learning, art, activism, and representation in contemporary American culture, this does not holistically define him, or restrict his academic, creative, or personal pursuits. As a professional commercial artist and photographer, Seth's client portfolio includes Anchor Hocking, Amazon, Home Depot, HGTV, Log Home Living, Active Interest Media Group, Necco Candy Company, CBM Motorcycles, ERA Sculpture, Mezco Toys, the City of Greenville, WGLM 106.3 FM & 1380 AM, along with several other national and global publications, and global Internet commerce sites.

To help support Indigenous-based creativity, click here.

Courses Taught

Anthropology

ANTH 260. - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

ANTH 266 - Indigenous Cultures of North America

Art - Digital

DART 101 - Introduction to Digital Arts

DART 110 - Photographic Foundations I

DART 120 - Commercial Design I

DART 130 - Digital Imaging

DART 210 - Photographic Foundations II

DART 220 - Commercial Design II

DART 250 - Studio Photography

DART 270 - Architectural Photography

DART 280 - Digital Arts as a Business

Art - History

ARTS 190 - Art Appreciation

ARTS 215 - Art History I: Primitive to Renaissance
ARTS 216 - Art History II: Renaissance to Contemporary

ARTS 265 - Introduction to Film

Arts - Visual

ARTS 122 - Drawing I

ARTS 123 - Drawing II

ARTS 140 - 2-Dimensional Design & Color

ARTS 270 - Arts Entrepreneurship

ARTS 275 - Portfolio

Humanities

ARTS 215 - Art History I: Primitive to Renaissance
ARTS 216 - Art History II: Rena to Contemporary

Music

MUSI 101 - Music Appreciation

Philosophy

PHIL 220 - Introduction to Philosophy

Sociology

SOCI 235 - Social Problems

Languages Spoken:

English - Native speaker

Anishinaabemowin - Conversational fluency

Spanish - Limited conversational knowledge

French - Limited conversational knowledge

Anishinaabemowin Word of the Day!

Boozhoo! Welcome to Anishinaabemowin Words of the Day! Every day throughout the month of November, Seth introduces a new word or phrase and the context in which it is spoken. Click the link below to start speaking this land's traditional language!

Anishinaabemo! // Let's speak the Odawa language!

Faculty Roles & Departmental Responsibilities:

My role as a faculty member in the Arts & Humanities department consists of curriculum development and assessment, overseeing transfer articulation agreements, maintenance and implementation of course content, as well as hiring and mentoring adjunct faculty for the department. Although community outreach is not specifically in my job description, fostering and maintaining relationships within our educational and business communities is a must; it helps to make the Arts & Humanities program competitive and top of the line with the newest practices.

As a faculty member of the college, it means that I am the physical extension of the college’s mission. I am here to educate my community and represent the college in a good faith capacity. As faculty I have the opportunity to foster professional relationships with colleagues from different disciplines, as a way to grow and expand my knowledge base, so I can give my students a more well-rounded and authentic classroom experience.

I believe as a faculty member one of the many responsibilities are to my students. To make sure they are given every opportunity to better themselves and to be their advocate along their journey. I have the responsibility to my students and to my colleagues to make my classroom a safe and inclusive learning environment. I feel that this is paramount to the success of the college. This responsibility extends into all avenues such as campus rules, regulations, policies, and more.

Committee Appointments:

Curriculum Committee

We are an advisory committee that oversees, discusses and makes recommendations on course content. Including, but not limited to, new courses, revised courses as well as course prerequisites and program criteria for all academic disciplines.

Co-Curricular Committee

This committee is responsible for enriching the academic experience for the MCC student by broadening their social awareness to contemporary issues and refocusing their cultural experiences. The committee oversees and coordinates all cultural events on campus.

Diversity Committee

The purpose of this committee is to examine current policies and procedures at Montcalm Community College. The goal is to evaluate current language used in MCC’s policies and procedures in the context of modern values regarding inclusivity and diversity. The intent is to review current policy and procedure language, shed light on problematic language, and offer equitable resolutions.

Curation Committee

This committee is responsible for the acquisition, curation, and preservation of artifacts within MCC's permanent and temporary collections.

Extra Curricular:

The Sugar Council - Sugar Captain

The Sugar Council is a multidisciplinary campus-wide project that is run by a diverse body of faculty and staff across MCC. The Sugar Bush is a hands-on learning environment for students and community members to learn and participate in the traditions of maple sugaring. The Sugar Bush is yet another way MCC is working to restore cultural events and ideas to Montcalm County and beyond.

Advisor - Art League

The Art League provides a platform for creative expression. Artists develop collectively as well as individually while gaining the personal, cultural, and global awareness needed to navigate our complex, contemporary society.

Students participate in on-campus and community events, such as:

Event photography
Graphic design
Promotional materials
Documentary needs

Advisor – Native American Student Association (NASA)

As an organized body of Indigenous and non-Indigenous student advocates and allies, the mission of the Native American Student Association (NASA) is to support the development of an inclusive culturally pluralistic campus environment, where Indigenous heritage is accepted and celebrated. The NASA strives to preserve, educate, and explore local Indigenous culture while providing a strong, diverse atmosphere that encourages personal development and academic achievement, as well as raising awareness for political and social issues that affect Indigenous communities and communities at large.

Students participate in on-campus and community events, such as:

Film Screenings
Cultural Events
Field Trips
Lectures
Workshops
Camps
Community Service
Local and Regional Conservation Projects

Indigenous Heritage Celebration.

I, along with MCC’s NASA, collaborate with Grand Valley State University’s Native American Student Association, for the observed ‘Native American Heritage Month’ in November. Between the two schools, we are able to hold, on average, 20 + scheduled events. We have had a wide range of interactive and community-involved events, such as:

Panel discussions
Film Screenings
Lectures
Musical entertainment
Poetry Readings
Artist Exhibits at MCC and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Social Media / community engagement
Language videos

Outside of Montcalm Community College:

Grand Valley State University - Native American Advisory Council - Council Member

This council oversees the creation and regulation of curriculum and policy put forth by the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs through GVSU in regard to Native American Student populations.

NAAC also oversees and advises GVSU’s Native American Student Association, NASA. We are responsible for the coordination and implementation of native-derived community-involved events.

Including but not limited to:

Annual All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow.

Norton Mounds clean up

Grand River cleanup projects

Local and Regional conservation projects

Events and activities through the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs.

C-THEM (Collaborative of Tribal and Higher Education in Michigan) – Member

This collaboration seeks to improve Indigenous student outcomes by combining the strengths and resources of Michigan’s two-year, and four-year colleges and Indigenous communities to build relationships, foster collaborations, share resources and create new infrastructures to better support Indigenous students at all phases of their academic journey. C-THEM is a sub-committee within CMTED (Confederation of Michigan Tribal Education Directors)

FNMIEAO (First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario) – Member

The First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario is a subject association for educators teaching First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies, and Native Languages in Ontario, Canada. We support and help all educators understand issues related to First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples in Canada and the Great Lakes Basin, as well as offer strategies for teaching this content to all learners.

Our purpose is to support and promote the provision of quality education on histories, worldviews, and knowledge systems that are rooted in the experiences and perspectives of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples.

Goals:

To promote strong First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies and Language programs across Ontario and the Great Lakes basin

To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among those involved in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education

To provide leadership in and advocacy for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education and languages

To create and facilitate authentic learning opportunities and professional development

To liaise with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit educational organizations

To collaborate with community partners to create high-quality, comprehensive resources

To support the process of reconciliation in classrooms and school communities

Michigan - State Historic Preservation Office

Member in good standing

Architectural Historian Consultant

Michigan Archaeological Society

Member in good standing

Historical Society of Michigan

Member in good standing

Southwest Social Science Association

Member in good standing

International Humanities and Social Science Association

Member in good standing

Michigan Loon Preservation Association

Lifetime Member

Aaniin.

hello.

Seth Thomas Sutton

Educational Background

Courses Taught

Languages Spoken:

Anishinaabemowin Word of the Day!

Faculty Roles & Departmental Responsibilities:

Committee Appointments:

Extra Curricular:

Outside of Montcalm Community College:

Aaniin.

hello.

Seth Thomas Sutton

Educational Background

Courses Taught

Languages Spoken:

Anishinaabemowin Word of the Day!

Faculty Roles & Departmental Responsibilities:

Committee Appointments:

Extra Curricular:

Outside of Montcalm Community College:

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