Barbara E. Elgutaa is a member of the Oneida Nation from Wisconsin and is part of the Turtle Clan. Her maternal grandmother spoke Oneida language fluently as her first language. Her maternal grandfather's parents and siblings spoke Menominee. Her father, paternal grandfather and grandmother were all members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and worked passionately to revitalize their culture. As a small child, she heard Oneida and Menominee languages growing up. In addition to language, her mother, grandmother, and aunties taught culture, stories and traditional ways. One of these teachings was how education can change society. Barbara earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in counselor education from the University of Wisconsin and worked as an education counselor for 30 years, including as a certified Multicultural Counselor and Psychological & Emotional Trauma counselor. Barbara currently lives in Tucson, Arizona.