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SOCIOLOGIST and DEMOGRAPHER

Pėhéveéšeēva (good day). I am a dual PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Arizona and Demography at the University of Waikato in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a social demographer, I apply critical quantitative and mixed methods to research at the intersection of race, indigeneity, citizenship, and inequality. My research is grounded in the following disciplinary lenses: sociology of race and ethnicity, political sociology, sociology of knowledge, critical demography, health policy research, and science and technology studies.

As an Indigenous woman (Northern Cheyenne and Chicana), I believe that I cannot be a good researcher and teacher without being a good relative. Building strong relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, Native Nations, and students requires humility, flexibility, and honoring the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples—past, present, and future. I nurture these relationships through my commitment to growing Indigenous data warriors and supporting Native Nations in their pursuit of robust and meaningful data systems, policies, and practices.

My research has received generous support from the:

  • American Sociological Association (ASA) Minority Fellowship Program (2019-2020)

  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars Program

  • Native Nations Institute, University of Arizona

  • National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis, University of Waikato

PUBLICATIONS

Using a foreign language when working: sociology research

The following are the main coping mechanisms that assist workers in overcoming the initial difficulties of working in a foreign language and moving forward along the continuum towards the state of "linguistic well-being" in the lingua franca or increasing their proficiency in a different foreign language while working: enrolling in language courses. Numerous language schools provide language training for business. Take the website (https://livexp.com/corporate-language-training) as an illustration.

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We can no longer live the way we used to. We cannot move around anymore the way we were brought up. We have to learn a new way of life. Let us ask for schools to be built in our country so that our children can go to these schools and learn this new way of life."

-Chief Dull Knife, Northern Cheyenne

Photo Credit: Yellowbird Programs