Coffia Welcomes Educator and Tribal Member Samantha TwoCrow to the Michigan Capitol as State of the State Guest
State Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) stands with guest Samantha TwoCrow at the State of the State address on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 on the House floor of the Capitol Building in Lansing.
LANSING, Mich., Feb. 26, 2026 — Yesterday, state Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) welcomed Samantha TwoCrow to the Michigan Capitol as her guest for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s eighth and final State of the State address.
“I am honored to welcome Sam, a tribal citizen and lauded educator of 20 years, as my guest for the 2026 State of the State address,” Coffia said. “As we discuss this year’s upcoming state budget, bringing all voices to the table will be essential for crafting a timely budget that reflects Michiganders’ values. Sam’s expertise in student needs and Indigenous culture makes her a valuable voice to bring into this conversation and uplift the need to preserve Indigenous culture and support our tribal communities.”
TwoCrow is a tribal citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, as well as the director of Indigenous education at Suttons Bay Schools. Her mother, an Indian boarding school survivor, taught beadwork and her grandfather was a painter. TwoCrow has followed her Indigenous roots by becoming an artist herself. Her work has won prestigious awards and her beadwork is held by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Additionally, for her work in education, TwoCrow won the 2024 Educator of the Year award from the Michigan Lottery’s Excellence in Education program.
“Statistically, Native Americans experience disproportionately the highest dropout rates in high school and the lowest attendance in higher education compared to other racial and ethnic groups. And the only race with treaty rights that include educational benefits, significant barriers to access and completion of higher education remain,” TwoCrow said. “It’s critical that we integrate culturally responsive pedagogy, language revitalization, restorative trauma-informed practices, and family engagement. Education is most powerful when it affirms identity rather than erasing it. Breaking cycles of poverty, underrepresentation, and systemic inequity requires long term relationship building, measurable outcomes, and trust.”
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