Siobhan Marks Our Grandmothers Strap Dress

[WINative]

We have had several requests for information on her lineage in Wisconsin. These are the only links I can find on her. She reportedly appeared in Milwaukee Native Community in 2009, with No known Native connection, and is now a "cultural expert and Leader."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjj_gw6ogMU

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115309332/mary-jane-kalmanson

https://www.spottedeagle.us/wp-www/board/

https://ics-edu.org/staff/administrative-staff/siobhan-marks/

[Diana]

" I am a descendant of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and of Cree descent"
Hmmm...I did a quick look at her ancestry, went back on both sides to great grandparents all white. One gg grandparent was from Ireland the rest were Canadian English and Wisconsin. Looked up the Canadian gg grandparents all white. She also mentioned an uncle Neil Oppendyke. He's a well known....I'm not sure how to describe him. He's definitely white but seems to have a fetish for anything Indian. So much so that he put on powwows and learned how to bead. Here's his obituary. And as far as I  can tell she's not related to him. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/4211503/Neil-Oppendike

Here's part of his obituary.  "He was a Boy Scout leader, and had a lifelong passion for American Indian lore. He put on Indian pow wows in the early 70’s in Prophetstown, and developed a worldwide reputation for the quality of his Indian beadwork."

Also here's his Facebook page with that Siobhon Marks both dressed up in regalia. https://m.facebook.com/neil.oppendike?tsid=0.6300487768438905&source=result

[WINative]

Thanks Diana. I and others could not find any Native blood on either sides of her family either. But I thought it best to let those skilled in genealogy and with access to more databases to check her out.

I was informed she appropriated her original Ojibwe "Our Grandmothers Strap Dress," idea starting in 2017, from another Non-Native white woman Jessica Diemer-Eaton who runs and does re-enactments at the Woodland Indian Education Program.

https://www.facebook.com/JessicaDiemerEaton

http://www.woodlandindianedu.com/home.html

[WINative]

Thanks Diana. I and others could not find any Native blood on either sides of her family either. But I thought it best to let those skilled in genealogy and with access to more databases to check her out.

I was informed she appropriated her original Ojibwe "Our Grandmothers Strap Dress," idea starting in 2017, from another Non-Native white woman Jessica Diemer-Eaton who runs and does re-enactments at the Woodland Indian Education Program.

https://www.facebook.com/JessicaDiemerEaton

http://www.woodlandindianedu.com/home.html

Here's a Photo of them together from Facebook in 2016.

[Diana]

Do you know what side of the family she said she got her Indian blood from?

[WINative]

Diana, I believe she claimed on her mother's side.

[WINative]

Her Mother Mary Jane Smith, born 1922, died 2008-Irish-French-German from Chippewa Falls Wisconsin
Father Jerome Kalmanson, born 1914, and died 2000-First generation Lithuanian

Maternal grandparents: Frank Smith 1896-1945 Married Jane W. Smith 1897-1981-Chippewa Falls, WI

Maternal Great grandparents: Samuel G. Smith, born 1858, died 1940 Married Adella Jones-1868-1952

Maternal Great-Great grandparents: Alvah Smith, born October 15, 1820 NY-Died October 14, 1905 Chippewa Falls-
Married Sarah Richardson born Sep. 25, 1830 Ontario Canada, died June 1, 1905

[WINative]

I don't see any responses or serious inquiries on this post yet. This person has been very harmful to the Native American community of Wisconsin. Siobhan Marks is considered by some to be the "Rachel Dolezal of Milwaukee." Not just for the fact she possesses No American Indian blood, but she has also consolidated control and power over three major Native American Non-profits in Milwaukee. She gained entrance through her marketing company Sonsee Array Creative and later obtained board member positions based on her assumed Native American blood. In which she uses to gain opportunities and attention for herself and her partner Marin Mark Webster Denning, former Marquette Warriors Mascot. She was also accepted as a member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge, in  which she uses to market herself as a cultural expert and promotes "Our Grandmothers Dress," as her original idea and research.
She is currently:
Spotted Eagle Inc.-Chairman since June 2015 until present.
Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center-Board of Directors Secretary-since 2016 to present.
Indian Community School-Communications & Marketing Director-Since 2019 to present.

[Diana]

Here is Siobhan Marks mother in the 1930 census with her parents. They are all white. I will be posting her grandparents, great grandparents and up to gg grandparents. Thay are all white.
A relative of Siobhan Marks has posted a family tree for the family and has done a very good and in depth job. Her mother's side of the family goes all the way back to her 5th great grandparents.  We're talking the early 1700s to the late 1600s. She has a very impressive family tree. Lots of distinguished veterans from the civil war up to the WWII. Shame on this women for disrespecting her family like this.


Mary J Smith
in the 1930 United States Federal Census

View1930 United States Federal Census

Name:   Mary J Smith
Birth Year:   abt 1923
Gender:   Female
Race:   White
Age in 1930:   7
Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Marital Status:   Single
Relation to Head of House:   Daughter
Home in 1930:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin, USA
Map of Home:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin
Dwelling Number:   180
Family Number:   185
Attended School:   Yes
Able to Read and Write:   Yes
Father's Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Mother's Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Able to Speak English:   Yes
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Frank Smith
35   Head
Jane Smith
34   Wife
Mary J Smith   7   Daughter
Ethel M Smith
2   Daughter

Frank Smith
in the 1930 United States Federal Census

View1930 United States Federal Census

Name:   Frank Smith
Birth Year:   abt 1895
Gender:   Male
Race:   White
Age in 1930:   35
Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Marital Status:   Married
Relation to Head of House:   Head
Home in 1930:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin, USA
Map of Home:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin
Dwelling Number:   180
Family Number:   185
Home Owned or Rented:   Rented
Home Value:   10
Radio Set:   No
Lives on Farm:   No
Age at First Marriage:   23
Attended School:   No
Able to Read and Write:   Yes
Father's Birthplace:   Minnesota
Mother's Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Able to Speak English:   Yes
Occupation:   Farmer
Industry:   General Farm
Class of Worker:   Working on own account
Employment:   Yes
Veteran:   Yes
War:   WW
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Frank Smith   35   Head
Jane Smith
34   Wife
Mary J Smith
7   Daughter
Ethel M Smith
2   Daughter

Jane Smith
in the 1930 United States Federal Census

View1930 United States Federal Census
 
Name:   Jane Smith
Birth Year:   abt 1896
Gender:   Female
Race:   White
Age in 1930:   34
Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Marital Status:   Married
Relation to Head of House:   Wife
Homemaker?:   Yes
Home in 1930:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin, USA
Map of Home:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin
Dwelling Number:   180
Family Number:   185
Age at First Marriage:   22
Attended School:   No
Able to Read and Write:   Yes
Father's Birthplace:   Canada
Mother's Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Able to Speak English:   Yes
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Frank Smith
35   Head
Jane Smith   34   Wife
Mary J Smith
7   Daughter
Ethel M Smith
2   Daughter

[Diana]

Here is Siobhan Marks great grandparents. Samuel Smith and Adella Smith on her father's side, great grandmother's maiden name Jones. In this census Samuel Smith's father in law is living with them. James Jones

Sam Smith
in the 1910 United States Federal Census

View1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Sam Smith
Age in 1910:   54
Birth Year:   abt 1856
Birthplace:   Minnesota
Home in 1910:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin
Race:   White
Gender:   Male
Relation to Head of House:   Head
Marital Status:   Married
Spouse's Name:   Adella Smith
Father's Birthplace:   New York
Mother's Birthplace:   Canada
[Canada French]
Native Tongue:   English
Occupation:   Farmer
Industry:   Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:   Employer
Home Owned or Rented:   Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:   Free
Farm or House:   Farm
Able to read:   Yes
Able to Write:   Yes
Years Married:   25
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Sam Smith   54   Head
Adella Smith
40   Wife
Wilfred Smith
18   Son
Claire Smith
16   Son
Frank Smith
14   Son
Norman Smith
2   Son
Elsie Smith
21   Daughter
James Jones
70   Father-in-law

Adella Smith
in the 1910 United States Federal Census

View1910 United States Federal Census
 
Name:   Adella Smith
[Adella Jones]
Age in 1910:   40
Birth Year:   abt 1870
Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Home in 1910:   Eagle Point, Chippewa, Wisconsin
Race:   White
Gender:   Female
Relation to Head of House:   Wife
Marital Status:   Married
Spouse's Name:   Sam Smith
Father's Name:   James Jones
Father's Birthplace:   Ohio
Mother's Birthplace:   New York
Native Tongue:   English
Able to read:   Yes
Able to Write:   Yes
Years Married:   25
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Sam Smith
54   Head
Adella Smith   40   Wife
Wilfred Smith
18   Son
Claire Smith
16   Son
Frank Smith
14   Son
Norman Smith
2   Son
Elsie Smith
21   Daughter
James Jones
70   Father-in-law

Here is Adella Smith maiden name Jones in the 1880 census with her family.


Adela Jones
 in the 1880 United States Federal Census

View1880 United States Federal Census

Name:   Adela Jones
Age:   10
Birth Date:   Abt 1870
Birthplace:   Wisconsin
Home in 1880:   Wheaton, Chippewa, Wisconsin, USA
Dwelling Number:   6
Race:   White
Gender:   Female
Relation to Head of House:   Daughter
Marital status:   Single
Father's Name:   James Jones
Father's Birthplace:   Ohio
Mother's Name:   Elen Jones
Mother's Birthplace:   New York
Occupation:   At Home
Attended School:   Yes
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members:   
Name   Age
James Jones   43
Elen Jones   31
Adela Jones   10

[WINative]

Siobhan Marks of Muskego, WI has No Native American blood going back five generations, which means she is Not a descendant of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa or Cree. She is Lithuanian, Irish, French, and German. A White European American.
So based on these lies and deception she should not be doing traditional Ojibwe teachings or leading Milwaukee Native community organizations. If she started out as a White ally she should have remained that, but instead falsified an identity that had to be traced and exposed. Her actions have not been guided by love for the Native American community, but by greed and selfishness.
This site was made for people like her who have risen to the highest levels of a Native community based on a false identity and she is a Fraud and should be identified here as such.

https://gliihc.net/about/board-of-directors/
https://ics-edu.org/staff/administrative-staff/siobhan-marks/
My Anishinaabe name is Zeegwun Noodenese and I am Migizi (Eagle) Clan. I am a descendant of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and of Cree descent; I am a First Degree Midewiwin of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge in Bad River, WI.  I serve on the board for the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center and also the Spotted Eagle, Inc. board, and I volunteer my time where ever possible in our Native community. My passions include reclaiming the original dress of our grandmothers and learning the Ojibwe language. I live in Muskego with my partner Mark and our two sons.

[Diana]

Here is Siobhan Marks great great grandparents. Siobhan's great great grandfather is Alvah Smith and was born in New York. Now there are some discrepancies in some of the censuses. In the 1870 census it shown he was born in Ohio. This is the only time in any of the censuses that says Ohio. The rest always says New York.
In the 1860 census it shows his wife Sophia,  by the 1870 census she is gone. And the 2 children's names are a little distorted and misspelled. Noria I believe was Maria and Samuel ended up as Saul. As you can see by 1870 the names are correct.
I've gone back 4 generations, we are now in the early 1800s and they're all white on the mother's fathers side. I think it's very clear Siobhan Marks is not Indian on her mother's paternal side. Tomorrow I'll start posting on the maternal side of Mary Jane Smith Kalmanson.


Alva Smith in the 1860 United States Federal Census

View1860 United States Federal Census

Name:   Alva Smith
Age:   34
Birth Year:   abt 1826
Gender:   Male
Birth Place:   New York
Home in 1860:   Eyota, Olmsted, Minnesota
Post Office:   Greenfield
Dwelling Number:   734
Family Number:   722
Occupation:   Farmer
Personal Estate Value:   200
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Alva Smith   34
Sophia Smith   27
Noria Smith   4
Saul Smith   2

Alva Smith in the 1870 United States Federal Census

View1870 United States Federal Census

Name:   Alva Smith
Age in 1870:   43
Birth Year:   abt 1827
Birthplace:   Ohio
Dwelling Number:   197
Home in 1870:   Eyota, Olmsted, Minnesota
Race:   White
Gender:   Male
Post Office:   Eyota
Occupation:   Farmer
Attended School:   Y
Male Citizen over 21:   Y
Personal Estate Value:   2000
Inferred Children:   Maria Smith
Samuel Smith
Frederic Smith
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Alva Smith   43
Maria Smith   14
Samuel Smith   12
Frederic Smith   10

Sophia Smith in the 1860 United States Federal Census

View1860 United States Federal Census

Name:   Sophia Smith
Age:   27
Birth Year:   abt 1833
Gender:   Female
Birth Place:   Canada
Home in 1860: Eyota, Olmsted, Minnesota
Post Office:   Greenfield
Dwelling Number:   734
Family Number:   722
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Alva Smith   34
Sophia Smith   27
Noria Smith   4
Saul Smith