Cyndi Bergloff, MDA Tribal Liaison
Pronouns: They/ Them/ Theirs
Anishinaabe from Michigan: Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians - Thunderbird Clan
Cyndi Bergloff was named MDA Tribal Liaison in November 2025. Originally from Chicago, with close ties to Milwaukee, WI and Muskegon, MI, Cyndi is now based in Minneapolis. Their work focuses on building relationships with Tribal Nations across Minnesota to support Indigenous food systems, land stewardship, and cultural revitalization.
With over a decade of experience in Indigenous education, Cyndi has integrated Indigenous agriculture, outdoor education, and Indigenous sciences into Anishinaabemowin language classrooms. Their passion for Indigenous food systems, urban agriculture, and regenerative growing practices supports movements of reawakening Indigenous knowledge-ways, rooted in ecological balance and relationality.
Cyndi looks forward to connecting with and supporting each Tribal Nation’s unique needs. While a significant part of their role centers on in-depth consultations and stakeholder engagement, they remain passionate about engaging directly with on-the-ground efforts. Unafraid to get their boots dirty, Cyndi often joins Tribal Nations, Urban Indigenous Communities, and Indigenous farmers in planting, weeding, harvesting, and beyond. They welcome opportunities to visit current projects and deeply value hearing stories from Community Elders about how these initiatives came to life.
Cyndi holds a B.A. in American Indian Studies and Linguistics, a Minnesota Tier 4 teaching license in American Indian Language & Culture (Ojibwemowin), and a M.A. in Education from Augsburg University. They are currently pursuing a Doctorate in First Nations Education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Outside of work, Cyndi enjoys reading, creating art, studying Indigenous ethnobotany, foraging, trail building with the North Country Trail Association, and sitting with their Grandma and Aunties, listening to stories over a hot cup of coffee.
