Being a woman in the STEM field, that’s already hard enough. But then being a Native American woman in the STEM field, that’s challenging. Luckily, I got involved with AISES, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. I got to go to the national conference. I have never felt so strong in my entire life. There were other Native people that had the same passion and drive, not only from their heritage but from their love of science. It was very empowering.
Last summer, I was one of 10 students selected to complete a research experience through an undergraduate program at Humboldt State University in California. This program was really unique in that it was really focused on Native people and traditional ecological knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation — be it about farming, harvesting, where to find the best berries, what plants grow best together, what’s a good time to harvest these fish and what’s a good time to let them do their own thing so that the population can thrive and so we can ultimately survive.
I was so involved with western science that I didn’t know TEK even existed at this level. The other students and mentors were so inspiring, doing incredible work in higher education to evolve TEK into the modern field. It’s going to make a big change.
Indigenous people, there’s an invisible force that unites us. They have their own challenges, but they know the same kind of experiences you’ve endured. We’re all in the struggle together. Being united makes us stronger.
The lacrosse community and the ties that it has to our heritage forms a community in itself. Whether you’re Native or not, we’re all in the same game. You become one.
For me, the Tewaaraton ceremony was life-changing. Having some unknown group of people pay for me and my family to be in Washington, D.C., it’s inspiring to know that lacrosse brought do many people together, in a professional setting too. We were very well-respected. It showed me it is possible to have that kind of support from non-Natives. It gave me confidence.
There is hope.