Gary considers himself a traditional thinking American Indian person with traditional American Indian values. As an American Indian person, and father of six children who have gone or are going through the post-secondary school system, it has always been important to him that they receive a sound education in the classroom and acquire an unassailable life perspective both inside and outside the formal school walls. As a Doctor of Education in Higher Educational Leadership and having a 20-year career path in higher education, it is safe to say that education is a corner stone in his personal construct.