Integrating Western and indigenous sciences
in wildlife conservation
Integrating Western and indigenous sciences
Professional background I am a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow in biology and a Research Associate in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University) in Arcata, CA. In collaboration with Redwood National Park and the Yurok Tribe, I am conducting research on elk habitat ecology through Yurok Traditional Ecological Knowledge and elk molecular scatology.
Under my postdoctoral fellowship, I maintain research connections with the Culver Conservation Genetics Lab at The University of Arizona and the Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit at UC Davis. In January 2023, I will begin a tenure track position: Assistant Professor, Indigenous Forestry, in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University! The Yurok Tribe shared a story about my hire, "Yurok Scientist/Scholar Accepts Truly Unique Position at Northern Arizona University." I have published works on the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel in Arizona, Yurok Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and culturally sensitive wildlife research. Current and upcoming manuscripts focus on a wildlife survey on Yurok ancestral lands via scat genetic analyses and the Yurok-wildlife relationship.
Over the past 10 years, I have delivered presentations and workshops on topics such as Western and Indigenous scientific philosophies, history of the Wildlife profession in parallel with Indian Country, wildlife scat surveys, wildlife habitat monitoring, and culturally sensitive Traditional Ecological Knowledge research in wildlife conservation. 
In my science outreach program, I work with elementary education, higher education, and the public. I have also taught courses such as Introductory Biology Lab and Case Studies in Environmental Ethics.
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Photo credit: Kellie Brown
ABOUT MEI am Yurok (tribal member), Karuk and Chicana. My expertise lies in the integration of Western and Indigenous sciences in applied wildlife research. By utilizing Indigenous Research Methodologies and understanding Traditional Ecological Knowledge through an Indigenous lens, I aim to conduct culturally sensitive research with Indigenous communities.
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Professional Activities
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Special issue,
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Native Peoples
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I am serving as a Guest Associate Editor for a special issue, "Indigenous Contributions to Molecular Ecology," in the journal Molecular Ecology Resources.
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I have been a member of the Native Peoples' Wildlife
Management Working Group of The Wildlife Society since 2007. I currently serve on the Native Student Professional Development Program Committee for the working group. |
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Yurok language |
Native American
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I am participating in a Teacher Candidate program in the Yurok Tribe Language Program's Kee Laa-yo-lue-mehl ("They will teach"). With the help of the program staff and fellow teacher candidates, I passed assessments for Yurok levels I and II. I am now qualified to teach at those levels.
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I served on the
President's Native American Advisory Council (now the Joint Native American Advisory Council) at Cal Poly Humboldt 2016-2021. |