A collaborative effort between Michigan State University’s Native American Institute, or NAI, and Indigenous Youth Empowerment Program, or IYEP, and the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots is ensuring Native American youth in the Lansing area receive gifts this holiday season.
When Kevin Leonard assumed his role as interim director of NAI in 2022, he participated in listening sessions to strengthen relationships between the university and Tribes throughout the state. This included the United Tribes of Michigan, where he met Rodney Loonsfoot, of the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Community in the Upper Peninsula’s Baraga County. Loonsfoot is a former Marine who currently serves as a Tribal council member and Tribal veteran service officer.
During their conversations, Loonsfoot mentioned the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Native American Program, which could deliver hundreds of toys to urban Indian youth who are either unaffiliated with a reservation or do not live near their traditional communities. Leonard contacted Estrella Torrez, professor in MSU’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities and co-director of IYEP, and the Lansing School District, who collectively identified local Native families in need of support for their children during the holiday season.
“I’m grateful for the continued collaboration with Kevin and MSU to bring Toys for Tots to the Lansing community and offer the Native American program a special miigwech [thank you in Ojibwe],” council member Loonsfoot said. “Working together allows us to honor our commitment to supporting Native youth and ensuring every child feels the joy and generosity of the season.”
Building on this shared commitment, Leonard, who became NAI’s permanent director in 2024, emphasized how reestablishing relationships laid the foundation for the program’s success. “Renewing our relationship with KBIC led to launching the annual Toys for Tots program in Lansing,” he said. “Rodney’s willingness and commitment to supporting Native youth in our area and across the state has been invaluable.”
Toy collection efforts led to coordination with Mark Rokita, operations supervisor with MSU’s Infrastructure Planning and Facilities team, who accepted, stored and then delivered four 6-foot-tall pallets worth of gifts to the Eva L. Evans Welcome Center in Lansing. In addition to the toys, IPF delivered books donated by the Book Depot in Buffalo, New York.
Toys, books and food donations were distributed to more than 300 children on Dec. 11 and 12 at the Evans Welcome Center. Thousands of gifts were wrapped by volunteers and ready for pickup, along with meals for the families.
"Each year, we are able to come together and share gifts, food and stories with the youth in our community,” Torrez said. “We are so grateful for all the support and care that our community dedicates to uplifting the Indigenous youth in the Greater Lansing area.”
In only its second year, the program has doubled the number of families receiving support, highlighting the power of collaboration. By reestablishing strong relationships with Tribal communities, this effort has created meaningful opportunities to support Native youth and families during this holiday season and in years to come.
This story originally appeared on the University Outreach and Engagement website.
