Gary Besaw is an enrolled Menominee and the Director of The Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture and Food Systems as well as the Director of The Menominee Tribal Food Distribution Program. Gary’s current responsibilities include development and reestablishment of Menominee sustainable indigenous food systems as well as Menominee’s role in intertribal food economies in the Great Lakes Region. He has served on the Menominee Tribal Legislature for 15 years, twice holding positions as Tribal Chairman and also as Vice Chairman and Secretary. Gary had served on multiple environmental and policy committees for Menominee, including 15 years as Menominee’s representative for the State-Tribal Relations Study Committee of the WI. Joint Legislative Council, the Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council, and currently on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture , Trade, and Consumer Protection Board.. Gary has presented on environmental, food policy, legal, and social/cultural concerns at local, state, intertribal, and national levels. Gary previously worked his professional career in Native American education, at the College of Menominee Nation as Vice President of Student Services, and in K-12 education as a Superintendent, Administrator, Curriculum Coordinator, and Art Instructor. He holds an MS in Education Administration from UW-Madison and BS in Art Education from UW-Stout.