Indigenous futures with Dr. Lee Francis IV
In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, the MSU Museum presents a conversation with Dr. Lee Francis IV (Pueblo of Laguna), also known as Dr. IndigiNerd. Founder and Chief Imagination Officer of the Indigenous Imagination Workshop, Dr. Lee is an award-winning writer, editor, educator, and entrepreneur whose work centers Indigenous futurisms, storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Indigenous Comic Con, the Indigenous Futurisms Festival, and Red Planet Books and Comics, and a longtime advocate for Native American youth. This program invites audiences to consider futures shaped by Indigenous imagination, sovereignty, and innovation.
About Dr. Lee Francis IV
Dr. Lee Francis IV, Ph.D. (Pueblo of Laguna) aka Dr. IndigiNerd is the Founder and Chief Imagination Officer of the Indigenous Imagination Workshop, an organization dedicated to sparking and cultivating the Indigenous Imagination. He is an educator and entrepreneur and the founder of the Indigenous Comic Con, Indigenous Worlds of Wonder, the Indigenous Futurisms Festival, Native Realities, and Red Planet Books and Comics.
Lee is also an award-winning writer and editor with multiple publications from poetry to short stories to comics. He was the host and lead writer for IndigiGenius on New Mexico PBS and the co-producer for Sovereign Innovations on PBS Digital. He is also the creator of Sovereignty Gardens, a Native American kids puppetry show that teaches youth about gardening and food sovereignty. He continues to be a strong advocate for Native American youth, especially in helping them with creative entrepreneurship. He lives in North Carolina with his family.