Indige-FEWSS Seminar Library
Native Voices in STEM
and Professional Seminar recordings
Cultural Humility and Supporting Native Students
Dr. Iris PrettyPaint
February 17, 2021
Dr. Iris PrettyPaint (Blackfeet/Crow Nations) is a leading authority on Native student achievement and recognition; cultural resilience and health realization; Indigenous evaluation; community prevention; and community and family engagement with rural and urban American Indian/Alaska Native communities. She guided the development of the Family Education Model, which integrates family-centered strategies for evaluation, networking, cultural activities, counseling, life skills, and mentoring. Dr. PrettyPaint spoke to over 125 University of Arizona and Dine' College students, staff and faculty about engaging with Native American students from a place of cultural humility. View the presentation slides, connect to resources and read the glossary and bibliography of suggested readings. Dr. PrettyPaint supplied a Resiliency personal assessment tool.
This workshop was not recorded. If you have any questions, please contact Cara Duncan Shopa at caraduncan@arizona.edu
VIEW THE PRESENTATION PDF VIEW THE RESOURCES PDF VIEW THE RESILIENCY TOOL
Native STEM Education
Gregory Cajete, Tewa
September 13, 2021
Dr. Gregory Cajete's work is dedicated to honoring the foundations of Indigenous knowledge in education. He is a Tewa Indian from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Dr. Cajete is also a scholar of herbalism and holistic health. He also designs culturally-responsive curricula geared to the special needs and learning styles of Native American students. He worked at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico for 21 years. While at the Institute, he served as Dean of the Center for Research and Cultural Exchange, Chair of Native American Studies and Professor of Ethno-Science. He is the former Director of Native American Studies (18 years) and is Professor Emeritus in the Division of Language, Literacy, and Socio-Cultural Studies in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico.
Hopi Farming, Food Sovereignty and Indigenous STEM Education
Michael Kotutwa Johnson, Hopi
April 21, 2021
Michael Kotutwa Johnson, PhD, a member of the Hopi Tribe in Northern Arizona, serves as NAAF’s Research Associate. As a traditional Hopi farmer and practitioner, Dr. Johnson has given extensive lectures throughout his professional career on the topic of Hopi dryland farming, a practice of his people for over two millennia. Some of Dr. Johnson’s previous work experience involved agriculture and land related issues at First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ITLF). He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Pepperdine University and Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona where he was an Alford P. Sloan Foundation scholar and American Indian Graduate Center STEM awardee. Dr. Johnson was a Natural Resource District Conservationist assigned to the Hopi Reservation for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Indigenous and Interdisciplinary STEM Education
Daniel Wildcat, Yuchi Member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma
March 17, 2021
Daniel R. Wildcat, PhD, is a professor at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, where he has been teaching for over 30 years. Dr. Wildcat is an accomplished scholar who write on indigenous knowledge, technology, environment, and education. He is also co-director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center, which he founded with colleagues from the Center for Hazardous Substance Research at Kansas State University. Dr. Wildcat is the co-author with Vine Deloria, Jr. of “Powers and Places: Indian Education in America (published by Fulcrum, 2001), and co-editor with Steve Pavilik of “Destroying Dogmas: Vine Deloria, Jr., and his influence on American Society” (published by Fulcrum, 2006). Known for his commitment to environmental defense and cultural diversity, Dr. Wildcat has been honored with the Heart Peace Award by the Kansas City-based organization The Future Is Now.
Tohono O'odham Climate Adaptation and Water Resources
Selso Villegas, Tohono O'odham
February 17, 2021
Dr. Selso Villegas (Tohono O'odham) serves as the Executive Director of the Tohono O'odham Department of Water Resources. His leadership and passion have been instrumental in developing a climate change adaptation plan for the Nation. Dr. Villegas, along with researchers from the IE and several graduate students, crafted a plan to address how climate change is likely to affect the Nation and which strategies could be used most effectively to reduce the negative impacts. The plan was approved by the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council in 2018, allowing for implementation by departments and agencies. Read Dr. Villegas' dissertation: Dynamics of Selenium in Cibola Lake, Arizona
DigDeep Navajo Water Project: Long Term + Relief Projects
Emma Robbins, Diné
January 20, 2021
Emma Robbins is a Diné artist, activist, and environmentalist with a passion for empowering Indigenous women. As Director of the Navajo Water Project, part of the DigDeep Right to Water Project, she is working to create infrastructure that brings clean running water to the one in three Navajo families without it. Through her artwork, she strives to raise awareness about the lack of clean water in Native American nations. Robbins is also a 2020 Aspen Institute Healthy Communities Fellow.
Navajo Ethno-Agriculture and Community Empowerment
Nonabah Lane, Navajo
December 2, 2020
Nonabah Lane is the co-founder of Navajo Ethno-Agriculture, a community non-profit she operates with her family to sustain Navajo culture by teaching traditional farming. Ms. Lane also co-founded Navajo Power, a public benefit corporation that develops utility scale clean energy projects on tribal lands.
Studying Those Who Study Us: Anthropologists, Geneticists, and Indigenous Peoples
Kim Tallbear, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
November 18, 2020
Watch the seminar View the presentation PDF
Rethinking Tribal Resource Governance in an Era of Climate Change
Dr. Andrew Curley, Diné
October 21, 2020
Dr. Andrew Curley is Assistant Professor in the School of Geography, Development & Environment at the University of Arizona. Contact Dr. Curley at acurley@arizona.edu
Watch the seminar View the presentation PDF
Indigenous Ecosystem Stewardship
Dr. Joseph Brewer, Cherokee Nation & Oglala Lakota
September 16, 2020
Dr. Joseph Brewer is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and the Director of the Indigenous Studies Program at the University of Kansas. He received his PhD in Arid Lands Resources Sciences from the University of Arizona, where he was a Sloan Scholar.
Working with Tribal Nations in Natural Resources & Climate Change
Dr. Casey Thornbrugh, Mashpee Wampanoag
April 28, 2020
Dr. Casey Thornbrugh (Mashpee Wampanoag) is the Tribal Climate Science Liaison for United South & Eastern Tribes, Inc., and Northeast/Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
Watch the seminar View the presentation PDF
Trees, Water, & People
Mr. James Calabaza
March 4, 2020
Mr. James Calabaza is the National Program Coordinator for Trees Water & People. He spoke about the mission of empowering Native communities to move toward a renewable and cleaner world.
Engineering with Leadership in the Indian Health Service-SFC Program
Part of the Alumni Lunch Series
Dr. Peter Littlehat
February 21, 2020
Dr. Peter Littlehat is the District Engineer for the Indian Health Services Sanitation Facilities Construction program. His primary responsibility is to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to Navajo homes.
Dr. Tommy Jones: Native Voices in STEM Seminar
Dr. Tommy Jones
February 5, 2020
Dr. Tommy Jones is an environmental engineer with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs. His focus is on developing renewable energy projects on tribal lands.
Endocrine Disrupting Pollutants in Wastewater
Dr. Otakuye Conroy-Ben
February 5, 2020
Dr. Otakuye Conroy-Ben is Assistant Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University (ASU).
Outdoor Industry and the Food, Energy, Water Nexus
Len Necefer, PhD
September 3, 2019
Len Necefer, PhD, American Indian Studies and the Udall Center for Public Policy
Prioritization of potable water infrastructure investments on the Navajo Nation
Ronson Chee, PhD, PE
April 17, 2019
Ronson Chee, PhD, PE; Principle Water Resources Engineer, Riley Engineering
Conducting Business In Indian Country
Joan Timeche
March 13, 2019
Food-Energy-Water Challenges in a Solar and Wind Powered, Off-Grid School
Mark Sorenson
February 13, 2019
A Navajo Engineer’s Perspective on Walking in Beauty on an Ever-changing Path
Sandra Begay
January 16, 2019
Arizona Tribal Extension: Supporting Tribal Communities and Extension in Indian Country
Trent Teegerstrom
November 7, 2018
Indigenous Rights to Water and State Responsibility Under International Law
James Hopkins, PhD
October 10, 2018
Jim Hopkins, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor, Indigenous People's Law and Policy Program, Affiliated Professor of American Indian Studies & Latin American Studies
Nexus Thinking, Nexus Tools, Nexus Solutions: Origins and Prospects for Food-Energy-Water Systems
Christopher Scott, PhD
September 12, 2018
Christopher Scott, PhD, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy; Professor – School of Geography & Development; University Distinguished Scholar