Donna Budnick, Harbor Springs

Donna L. Budnick is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and is employed by the Tribe as the Legislative Services Attorney and is a former Tribal Council member. Her past experience includes Tribal Prosecutor for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, Appellate Judge for Little Traverse Tribe, Executive Director of the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs and American Indian Affairs Specialist with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

Donna graduated from Michigan State University in 1986 and completed her Juris Doctorate from T. M. Cooley Law School in 1990 and holds a certificate from Wayne State University in MultiCultural Experience in Leadership Development, 2004.

Donna continues to provide services to the community as a board member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Indian Law Section, and she is a former board member of Michigan Indian Legal Services, the Governors' Interstate Indian Council, the Nokomis Learning Center, Capital Area Girls Scouts Nomination Committee and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College.

Donna was the recipient of the 2005 Tecumseh Peacemaking Award. The award is given by the Michigan State Bar, American Indian Law Section, "for demonstrating the highest spirit of leadership in her efforts to protect and advance American Indian legal and culture rights."

Donna lives in Harbor Springs, Michigan with her husband Jeffrey Budnick.