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Our Panelists
Mercedes de Guardiola (she/her)
Mercedes de Guardiola's research focuses on the history of eugenics in America. A leading expert on Vermont's eugenics movement and policies of family separation, sterilization, institutionalization, and education, she testified before the state legislature during hearings in the 2020s.
She earned her BA from Dartmouth College and lives in New York City.
Don Stevens (he/him)
Don Stevens, Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk - Abenaki Nation and Executive Director of the tribal non-profit AHA-Abenaki Helping Abenaki, Inc.
Don was appointed to the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs by Governor Douglas in 2006 for two terms; where he served as Chair in his second term. Don helped lead the fight to obtain legal recognition for the Abenaki People in Vermont who were recognized by the Vermont Legislature in 2011. Don was able to acquire land and hunting/fishing rights for the Nulhegan Tribe which had been absent for over 200 years. Don is most proud of his partnership with Middlebury College to help start the Abenaki School of Language. Don continues to work with the Federal Government, Legislators, State & Local Governments, Institutions, and other Indian Nations to represent Nulhegan Abenaki viewpoints.
Don has over 30 years of experience in successfully developing Information Technology, Logistics, and strategies for multi-million dollar companies. He proudly served in the US Army and graduated from Champlain College with a degree in Computer Information Systems. Don currently serves on many State Boards and Advisory Panels. Don consistently provides educational opportunities to colleges, business, K-12 schools, and other institutions looking to learn about the Abenaki culture and history.
Don was honored by Middlebury College, Champlain College, and Sterling College with Doctorates of Human Letters Degrees.
Don is married to his lovely wife Diane Stevens who is a retired physical therapist from UVM Medical Center. They have 6 Children and 9 Grandchildren.
Photo provided by Diane Stevens Photography
Randy Kritkausky (he/him)
Randy Kritkausky is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. He lives in Whiting Vermont where he relocated in 2000.
Randy co-founded ECOLOGIA, an international environmental organization that has worked on some of the planet's most intractable ecological issues such as climate change, desertification in China,and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident.
Randy has adopted Vermont, and the second growth forest where he lives, as a homeland where the Abenaki and other than human kin (flora and fauna) have welcomed him.
Randy authored Without Reservation: Awakening to Native American Spirituality and the Ways of our Ancestors, in order to document his journey of re-discovering Indigenous spiritual roots.
He and his wife Carolyn live part time in Montreal where they witness the impact of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.