Mihku Paul

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Kingsclear

PANEL: Native Freedom of Expression

ARTIST STATEMENT
Mihku Paul is a Maliseet Elder who was raised on a wild Maine river. She is enrolled at

Kingsclear First Nation, N.B. Canada and holds a BA in Human Development and Communication,as well as an MFA from Stonecoast. Her background is in Early Childhood Ed, and she has spent decades presenting Waponahki culture and history in Portland Public Schools. Her poetry is published internationally and has been translated to French and Spanish. Mihku now works in Food Sovereignty and serves on the board of Maine Writers and Publishers. She lives and works in Portland.

Daniel French

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mohawk

PANEL: Native Freedom of Expression

PERFORMER: Featured performer - Saturday, July 11, 1 - 1:45 p.m. on the Main Stage

BIOGRAPHY
From Bonnaroo to the Hollywood Bowl Daniel French is turning heads & hearts with his electric stage presence & signature sound. From Las Cafeteras founder to film composer turned solo firebrand Daniel’s art influences culture worldwide from Netflix studios to National debates, from Bonnaroo to the Hollywood Bowl & beyond. Hailing from Mohawk & Mexican roots his L.A. Latin, hip hop & Indigenous future sounds aim to build bridges even the most divided nation can dance on.

Photo By Gio Solis

Esther Labrado

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians

PANEL: Native Freedom of Expression

BIOGRAPHY
Esther Labrado is an attorney at Drummond Woodsum, in the Tribal Nations Practice Group. She assists clients on a broad array of matters, including trial and appellate litigation, code drafting, and development and enhancement of tribal justice systems, with an expertise in criminal jurisdiction issues. Esther is a citizen of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and a descendant of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Prior to joining Drummond Woodsum, Esther was the Legal Manager and Policy Lead, Legal and Governance at the National Congress of American Indians, where she advised Tribal Nations on implementation of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, managed a $13 million microgrants program for crime victim services, and staffed the Tribal Supreme Court Project. Esther also clerked for the Honorable Marjorie K. Allard on the Alaska Court of Appeals. Esther has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2024 and 2025, and by Best Lawyers on its Ones to Watch list in 2026 for her work in Native American Law.