who we are, what we do


Kenah

Kenah is Powhatan Algonquian for “thank you.”  For us, the name represents our gratitude to the clients who entrust us to collaborate with them to achieve tribal goals.  It is also a tribute to the Powhatan clients that gave Senior Executive Director, Michelle Lea Kiel, Ph.D., her start in Indian Country and to the Pamunkey roots of our Executive Director, Ashley Atkins Spivey, Ph.D.

At Kenah, our goal is to build long-term relationships with our tribal clients.  We do this through respect, discretion, and honesty.  We only take cases that we believe enhance tribal rights, sovereignty, capacity, and cultural preservation.  We use anthropology and anthropological expertise to advocate for and aid tribes on terms they define and in ways that ensure tribal ownership of tribal history.

Our team

Michelle Lea Kiel, PhD
Senior Executive Director

Dr. Kiel is a political anthropologist whose research focused on the intersection of state bureaucracy and indigenous populations. Michelle’s academic and professional experience gives her a unique perspective on how to mobilize data to aid indigenous communities to achieve their goals. Dr. Kiel specializes in federal acknowledgment, land into trust, natural resource rights, community and economic development, historic and ethnographic research and analysis, capacity building, and program development. Dr. Kiel has been working with indigenous communities for over 20 years.

Ashley Atkins Spivey, PhD
Executive Director

Dr. Spivey is an economic anthropologist whose research focused on archaeology and economy in native communities. Ashley’s academic and professional experience has been largely focused on cultural resource management and preservation in Indian Country. Ashley specializes in Cultural Resource Management, Museum Management, Historic and Ethnographic Research and Analysis, Program Development, and Grant-Writing. Her collaborations with Tribal communities and outside organizations has resulted in over $3 million in grants supporting tribal initiatives and institutional collaboration with tribal communities. Ashley is an enrolled member of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.

Stephanie Rose Hasselbacher, PhD
Associate Anthropologist

Dr. Hasselbacher is a linguistic anthropologist specializing in ethnographic research and program development, with expertise in community-driven language and literacy reclamation efforts. She has 10 years of experience working with indigenous communities on projects that support tribal sovereignty and protection of linguistic, cultural, and historic resources. Dr. Hasselbacher’s current efforts focus on organizational capacity building in the areas of federal acknowledgment, anthropological research and analysis, program management, grant writing, and grant management.

Catherine Hill, MA
Research Associate

Mrs. Hill is a cultural heritage and archaeological professional whose work has focused on ethical considerations in museum collections. With an academic background in archaeology, she is skilled in Program Development, Historic Research and Analysis, and Museum Management. Catherine has played a leading role in international repatriation efforts and facilitating collaboration with underrepresented communities in Indian Country and abroad. Her former work with the National Museum of Natural History has given her a wide range of experiences in reconciling the harmful legacies of colonialism and a network of resources across state and federal levels.

Katie McGhee
Research Assistant

Mx. McGhee is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s undergraduate linguistics program with a focus on computational linguistics, archival research, and Native American history. They have experience establishing the provenance of archival materials, analyzing early linguistic notation systems, and have previously worked with the American Philosophical Society as a Mellon Native American Scholars Initiative Intern. As a descendant of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Mx. McGhee has long had an interest in the issues facing Indian Country and this has shaped their approach to working with Indigenous communities.